FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Tropical Storm Eta could strengthen into a hurricane before reaching Florida late Sunday night, and areas such as Broward and Miami-Dade counties remain under a hurricane watch, the National Hurricane Center said Sunday in its 1 p.m. advisory.
South Florida can expect 6 to 9 inches of rain through Tuesday morning and Palm Beach County is under a tropical storm warning, forecasters said.
Rain is still the main concern on the state's east coast, while threats from wind and storm surge are greater farther south.
The Florida Keys are under a hurricane warning because a low Category 1 storm is forecast in Monroe County, according to the hurricane center.
"We decided not to extend that warning farther north," Molleda said.
The Broward County School District announced Sunday that all classes will shift online for Monday due to Eta, while both in-person and My School Online, were canceled in Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties. In addition, all school district offices in Palm Beach County will be closed Monday, Superintendent Robert Fennoy announced Sunday afternoon.
Tropical-storm-force winds are forecast to begin late Sunday afternoon and continue though Monday night, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Robert Molleda. Palm Beach County could begin feeling tropical-storm-force winds on Sunday evening.
Hurricane watches are in effect for the Florida coast from Deerfield Beach to Bonita Beach. The watch also covers the Florida Keys from Ocean Reef to the Dry Tortugas.
Tropical storm warnings were issued for the east coast of Florida from north of Jupiter Inlet to the Brevard/Volusia County line and for the west coast of Florida from north of Bonita Beach to Englewood. Lake Okeechobee is also under a tropical storm warning.
Eta moved off the north coast of Cuba and was tracking over the Florida Straits toward the Florida Keys Sunday morning.
"Some strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Eta is forecast to become a hurricane before it reaches the Florida Keys tonight," the NHC said.
Eta remains asymmetric and even after its center slides into the Gulf of Mexico on Monday its effects could still be felt in southeast Florida into next week as the storm slows.
As of 1 p.m., Eta had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph and was located 170 miles south-southeast of Miami and 145 miles southeast of Marathon. It was moving north-northwest at 17 mph.
Tropical-storm-force winds extended 125 miles from Eta's center.
The advisory's forecast track of Eta remains southward, leaving all of coastal Broward and Palm Beach counties outside of it, along with much of Miami-Dade County's coast.
However, Florida's southeast coast is in the northeast quadrant of the storm, which means the area is vulnerable to heavy rainfall and tornadoes. Eta is loaded with bad weather on its north and east sides.
Tornadoes are possible across south Florida on Sunday night, Molleda said.
No substantial storm surge is expected, but flooding is possible along the coast and in low-lying areas. Broward County has been clearing storm drains and flushing water into canals to prepare for more rain in an already saturated South Florida.
Tropical storm watches are in place for the Florida coast, north of Jupiter Inlet to the Brevard/Volusia County line. The watch also covers the Florida coast from north of Englewood to Anna Maria Island.
Warnings are also in place for six central Cuban provinces and the northwestern Bahamas.
The forecast track says Eta will turn northwest Sunday evening and then west early Monday. Eta's center is projected to continue moving over the Florida Straits between Cuba and the Bahamas Sunday afternoon, pass near or over the Keys on Sunday night and into the Gulf of Mexico by late Monday.
Several South Florida cities have set up areas for sandbag distribution to residents while supplies last.
Despite a pattern this year of storms seeing rapid intensification — defined by wind speeds increasing by at least 35 mph within 24 hours — conditions don't appear favorable for Eta to follow suit.
But, forecasters warn, the exact track and intensity aren't certain and the outlook could change.
The past five storms in the Atlantic basin — including Hurricane Eta before it struck Central America early this past week — have undergone rapid intensification.
Eta was expected to turn north and northwest later Sunday and Sunday night as it slows down. It's expected to track west on Monday.
On its forecast track Eta's center moves across east-central Cuba for the next few hours and then gets into the Florida Straits later Sunday.
Eta is forecast to pass near or over the Florida Keys Sunday night and early Monday and be in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico late Monday or Tuesday.
Eta is likely to be gone from South Florida by late next week, sparing the area from a double-whammy of flooding rains during the next king tides cycle, which begins Nov. 14 and ends Nov. 18.
"I think Eta should be pretty far removed from South Florida next Friday," said Jonathan Erdman, digital meteorologist for the Weather Channel.
However, Molleda said power outages are possible and drivers on overpasses, especially in high-profile vehicles, should be aware of the potential for gusty winds.
Florida Power and Light announced Friday that its emergency plan was in place with about 10,000 personnel standing by to restore any power loss as quickly as possible.
The City of Coral Springs will declare a state of emergency at noon Sunday.
South Florida is under a flood watch through Tuesday evening.
Molleda said Sunday night is the most likely time for tropical-storm-force winds. Rain bands more closely associated with the core of the could begin arriving around 4 or 5 p.m., Molleda said.
Palm Beach International Airport reported a gust of 63 mph Sunday.
"The squalls have been packing a bit of a punch," Molleda said.
Local municipalities are gearing up for Eta. Palm Beach County had a conference call Friday with agencies including the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center to plot its strategy.
Broward County was taking similar steps and held planning meetings Friday afternoon.
"I think the issue is mainly the timing (of Eta's effects)," said John Jamason, Palm Beach County emergency management deputy director of public affairs.
Jamason said the county always plans for a storm one category higher than its expected arrival. He said he's unsure whether Eta would necessitate opening shelters but that possibility will be discussed.
Eta weakened into a tropical depression Wednesday evening after making landfall in Nicaragua as a Category 4 major hurricane earlier this past week. The storm fell apart over Central America's mountainous terrain but not before bringing life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flash flooding.
Eta is the 12th hurricane of the year. Only three other full Atlantic seasons on record have seen more than 12 hurricanes.
It is the 28th named storm of the year, tying the 2005 season record for 28 storms of tropical storm strength or greater.
Eta could be the first storm of the season to make landfall in Florida.
Louisiana, by contrast, has been hit with five named storms — Hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta, and Tropical Storms Cristobal and Marco.
Meanwhile, the NHC is monitoring a broad non-tropical area of low pressure that might be developing several hundred miles southwest of the Azores. The NHC said it could develop subtropical characteristics later this week as it moves east or east-northeast over the Atlantic Ocean.
The NHC gives it a 20% chance of formation over the next five days.
