Hurricane Zeta
Hurricane Zeta was a late-season tropical cyclone in 2020 that made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula and then in southeastern Louisiana, the latest on record to do so at such strength in the United States. Zeta was the record-tying sixth hurricane of the year to make landfall in the United States. The twenty-seventh named storm, twelfth hurricane and fifth major hurricane of the extremely active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Zeta formed from a broad area of low pressure that formed in the western Caribbean Sea on October 19. After battling wind shear, the quasi-stationary low organized into Tropical Depression Twenty-Eight on October 24. The system strengthened into Tropical Storm Zeta early on October 25 before becoming a hurricane the next day as it began to move northwestward. Hurricane Zeta made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula late on October 26 and weakened while inland to a tropical storm, before moving off the northern coast of the peninsula on October 27. After weakening due to dry air entrainment, Zeta reorganized and became a hurricane again, and eventually a Category 2 hurricane, as it turned northeastward approaching the United States Gulf Coast on October 28. It continued to strengthen until it reached its peak intensity as a major Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds and a minimum pressure of as it made landfall at Cocodrie, Louisiana, that evening. Zeta continued on through Mississippi and parts of Alabama with hurricane-force winds. Zeta gradually weakened as it accelerated northeastward, and became post-tropical on October 29, as it moved through central Virginia, dissipating shortly afterwards off the coast of New Jersey. After bringing accumulating snow to parts of New England, the extratropical low-pressure system carrying Zeta's remnant energy impacted the United Kingdom on November 1 and 2.
Numerous tropical cyclone watches and warnings were issued in areas that had already dealt with other tropical cyclones throughout the season, including Hurricane Delta, which took a near-identical track three weeks prior. States of emergencies were issued in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Heavy rain in Jamaica led to a landslide that killed a man and his daughter when it hit their family home on October 24. In Mexico, strong winds and storm surge knocked down tree branches onto flooded streets in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, near where Zeta made landfall. Heavy rain, storm surge, and strong winds also impacted the Southeastern United States and at least six fatalities were confirmed in the region. Downed power lines and numerous crashes were a result in New England after the remnants of the system brought heavy accumulating snow to parts of the region. Overall, Zeta caused at least $4.4 billion in damage throughout its path: $3.9 billion in the United States and $50 million in the Caribbean.
Meteorological history
At 00:00 UTC on October 15, the National Hurricane Center began to monitor the southern Caribbean Sea for the possible development of a broad area of low pressure over the region. A large area of unsettled weather developed over the southwestern Caribbean by October 19 due to the combination of a tropical wave and a trough of low pressure. Although unfavorable upper-level winds prevented further development of the tropical wave, southerly flow from that system caused Zeta's precursor trough to drift northward. Three days later, satellite images and radar data showed that the system, located near Grand Cayman Island at the time, was gradually becoming better organized. Following an increase of deep convection overnight into the morning of October 24, satellite data indicated that a well-defined low formed by 12:00 UTC October 24, marking the formation of Tropical Depression Twenty-Eight. Then, 12 hours later, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Zeta, while located about east-southeast of Cozumel, Quintana Roo. After remaining nearly stationary for over a day, the storm began to move northwestward, and, despite experiencing some north-northwestwardly wind shear, Zeta steadily intensified, reaching hurricane strength by 06:00 UTC on October 26, while located about southeast of Cozumel. At 03:55 UTC the next day, the hurricane made its first landfall near Ciudad Chemuyil, Quintana Roo with sustained winds of. It weakened to a tropical storm over the Yucatán Peninsula, and moved offshore of the northern coast of the peninsula by 15:00 UTC, about north-northeast of Progreso, Yucatán.Dry air wrapped around the northern half of Zeta's circulation as it moved off shore over the southern Gulf of Mexico, leaving its center partially exposed, though it began to re-intensify on October 28, in a conducive environment of low shear and warm sea surface temperatures. At 06:00 UTC on October 28, while located about south of New Orleans, Louisiana, Zeta became a hurricane again. It then began to accelerate, turning towards the northeast because of an