Overview of Hurricane Zeta
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Please note, this webpage is preliminary and will change without notice. Data provided on this webpage is also considered preliminary.
As has been the theme for many tropical systems across our forecast area, our region was on the periphery of another tropical system in a very active hurricane season. Impacts were relatively minor across the region but did consist of power outages, a few downed trees, and wind gusts up to tropical storm force.
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| Satellite Imagery of Hurricane Zeta's as it intensified up to the point of landfall. A large upper level low played a key part in the intensification and steering of Zeta. Image: NWSKeyWest. | Radar imagery of Hurricane Zeta as it rapidly moved northeast through central Alabama and into northern Georgia. This imagery highlights when we saw much of the impacts from Zeta across the area. Wednesday (Oct28th) evening through Thursday (October 29th) much of the impacts we saw across our area. |
Storm History
Information is preliminary and could change with the release of the National Hurricane Center's final report of Hurricane Zeta (found here when available).
Hurricane Zeta began as area of disturbed weather on October 21 across the western Caribbean. From a climatological perspective, the development of tropical cyclones is more common in this part of the Atlantic basin compared to central and eastern parts of the basin. Initially, Zeta was forecast to slowly develop and eventually move out to sea. However, as long range guidance came into better agreement, and development continued, model guidance began to catch on to the development of a large ridge across the Florida Peninsula behind an upper level disturbance. Unfortunately, this upper level disturbance wasn't able to grab Zeta and pull it out to sea. On October 23, forecasts for this area of disturbed weather brought it into the southern Gulf of Mexico, along with increased odds for development. One day later, on October 25 at 5pm, a tropical depression formed; the 28th system of the season.
Less than 12 hours later, the depression would strengthen into Tropical Storm Zeta early on the morning of the 25th. Over the next few days, Zeta would steadily gain strength and made its first landfall over the northern Yucatan of Mexico, north of Tulum, around midnight on Tuesday October 26th. Zeta would weaken over Mexico, but re-strengthening was expected as it made its way back over the warm waters of the southern Gulf. By Wednesday morning, Zeta began turning north as a large upper level low approached the Central US. Over the next 18 hours, Zeta would steadily strengthen into a strong category 2 Hurricane as it turned north and then northeast towards Louisiana. Landfall occurred at Cocodrie, LA with maximum sustained winds of 110mph around 5pm ET on October 28th. Through the next 12 hours after landfall, Zeta would only accelerate from it's landfall speed of 24 mph to nearly 40 mph by 4am on Thursday October 29. This rapid motion for a tropical system, that was quite abnormal, would provide little time for the wind fields to weaken. Impacts from Zeta's winds were felt well inland of the Louisiana/Alabama/Mississippi coastlines and even into parts of northern Georgia.
While the local area missed out on the more serious impacts from Zeta, we weren't totally spared, with some reports of power outages, wind gusts to tropical storm force, and the threat of tornadoes. Thankfully for our region, tornadic storms struggled to form, but ingredients were there to support a tornado watch for much of the area overnight Wednesday (Oct 28th) into early Thursday (Oct 29th) morning.
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| The first tropical weather outlook that mentioned the disturbance that would eventually become Zeta. This was 2pm on October 21. | A tropical weather outlook about 2 days later at 8am on October 23. Notice the change in the potential development area for the disturbance at this point. This was due to a strong ridge that was forecast to develop over the Florida Peninsula. | The history of Hurricane Zeta from when it first formed as a tropical depression on October 24 at 5pm ET to the last advisory on October 29 5pm. |
Local Post Tropical Cyclone Report
National Hurricane Center's Tropical Cyclone Report (This link won't work until report is published).
Reports from neighboring offices will be included here when available: NWS Mobile Zeta Webpage
Wind Reports
Information These wind reports are considered preliminary, a final listing of maximum winds will be listed in NHC's final tropical report after the end of the season.
The wind reports below are preliminary and include the highest winds at a specific site through Thursday morning. The time of the observation is approximately when that wind gust occurred.
