Miami, Fl. (Florida News Network)-At 800 PM EST, the center of Tropical Depression Eta was located near latitude 14.2 North, longitude 86.3 West. The depression is moving toward the west-northwest near 7 mph (11 km/h). A northwestward motion is expected later tonight through Thursday morning. A turn toward the north, and then the northeast is forecast to occur Thursday night and Friday. On the forecast track, the center of Eta is expected to move across Honduras through Thursday afternoon, and emerge over the Gulf of Honduras by Thursday night. Eta is forecast to approach the Cayman Islands and western or central Cuba this weekend.
Forecast models show Eta redeveloping into a tropical storm again with a track taking it towards the west coast of Florida by early next week. Eta is the 28th named storm of the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season which does not end until November 30th.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional weakening is expected while Eta remains over land, and Eta will likely degenerate to a remnant low or trough of low pressure on Thursday. However, re-intensification is forecast once the center of Eta moves over the northwestern Caribbean Sea.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).
Data and graphic credit: National Hurricane Center