ORLANDO, Fla. —

HERE’S THE LATEST BLOG FOR THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12

Eta continues to track toward the west coast of Florida. Eta is the 28th-named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

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12:00 a.m.

11:30 p.m. update

Eta’s strongest rains arrive to Metro areas. The next 4 hours will be the most intense for eastern Central Florida.

11:00 p.m. update

A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued from the Flagler/Volusia County Florida line northward to St. Andrews Sound Georgia.

10:00 p.m. update

THREATS TO CENTRAL FLORIDA AND LATEST TRACK

Tropical Storm Eta continues to bring heavy rains and strong winds to parts of west-central Florida.

Although Eta’s maximum sustained winds decreased to 65mph, the system continues to be a powerful tropical storm, moving north at 12mph.

We expect Eta to lose its punch once it makes landfall between 2 and 3 a.m.

Albert Whitted Airport near St. Petersburg recently reported sustained winds of 40 mph and a gust of 52 mph. A Weatherflow site in Tampa Bay recently measured sustained winds of 45 and a gust of 59 mph.

Storm surge is a concern to Tampa Bay, up to 5 feet is possible.

West and Central Florida, through Thursday: 2 to 4 inches, with maximum storm total accumulations of 6 inches.

The tornado threat has slightly come down, but beware, there is still a chance for tornadoes to develop at least through the early morning hours. A few tornadoes are possible overnight over parts of western and central Florida.

8:40 p.m. update

One person in Bradenton Beach was fatally electrocuted after storm tide water entered their home.

7:15 p.m. update

Channel 9 certified meteorologist George Waldenberger said Eta is still a tropical storm with winds up to 70 mph off the coast of St. Petersburg.

The storm’s trajectory is about 90 miles from the Cedar Key and Crystal River area where it will make landfall around 2 a.m.

Rain bands have been lashing the west coast of Florida with heavy rain, tropical storm-force winds and the occasional tornado warning.

Rain bands are pushing into our western counties and will continue to move into the evening.

6:15 p.m. update

Channel 9 meteorologist George Waldenberger offers a county-by-county forecast for Orange, Seminole, Volusia and Flagler counties below:

6:10 p.m. update

Channel 9 has a team of reporters spread from the west coast of the state where Tropical Storm Eta is set to make landfall through to the east coast where the storm is set to exit the state later Thursday.

Read updates from Crystal River all the way across the state to Volusia County here.

READ: Floridians from coast to coast preparing for Tropical Storm Eta

5:40 p.m. update

Channel 9 meteorologist George Waldenberger said Brevard County residents can expect 20 to 35 mph winds and passing showers as Tropical Storm Eta crosses the state about 100 miles northwest of the county.

5:15 p.m. update

Channel 9 meteorologist George Waldenberger said Marion and Sumer counties can expect the strongest winds from Tropical Storm Eta from 1 to 7 a.m. on Thursday. He said people living in both counties can expect winds between 40 and 60 mph as well as 2 to 4 inches of rain.

Click here to download the free WFTV weather app so you can receive live updates on Eta. Click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News.

5:05 p.m. update

Channel 9 has a team of reporters spread from the west coast of the state where Tropical Storm Eta is set to make landfall through to the east coast where the storm is set to exit the state later Thursday.

Reporter Shannon Butler is in Crystal River where residents are working on last minute preparations for a storm they didn’t know was coming until they said it was almost too late to board up.

Eta is expected to make landfall in the area either late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning as a tropical storm.

>>> Click here to tune in for live reports across the state NOW <<<

4:05 p.m. update

Channel 9 meteorologist George Waldenberger said as of the 4 p.m. update Tropical Storm Eta is moving a little faster toward landfall very late overnight or before sunrise tomorrow potentially near Crystal River.

Click here to download the free WFTV weather app so you can receive live updates on Eta. Click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News.

3:50 p.m. update

Chief meteorologist Tom Terry is keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Eta. He’ll have the latest on what conditions we can expect in Central Florida live starting at 4 p.m. on Eyewitness News.