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Tallahassee FL 927 AM EDT Thu Oct 29 2020 ...24 HOUR HIGHEST WIND REPORTS... Location Speed Time/Date Lat/Lon ...Alabama... ...Coffee County... Enterprise 41 MPH 0115 AM 10/29 31.30N/85.90W Ft Rucker Shell 38 MPH 0325 AM 10/29 31.37N/85.85W Ft Rucker Shell 37 MPH 1245 AM 10/29 31.37N/85.85W Kinston 36 MPH 1153 PM 10/28 31.22N/86.17W Elba 31 MPH 1231 AM 10/29 31.41N/86.09W ...Dale County... Ozark Cairns Aaf 47 MPH 0120 AM 10/29 31.28N/85.72W Ft Rucker Hanche 41 MPH 0143 AM 10/29 31.35N/85.65W Dothan 39 MPH 0132 AM 10/29 31.32N/85.45W Fort Rucker 35 MPH 0314 AM 10/29 31.35N/85.75W Fort Rucker 31 MPH 0122 AM 10/29 31.35N/85.75W Molinelli Army Heliport 30 MPH 1255 AM 10/29 31.48N/85.78W Newton 10 MPH 0440 AM 10/29 31.31N/85.60W ...Geneva County... Geneva 37 MPH 0106 AM 10/29 31.06N/85.82W ...Henry County... Edwin 34 MPH 0231 AM 10/29 31.65N/85.35W Edwin 31 MPH 0115 AM 10/29 31.65N/85.35W Headland 17 MPH 0248 AM 10/29 31.34N/85.36W ...Houston County... 3.2 N Dothan (WEATHERSTEM) 28 MPH 0210 AM 10/29 31.27N/85.38W Dothan 27 MPH 1209 AM 10/29 31.21N/85.42W Lucy (SCAN) 12 MPH 0400 AM 10/29 31.02N/85.04W ...Florida... ...Bay County... Tyndall AFB 45 MPH 0508 AM 10/29 30.07N/85.57W Panama City 45 MPH 0421 AM 10/29 30.35N/85.80W Southport 43 MPH 0510 AM 10/29 30.31N/85.61W Panama City 43 MPH 0115 AM 10/29 30.35N/85.80W 2.1 N Magnolia Beach (WEATHE 42 MPH 0210 AM 10/29 30.19N/85.72W Panama City Beach 42 MPH 1238 AM 10/29 30.23N/85.88W 2.1 N Magnolia Beach (WEATHE 41 MPH 0130 AM 10/29 30.19N/85.72W Tyndall AFB 39 MPH 1250 AM 10/29 30.07N/85.57W Southport 39 MPH 1230 AM 10/29 30.31N/85.61W 3.3 S Crystal Lake (WEATHERS 37 MPH 0100 AM 10/29 30.39N/85.69W Panama City 34 MPH 0539 AM 10/29 30.20N/85.67W Panama City 28 MPH 0515 AM 10/29 30.15N/85.63W Panama City 26 MPH 0135 AM 10/29 30.19N/85.67W Panama City 21 MPH 0500 AM 10/29 30.12N/85.59W ...Dixie County... Cross City 25 MPH 0515 AM 10/29 29.63N/83.10W 0.9 S Cross City Airport (WE 16 MPH 0510 AM 10/29 29.62N/83.11W ...Franklin County... St. George Island 32 MPH 0644 AM 10/29 29.67N/84.86W Apalachicola 32 MPH 0159 AM 10/29 29.73N/85.03W St. George Island 31 MPH 0139 AM 10/29 29.67N/84.86W Apalachicola 31 MPH 0104 AM 10/29 29.73N/85.03W Apalachicola, FL 30 MPH 1230 AM 10/29 29.73N/84.98W 1.1 NE Green Point (WEATHERS 21 MPH 0900 AM 10/29 29.77N/84.82W Apalachicola Airport 16 MPH 0530 AM 10/29 29.72N/85.03W 1 WNW Franklin 13 MPH 0245 PM 10/28 29.79N/84.88W ...Gadsden County... Quincy 29 MPH 0115 AM 10/29 30.60N/84.55W 2.7 E Juniper (WEATHERSTEM) 21 MPH 0320 AM 10/29 30.52N/84.72W 1.5 E Juniper (WEATHERSTEM) 20 MPH 0300 AM 10/29 30.53N/84.74W 1.6 N Jamieson (WEATHERSTEM) 18 MPH 0830 AM 10/29 30.68N/84.45W ...Gulf County... 