MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Eta formed in the Caribbean late Saturday, tying the record for most named storms in a single Atlantic hurricane season.
The system had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) early Sunday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said in an advisory. It was centered 235 miles (380 kilometers) south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and 555 miles (890 kilometers) east of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua/Honduras border.
In the tropics, it's another record reached this active season: Newly-formed tropical storm "Eta" ties the record (with 2005) for the most named storms. pic.twitter.com/YTi1a9aybA
— 7 Weather (@7Weather) November 1, 2020
Forecasters expect Eta to become a hurricane by Monday. The system is forecast to be near the northeastern coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras by Monday night. A hurricane watch was issued for parts of both countries. Eta was moving west at about 15 mph (24 kph).
Rainfall totals could reach 15 inches (38 centimeters) in parts of Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and the southern coast of Hispaniola by Thursday evening. Local amounts of up to 25 inches (64 centimeters) could fall in portions of Central America, forecasters said.
Eta is the 28th named Atlantic storm this season, tying the 2005 record for named storms. However, this is the first time the Greek letter Eta is being used as a storm name because in 2005, after the season ended meteorologists went back and determined there was a storm that should have gotten a name, but didn’t.
Hurricane season still has a month to go, ending Nov. 30. And in 2005, Zeta formed in the end of December.
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