Last Updated on October 26, 2020, 8:02 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Tropical storm Zeta was expected to turn into a hurricane and hit Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico on Monday, that before moving on to the US Gulf coast and threatening the southern US.
The storm is set to hinder oil production, and if it hits the southern US states, it could create new records for the number of hurricane landfalls which have taken place in the United States.
BP said on Sunday that it has started to evacuate four offshore US Gulf of Mexico secure facilities and oil platforms after the Tropical storm Zeta formed in the Caribbean Sea.
There is a hurricane warning in Mexico for the tourist resorts of Tulum and Cozumel; as well as the surrounding areas.
NHC warned that Zeta is expected to raise water levels by as much as 1-3 feet above normal tide levels and cause a dangerous storm surge when it hits the Yucatan Peninsula.
NHC added that as well as beating Mexico, Zeta is expected to bring heavy rainfall across portions of western and central Cuba, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, the Keys and southern Florida.
NHC forecasted that Zeta would be just below or at hurricane strength when it reaches the northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday.
It said that there is an increasing risk of rainfall, storm surge and wind impacts from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.
Zeta is about 275 miles from the island of Cozumel in Mexico with maximum winds of 50 miles per hour.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
