Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is urging all Louisianans to monitor Tropical Storm Zeta as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico over the next few days.
His office says that while it is too early to know the exact path of Zeta, the current tracking cone does include Southeast Louisiana and the forecast shows Zeta becoming a hurricane before landfall.
“It is unfortunate we face another tropical threat this late in a very active season,” Edwards said in a news release. “We must roll up our sleeves, like we always do, and prepare for a potential impact to Louisiana."
Edwards urges everyone to use the next couple of days to get ready for a possible hurricane hit.
"As we’ve seen this hurricane season, a tropical threat during the ongoing COVID-19 emergency is challenging, but something we can handle. We will once again find solutions for this potential threat while work to help the other areas of the state impacted by Hurricanes Laura and Delta. If Tropical Storm Zeta does become a serious threat, we stand ready to ramp up our actions as a state to meet the needs of our people and communities.”
The latest forecast track from the National Hurricane Center calls for Zeta to make landfall late Wednesday or early Thursday.
Forecasters say Zeta will get stronger before making it to Mexico.
"Strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Zeta is expected to become a hurricane before it moves near or over the Yucatan Peninsula late Monday."
The Hurricane Center says the path then brings Zeta toward the US Gulf Coast.
"On the forecast track, the center of Zeta will pass south of western Cuba early Monday and move near or over the northern Yucatan Peninsula or the Yucatan Channel late Monday, move into the southern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, and reach the central Gulf of Mexico by late Tuesday."
The path calls for Zeta to come ashore somewhere between Louisiana and Florida.
"By Wednesday, heavy rainfall associated with Zeta will begin to affect the central Gulf Coast region, which may lead to flash flooding in urban areas."
The current track is likely to change, but currently calls for Zeta to hit Plaquemines parish as a tropical storm before heading for the Louisiana / Mississippi state line.