0.5 NE Port Saint Joe (WEATH 34 MPH 0150 AM 10/29 29.81N/85.29W 0.5 NW Ward Ridge (WEATHERST 27 MPH 0510 AM 10/29 29.79N/85.29W ...Holmes County... Holmes County Airport 44 MPH 0210 AM 10/29 30.83N/85.60W Holmes County Airport 43 MPH 1245 AM 10/29 30.83N/85.60W 0.9 W Bonifay (WEATHERSTEM) 32 MPH 0340 AM 10/29 30.79N/85.69W 0.9 W Bonifay (WEATHERSTEM) 30 MPH 0150 AM 10/29 30.79N/85.69W ...Jackson County... Marianna 38 MPH 0413 AM 10/29 30.83N/85.18W Marianna 38 MPH 0305 AM 10/29 30.83N/85.18W 1.5 E Marianna (WEATHERSTEM) 33 MPH 0130 AM 10/29 30.78N/85.22W Marianna 33 MPH 0106 AM 10/29 30.83N/85.18W 1.2 NE Graceville (WEATHERST 31 MPH 1220 AM 10/29 30.97N/85.51W Cottondale (WEATHERSTEM) 29 MPH 0130 AM 10/29 30.79N/85.37W Malone (WEATHERSTEM) 25 MPH 0150 AM 10/29 30.95N/85.17W Sneads (WEATHERSTEM) 23 MPH 0600 AM 10/29 30.71N/84.92W Marianna 23 MPH 0409 AM 10/29 30.77N/85.17W Marianna 21 MPH 0331 AM 10/29 30.81N/85.19W ...Jefferson County... 0.6 N Drifton (WEATHERSTEM) 28 MPH 0610 AM 10/29 30.50N/83.88W Drifton (WEATHERSTEM) 24 MPH 0740 AM 10/29 30.49N/83.88W Aucilla (WEATHERSTEM) 18 MPH 0500 AM 10/29 30.48N/83.76W Monticello 14 MPH 0831 AM 10/29 30.50N/84.04W ...Lafayette County... 0.6 E Mayo (WEATHERSTEM) 19 MPH 0750 AM 10/29 30.05N/83.17W ...Leon County... 2.0 SW Killearn Estates (WEA 32 MPH 0610 AM 10/29 30.49N/84.25W Tallahassee International Ai 30 MPH 0736 AM 10/29 30.40N/84.35W Doak Campbell Stadium (WEATH 30 MPH 0730 AM 10/29 30.44N/84.30W State Capital Complex (WEATH 28 MPH 0820 AM 10/29 30.44N/84.28W Kleman Plaza (WEATHERSTEM) 28 MPH 0240 AM 10/29 30.44N/84.28W 0.5 SW Southwood (WEATHERSTE 25 MPH 0750 AM 10/29 30.38N/84.22W 1.6 NW Fallschase (WEATHERST 25 MPH 0700 AM 10/29 30.48N/84.22W 1.1 N Lake Bradford (WEATHER 24 MPH 0900 AM 10/29 30.42N/84.34W 0.9 E North Florida Fairgrou 24 MPH 0610 AM 10/29 30.41N/84.26W 1.3 NE Fort Braden (WEATHERS 24 MPH 0610 AM 10/29 30.44N/84.51W 2.0 SW Pisgah Church (WEATHE 24 MPH 0600 AM 10/29 30.53N/84.18W 1.0 N Fallschase (WEATHERSTE 23 MPH 0800 AM 10/29 30.47N/84.21W 1.2 N Ralford Greenway (WEAT 23 MPH 0800 AM 10/29 30.46N/84.18W 1.0 NW Killearn Lakes (WEATH 23 MPH 0610 AM 10/29 30.59N/84.23W 0.8 S Tom Brown Park (WEATHE 23 MPH 0600 AM 10/29 30.44N/84.21W Chaires (WEATHERSTEM) 23 MPH 0530 AM 10/29 30.44N/84.12W 0.7 W Belair (WEATHERSTEM) 23 MPH 0530 AM 10/29 30.38N/84.28W Florida State University (WE 23 MPH 0520 AM 10/29 30.45N/84.30W 0.6 E Bradfordville (WEATHER 22 MPH 0240 AM 10/29 30.57N/84.21W 0.7 NE State Capital Complex 22 MPH 0200 AM 10/29 30.45N/84.28W Tallahassee Comm College (WE 21 MPH 0300 AM 10/29 30.44N/84.34W Governors Square Mall (WEATH 20 MPH 0710 AM 10/29 30.43N/84.26W 1.5 N Southwood (WEATHERSTEM 20 MPH 0430 AM 10/29 30.41N/84.22W Woodville (WEATHERSTEM) 20 MPH 0430 AM 10/29 30.31N/84.25W ...Liberty County... 2.2 S Bristol (WEATHERSTEM) 27 MPH 0110 AM 10/29 30.40N/84.98W Wilma 23 MPH 0247 AM 10/29 30.18N/84.94W Sumatra 14 MPH 0348 AM 10/29 30.02N/84.99W ...Madison County... 2.8 N Cherry Lake (WEATHERST 22 MPH 0910 AM 10/29 30.62N/83.41W 2.9 NE Aucilla (WEATHERSTEM) 18 MPH 0740 AM 10/29 30.51N/83.72W 4.6 SW Lee (WEATHERSTEM) 18 MPH 0530 AM 10/29 30.36N/83.34W 4.7 NE Moseley Hall (WEATHER 17 MPH 0910 AM 10/29 30.41N/83.54W Pinetta (WEATHERSTEM) 15 MPH 0900 AM 10/29 30.59N/83.35W 0.9 SW Greenville (WEATHERST 15 MPH 0850 AM 10/29 30.46N/83.64W 4.9 SE Lee (WEATHERSTEM) 10 MPH 0740 AM 10/29 30.35N/83.27W Madison (WEATHERSTEM) 10 MPH 0410 AM 10/29 30.47N/83.42W ...Taylor County... Keaton Beach 26 MPH 0700 AM 10/29 29.82N/83.59W 0.7 NE Perry-Foley Airport ( 19 MPH 0610 AM 10/29 30.08N/83.57W ...Wakulla County... Shell Point 30 MPH 0554 AM 10/29 30.06N/84.29W Panacea 29 MPH 0718 AM 10/29 29.97N/84.36W Shell Point (WEATHERSTEM) 26 MPH 0700 AM 10/29 30.06N/84.29W Tully (WEATHERSTEM) 24 MPH 0720 AM 10/29 30.11N/84.38W St. Marks 24 MPH 0446 AM 10/29 30.01N/84.42W St. Marks 19 MPH 0814 AM 10/29 30.14N/84.14W Crawfordville 15 MPH 0206 AM 10/29 30.13N/84.41W Sanborn 13 MPH 0819 AM 10/29 30.07N/84.59W ...Walton County... De Funiak Sprngs 46 MPH 1235 AM 10/29 30.73N/86.15W Mossy Head 37 MPH 0206 AM 10/29 30.81N/86.30W Mossy Head 37 MPH 0116 AM 10/29 30.81N/86.30W 1.6 E De Funiak Springs (WEA 35 MPH 1230 AM 10/29 30.72N/86.09W Santa Rosa Beach 34 MPH 0215 AM 10/29 30.35N/86.23W 0.7 S Port Washington (WEATH 31 MPH 0140 AM 10/29 30.36N/86.11W 3 NNE Freeport 21 MPH 0135 AM 10/29 30.54N/86.12W ...Washington County... Chipley 32 MPH 0201 AM 10/29 30.75N/85.59W Chipley 31 MPH 0116 AM 10/29 30.75N/85.59W 0.9 W Chipley (WEATHERSTEM) 26 MPH 0310 AM 10/29 30.77N/85.55W Chipley 24 MPH 0100 AM 10/29 30.74N/85.59W ...Georgia... ...Ben Hill County... Fitzgerald 24 MPH 0635 AM 10/29 31.68N/83.27W 1.1 NE Fitzgerald Municipal 23 MPH 0530 AM 10/29 31.70N/83.26W ...Brooks County... Valdosta 25 MPH 0528 AM 10/29 30.87N/83.40W ...Colquitt County... 