Eta Forecast Intensifies over Caribbean’s Warm Waters

Orlando, FL — Eta is a tropical depression, but it is still producing heavy rain and life-threatening flooding in Central America.

The storm could redevelop and move near South Florida next week.

Eta Tropical Storm Moves Towards Florida (Eta Tropical Storm Moves Towards Florida)

10:45 a.m. update

Eta’s center continues to be over Honduras, and it is expected to enter the western Caribbean early on Friday while turning to the northeast. By Saturday morning Eta could become a tropical storm again as it travels over warm Caribbean waters.

Eta will travel slowly and by Monday it is expected to be over Central Cuba.

The track continues to have low confidence by early next week. As of the 10 am advisory by the National Hurricane Center on Thursday, the track has shifted a bit more west, which places Eta over the Florida Straits early next week.

It is still too early to tell if the system will have an impact on Central Florida.

We are expecting rain chances to increase as there will be more tropical moisture arriving from the Atlantic this weekend, not really associated with Eta, but there could be some more shifting, so the track could still change.

We will continue to monitor and bring you the latest on Eyewitness News, WFTV.com, and on our Free WFTV Weather app.

8:45 a.m. update

There is still lots of uncertainty about Eta’s track early next week. South Florida continues to be in the cone of uncertainty.

With the easterly winds, and more moisture arriving from the Atlantic we will get a surge in the rain chances. The intensity and severe conditions will depend on Eta’s proximity.

4:45 a.m. update

Eta continues to produce heavy rain, life-threatening flooding in Central America

The remnants of Eta continue to produce heavy rain and life-threatening flooding over portions of Central America.

The center of Eta is expected to move across Honduras through Thursday afternoon. It will then emerge over the Gulf of Honduras by Thursday night.

It’s expected to weaken to a remnant low or trough of low-pressure Thursday morning.

Eta is forecast to approach the Cayman Islands and Cuba this weekend.

The storm could redevelop once the center of the Eta moves over the northwestern Caribbean Sea.

If the storm redevelops, it could approach South Florida early next week.

Meteorologist Brian Shields said it’s a “wait and see” scenario. It’s too early to tell if the storm will redevelop over the Caribbean Sea.