>>> Click here to tune in live NOW <<<

3:15 p.m. update

SunRail said it has suspended service for Thursday due to Tropical Storm Eta.

Watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News at 4 for live updates on Eta.

2:40 p.m. update

Channel 9 chief meteorologist Tom Terry said outer bans from Tropical Storm Eta will move through Central Florida after sunset. Watch Channel 9 starting at 4 p.m. for live forecast updates.

2:25 p.m. update

Eta is back to a strong tropical storm, and it is expected to make landfall early Thursday, chief meteorologist Tom Terry said.

The storm is expected to affect Central Florida on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

Read: Hurricane Eta: These Central Florida schools will be closed due to storm

There will be a tornado risk and tropical storm conditions, especially between interstates 75 and 4, through Thursday morning, Terry said.

Click here to download the free WFTV weather app so you can receive live updates on Eta. Click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News.

Read: Storm safety: What to do when a tornado warning is issued in your area

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Photos: Tropical Storm Eta takes aim at Florida after lashing Central America A woman gets inside a car during heavy rain and wind as tropical storm Eta approaches south of Florida, in Miami, Florida, on November 8, 2020. (CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

1 p.m. update

Hurricane Hunters investigating Eta determined that the storm has lost a bit of its wind strength and it is not a hurricane.

Eta is still a strong tropical storm and should not be underestimated. The maximum sustained winds are at 70 mph.

Severe weather has already started to affect parts of western Florida. Tornado warnings have been issued for portions south of the Everglades and also for the Tampa area.

Certified Meteorologist Irene Sans said she expects that the severe weather will mainly stay focused along the west coast of Central Florida during the afternoon hours. But the threat for severe weather, including the risk for tornadoes will increase after sunset for the rest of Central Florida, including Orlando.

LEARN THE DIFFERENCE: Tropical Storm versus Category 1 HurricaneI

IMPACTS TO CENTRAL FLORIDA:

The counties under a tropical storm warning should expect to start experiencing tropical-storm-force winds by Wednesday afternoon.

Some counties, such as Lake, Marion, Sumter, western Polk, western Volusia and parts of Flagler (just south of where the storm should exit) should receive widespread 3 inches of rain.

Eastern Lake County, Orange County, Central Volusia, Seminole, Osceola between 1 and 3 inches of rain. Brevard County about 1 inch of rain, with isolated higher amounts possible for the entire Central Florida region.

>>SCROLL DOWN FOR LATEST TRACK, WARNINGS, AND WATCHES IN EFFECT<<

The winds will be strong this evening moving from the southeast as the storm approaches the west coast of Central Florida. Heavy rain bands are likely to start this evening, for parts of western Central Florida. During the early morning hours, the downpours will affect Orange County and counties to the east of Central Florida as the storm moves inland.

THE COMPLEX TROPICS: What do they mean? Disturbance, depressions, tropical, subtropical storms, hurricanes

With the rain bands increasing starting tonight across Central Florida and us being in the “dirty side" of the system, there is the risk for isolated tornadoes to form across Central Florida.

Conditions will improve fast. We are expecting the winds to shift, from the west-southwest by Thursday afternoon and the rain will become more scarce.

12:20 p.m. update

Polk County Public Schools will be closed on Thursday, November 12, due to Hurricane Eta.

Tampa is suspending operations starting at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Another reschedule:

ULA is now targeting Friday, November 13, at 5:13 p.m. EST for the launch of the #NROL101 mission

11:15 a.m. update

Heavy squalls with tropical-storm-force winds spreading onshore the southwestern coast of Florida.

10 a.m. update

A Storm Surge Warning has been issued for the Florida west coast from Suwannee River to Bonita Beach, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in this case within 24 hours in the indicated locations

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles, mainly northeast of the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from its center.

Eta is forecast to make landfall early Thursday morning near Levy or Citrus County, likely as a tropical storm. Please, don’t underestimate Eta if it is a tropical storm, it will likely be a strong tropical storm that has a history of dumping lots of rain.

LEARN THE DIFFERENCE: Tropical Storm versus Category 1 Hurricane

IMPACTS TO CENTRAL FLORIDA:

The counties under a tropical storm warning should expect to start experiencing tropical-storm-force winds by Wednesday afternoon.