0.6 W Spence Airport (WEATHE 24 MPH 0720 AM 10/29 31.14N/83.71W Moultrie Muni 21 MPH 0710 AM 10/29 31.08N/83.80W 0.9 N South Moultrie (WEATHE 18 MPH 0750 AM 10/29 31.17N/83.77W ...Cook County... Adel 23 MPH 0904 AM 10/29 31.11N/83.43W ...Decatur County... Bainbridge 36 MPH 0335 AM 10/29 30.97N/84.63W ...Dougherty County... Albany 31 MPH 0508 AM 10/29 31.53N/84.20W ...Early County... Blakely Early C 29 MPH 0255 AM 10/29 31.40N/84.90W Damascus 13 MPH 0315 AM 10/29 31.30N/84.72W ...Grady County... Cairo (WEATHERSTEM) 27 MPH 0530 AM 10/29 30.88N/84.20W ...Lanier County... Moody Fire Weather 13 MPH 0518 AM 10/29 30.98N/83.18W ...Lee County... 1.1 E Leesburg (WEATHERSTEM) 26 MPH 0530 AM 10/29 31.74N/84.15W ...Lowndes County... Moody Afb 31 MPH 0610 AM 10/29 30.97N/83.20W 4.6 W Moody Afb (WEATHERSTEM 24 MPH 0610 AM 10/29 30.96N/83.26W Valdosta Regiona 23 MPH 0553 AM 10/29 30.78N/83.27W ...Mitchell County... Camilla 29 MPH 0804 AM 10/29 31.21N/84.24W Camilla 29 MPH 0355 AM 10/29 31.22N/84.23W ...Seminole County... Donalsonville Airport 36 MPH 0555 AM 10/29 31.07N/84.92W Donalsonville Airport 30 MPH 1255 AM 10/29 31.07N/84.92W ...Thomas County... Thomasville 25 MPH 0535 AM 10/29 30.90N/83.88W Thomasville 22 MPH 0715 AM 10/29 30.83N/83.98W ...Tift County... Tifton 26 MPH 0535 AM 10/29 31.43N/83.48W 2.2 NW Tifton (WEATHERSTEM) 19 MPH 0420 AM 10/29 31.48N/83.53W Chula 11 MPH 0452 AM 10/29 31.55N/83.51W ...Turner County... Ashburn 18 MPH 0433 AM 10/29 31.71N/83.65W ...Florida... ...Maritime Stations... Panama City Beach, FL 44 MPH 0130 AM 10/29 30.21N/85.88W Panama City Beach, FL 44 MPH 1212 AM 10/29 30.21N/85.88W St. Andrew Bay 43 MPH 0448 AM 10/29 30.13N/85.72W St. Andrew Bay 41 MPH 0103 AM 10/29 30.13N/85.72W 2.9 S Eastpoint (WEATHERSTEM 36 MPH 0720 AM 10/29 29.71N/84.89W 17 S Saint George Island 34 MPH 0700 AM 10/29 29.41N/84.86W Apalachee Bay - Panacea Chan 33 MPH 0643 AM 10/29 30.01N/84.34W 17 S Saint George Island 32 MPH 1200 AM 10/29 29.41N/84.86W 2.9 S Eastpoint (WEATHERSTEM 31 MPH 1120 PM 10/28 29.71N/84.89W Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official.
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