Hurricane Epsilon, Tropical Storm Zeta Gaining Strength

MIAMI, FL — Tropical Storm Zeta is strengthening and is forecast to be at or just below hurricane strength when it approaches the northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday.

According to the Sunday evening update from the National Hurricane Center in Miami, there is an increasing risk of storm surge, rainfall and wind impacts from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.

Zeta could be at or just below hurricane strength when it approaches the northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday, and could bring storm surge, rainfall and wind impacts to areas from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.

However, forecasters say Zeta will weaken to a tropical depression by Thursday afternoon.

There is now a hurricane warning in effect for a portion of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Hurricane conditions and storm surge are expected in portions of the northern Yucatan Peninsula Monday night and early Tuesday.

Tropical storm conditions could also occur over extreme western Cuba on Monday.

And heavy rainfall in the Keys and South Florida may lead to flash flooding in urban areas.

In the meantime, Hurricane Epsilon is expected to become a large and powerful extratropical cyclone Sunday night as it continues racing east-northeastward toward the Atlantic Coast at 46 mph.

Maximum sustained winds for Epsilon are near 70 mph with higher gusts. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 370 miles from the center, which is now about 420 miles east of Cape Race, Newfoundland.

Large swells generated by Epsilon will affect portions of the East Coast of the United States, Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, the Leeward Islands and Atlantic Canada during the next couple of days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions through Monday, but, at this time, there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

See related stories:

• Tropical Storm Zeta Expected To Bring Heavy Rainfall To Keys
• Hurricane Epsilon Gains Strength; Could Threaten Atlantic Coast