Some counties, such as Lake, Marion, Sumter, western Polk, western Volusia and parts of Flagler (just south of where the storm should exit) should receive widespread 3 inches of rain.

Eastern Lake County, Orange County, Central Volusia, Seminole, Osceola between 1 and 3 inches of rain. Brevard County about 1 inch of rain, with isolated higher amounts possible for the entire Central Florida region.

>>SCROLL DOWN FOR LATEST TRACK, WARNINGS, AND WATCHES IN EFFECT<<

The winds will be strong this evening moving from the southeast as the storm approaches the west coast of Central Florida. Heavy rain bands are likely to start this evening, for parts of western Central Florida. During the early morning hours, the downpours will affect Orange County and counties to the east of Central Florida as the storm moves inland.

THE COMPLEX TROPICS: What do they mean? Disturbance, depressions, tropical, subtropical storms, hurricanes

With the rain bands increasing starting tonight across Central Florida and us being in the “dirty side" of the system, there is the risk for isolated tornadoes to form across Central Florida.

Conditions will improve fast. We are expecting the winds to shift, from the west-southwest by Thursday afternoon and the rain will become more scarce.

Expect the weather to become more stable on Thursday, but it will be a very hot day.

READ MORE: 9-point checklist of things to do for your family’s hurricane plan

9:15 a.m. update

WARNINGS AND WATCHES IN EFFECT:

LATEST TRACK:

7:45 a.m. update

The National Hurricane Center said Eta became a Category 1 hurricane Wednesday morning near the coast of southwest Florida, as the Hurricane Hunters reported maximum sustained winds of 75 mph and higher gusts.

Forecasters said Eta should weaken before it makes landfall in Florida.

READ: It’s almost mid-November and the tropics are still very active: tropical wave enters Caribbean & Theta in open Atlantic

Tropical storm warnings were issued for Marion, Sumter, Lake and Polk counties. Tropical storm watches were issued for Flagler and Volusia counties.

Meteorologist Brian Shields said there are signs that the storm is weakening.

For Central Florida, tropical storm conditions are possible Wednesday night into Thursday.

7:30 a.m. update

Hurricane hunters said Eta is becoming better organized as tropical storm-force winds approach the coast of southwest Florida.

The center of Eta is forecast to move closer to the coast of Florida Wednesday.

Weather officials said it will approach the west-central coast of Florida Wednesday night and move inland Thursday.

Eta is expected to move into the western Atlantic late Thursday or early Friday.

The storm’s winds are reaching 70 mph. It is expected to be near or at hurricane strength Wednesday night as it approaches the west coast of Florida.

Weather officials said it will weaken rapidly after landfall Thursday.

READ: Veterans Day 2020: Deals and freebies on meals for veterans, active-duty

4:30 a.m. update

A hurricane watch was issued for portions of the west coast of Florida as Tropical Storm Eta continues to intensify.

Tropical storm warnings were issued for Marion, Sumter, Lake and Polk counties. Tropical storm watches were issued for Flagler and Volusia counties.

Eta is forecast to move closer to the southwest coast of Florida Wednesday and approach the west-central coast of Florida Wednesday night.

It is expected to move inland over the northern portion of the Florida peninsula Thursday.

The storms winds have increased to 70 mph.

Eta is expected to be near or at hurricane strength Wednesday night as it approaches the west coast of Florida.

Forecasters said Eta should rapidly weaken after it makes landfall Thursday.

Meteorologist Brian Shields said Eta will bring more rain to Central Florida Wednesday night and into Thursday, along with some gusty/squally weather throughout the day.

Tropical storm conditions will be possible in Central Florida Thursday, with an isolated tornado threat.

He said Eta’s speed has picked up overall, so after Thursday things will go back to normal.

Hurricane evacuation safety tips in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic (NCD)

Follow our Severe Weather team on Twitter for live updates:

• Chief meteorologist Tom Terry
• Brian Shields
• Irene Sans
• Kassandra Crimi
• George Waldenberger
• Rusty McCranie

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