Tropical storm Eta hits the Florida Keys after claiming dozens of lives in Central America

Tropical storm Eta hits the Florida Keys after claiming dozens of lives in Central America

Storm Eta brought heavy rain and wind to Miami, Florida.

On Monday morning, a tropical storm caused high winds, torrential rains and a “dangerous storm surge” over parts of the Florida Keys in the south, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A hurricane warning has been issued for the Florida Keys and the state coast from Golden Beach to Bonita Beach. The wind force reached speeds of about 65 miles per hour.

The storm reached the coast in the Lower Matekamb Key area of Florida late Sunday after heavy rains.

Meteorologists expect Eta to intensify by Monday or Tuesday evening and turn into a hurricane as it passes over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico. In addition, there is a risk of one or two isolated tornadoes occurring in any rain streaks north and east of the storm's center.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in eight southern counties on Saturday.

#Lamborghini or Submarine? Saw this on @wsvn !! #SoFloLife #Eta #Flood pic.twitter.com/s1MHqjG4JA

— Joe (@WFOJoe) November 9, 2020

Due to the storm, beaches and coronavirus testing centers were closed, public transport stopped and local residents had to be evacuated.

This is the 28th named storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. It hit the coast of Nicaragua on Tuesday as a Category 4 hurricane. Local authorities in Honduras reported 21 deaths, although the national emergency management agency confirmed only 8 deaths.

TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN! #Eta will make driving in south Florida dangerous for your Monday AM commute. Watch out for lingering water on the roads. pic.twitter.com/J9gqJmcxQS

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) November 9, 2020

It brought heavy rains to parts of Central America, including Guatemala. On Sunday, Guatemalan authorities said the death toll had risen from 15 to 27 and said more than 100 people were missing from the landslides.

The worst incident occurred in Mexico in the mountain town of Cenaglio, where 10 people were carried away by a stream of water. Their bodies were later found downstream.

This eased to a tropical depression before regaining strength and becoming a tropical storm on Saturday.

Source