approaching upper-level low and associated cold front moving across the Southern Plains while ridging was located off the Southeast Atlantic U.S. Coast. While within the swift flow between these systems, Zeta rapidly intensified as it moved quickly, with a forward speed of (, toward the Louisiana coast. Despite marginal sea-surface temperatures and increasing wind shear, the storm's velocity kept it from weakening. It continued to strengthen until it reached its peak intensity, as a category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds of and a minimum barometric pressure of, as it made landfall near Cocodrie, Louisiana, at 21:00 UTC. Operationally, the National Hurricane Center analyzed the storm to be at high-end category 2 strength at landfall, but it was upgraded to a category 3 in post season analysis. The storm began to gradually weaken as it moved directly over New Orleans and then into southern Mississippi. Its maximum sustained winds decreased to tropical storm strength early on October 29, about south-southeast of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It then accelerated northeastward across northern Georgia and the southern Appalachian Mountains, before transitioning into a post-tropical cyclone about south-southeast of Charlottesville, Virginia. The system continued moving rapidly northeastward overnight on, becoming entwined with a frontal zone and bringing accumulating snow to parts of New England, before dissipating east of the mid-Atlantic U.S. coast on October 30. Several days later, the low-pressure system carrying Zeta's remnant energy brought heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the United Kingdom.
Preparations
Cayman Islands and Jamaica
Flash flood warnings were issued in parts of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, where a small craft warning was also issued in the latter.Cuba
Upon formation, a Tropical Storm Watch was issued for the province of Pinar del Río. This was upgraded to a warning soon after. However, the storm went a bit further south than expected, and no significant impacts were felt there.Mexico
In Quintana Roo, people were still recovering from Hurricane Delta, which hit the region about three weeks prior. The state government set up several shelters for residents and tourists, while transport was suspended. Some boats that usually carry tourists anchored among mangroves to avoid the waves and winds of Hurricane Zeta.United States
Hurricane watches were issued for eastern and central coastal Louisiana and coastal Mississippi. A tropical storm watch was also issued for areas east of Intracoastal City to Morgan City, Louisiana, as well as coastal Alabama. Storm surge watches were issued for the entire area as well. The western part of watches and warnings were trimmed as the storm approached and the forecast track became better established. Inland tropical storm warnings were issued as far north as southern Virginia. Two tornado watches were ultimately issued for this storm; they stretched from southeast Louisiana into southwestern Georgia. As the storm began to merge with a cold front, winter weather advisories were issued for inland New England with the threat of accumulating snow causing problems on roads.Louisiana
On October 26, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards issued a state of emergency for the entire state. The town of Grand Isle issued a mandatory evacuation on October 27 as a voluntary evacuation was ordered for Jean Lafitte that same day. Tulane University moved classes to virtual learning on October 28, while also closing health centers on campus. Cleco employed more than 200 new workers to help restore power in the aftermath of Zeta. Several national park units were shut down to weather the storm.Mississippi
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency ahead of Zeta on October 28. This was preceded by Hattiesburg and Forrest County's emergency declarations which were issued on October 27. Schools in Pascagoula, Gautier, Biloxi, and Long Beach were closed on October 28 and 29 although schools in Pascagoula and Gautier only had early releases on October 28. On October 26, the entire Mississippi section of the Gulf Islands National Seashore shut down in preparation of the hurricane.Alabama
On October 27, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey issued a state of emergency. Baldwin EMC stocked on supplies and put extra crews on standby ahead of Zeta to help restore power in parts of the state.Elsewhere
In Pensacola, Florida, early voting was closed from 3 pm on October 28 to 11 am on October 29.Tropical Storm Warnings were issued as far inland as the Carolinas and Virginia on October 28, with the likelihood of tropical-storm-force sustained winds and gusts likely in the areas.
After the storm moved offshore, the threat of blowing snow and other wintry weather in New England prompted Winter Weather Advisories for much of inland New England on October 29 and 30. The residents of the area were warned of slick roads and unsuitable driving conditions with the wintry weather.