Hurricane, storm surge watches issued for South Florida as Eta makes landfall in Cuba

Tropical Storm Eta made landfall early Sunday along the south-central coast of Cuba, according to the National Hurricane Center .

Sunday’s 7 a.m. advisory puts the tropical storm, moving at 12 mph, about 280 miles south of Miami. Forecasters at the hurricane center expect the storm to slow and turn toward the north later Sunday, followed by a westward shift on Monday. Forecasters expect the storm to produce a dangerous storm surge and flooding in parts of Cuba.

Eta weakened slightly with 60 mph maximum sustained winds. Tropical storm force winds extend up to 115 miles from the center.

Eta is on track to cross central Cuba Sunday before moving into the Florida Straits, approach South Florida and the Florida Keys on Sunday, pass near or over South Florida and the Florida Keys Sunday night and Monday and be over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday.

The tropical storm warning for the Cayman Islands was discontinued Saturday, but is still in effect for Cuba. The brush with Cuba and some storm-hampering wind shear were expected to keep Eta just under Category 1 hurricane status as it crosses the Florida Keys on Monday.

This is when — and how — you’ll feel Eta’s weather effects in South Florida and the Keys

South Florida skies were gray and winds were gusty Saturday as the first hint of Eta started to soak the region. The Miami office of the National Weather Service predicted that Homestead to Fort Lauderdale could see 10 to 15 inches of rain through Wednesday and placed the southeast coast under a flood watch.

South Florida should start feeling Eta’s continuous tropical-storm-force winds (39 mph and higher) late Sunday night, although some high gusts might make an appearance earlier in the day.

Watches and warnings

As of Sunday morning, a tropical storm warning was in effect 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.

A tropical storm watch was also issued for the West Coast of Florida from north of Englewood to Anna Maria Island.

A hurricane watch is also in effect for the coast of southern Florida from Golden Beach to Bonita Beach, including Biscayne Bay, and for the Florida Keys from Ocean Reef to the Dry Tortugas, including Florida Bay. A storm surge watch was put into effect for the same area.

The Cuban provinces of Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara, Cienfuegos and Matanzas remained under a tropical storm warning, as were the Northwestern Bahamas, including the Abacos, Andros Island, Berry Islands, Bimini, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island and New Providence.

Guatemala searches, Eta regains storm status, heads to Cuba

Grand Cayman Island reported estimated sustained winds of 40 mph Saturday morning, according to the hurricane center.

The peak of the storm winds for Miami will likely be felt around 6 a.m. Monday, the National Weather Service predicted, although the wind might not slow down until late Monday night.

Here is how Miami-Dade and Broward are preparing for Eta’s heavy storm rain, winds

How should we prepare for the storm? Start with free sandbags and a place for the car

When you might feel Eta

The system should take an east-northeast to northeast motion and is expected to build to a faster forward speed through early Sunday, the hurricane center said. A turn toward the north and northwest is expected by Sunday afternoon or night.

On the forecast track, the center of Eta is expected to cross over central Cuba Sunday, and near the Florida Keys or South Florida Sunday night and Monday.

“This could be a significant weather event,” Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said at an 11 a.m. Saturday Zoom conference. The mayor issued a state of emergency Friday evening.

On Saturday, Monroe County announced it, too, was under a state of emergency.

The heavy rainfall, along with storm surge two to four feet above normal, could bring flooding across Central America, Cuba, Jamaica, the Bahamas, South Florida and the Keys.

“A tornado or two may occur Sunday evening and Sunday night over South Florida and the Keys,” the hurricane center warned.