Peak local impacts from Eta this morning through midday

Jacksonville, Fl — Tropical Storm Eta made landfall near Cedar Key in Florida’s big bend around 4 am today with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph.

Action News Jax Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh says local impacts will be greatest during the morning and midday hours.

TRACKING ETA: List of closings, cancellations

FOR JACKSONVILLE/NE FL./SE GA:

** I do not expect significant damage or any long term interruptions of our general infrastructure resulting from Eta. Any power outages should be sporadic & temporary... tree damage mostly minor... & any flooding mostly of the nuisance type. Businesses should be able to remain open for the most part & day to day activities should be able to easily resume after Eta moves away.

** gusty winds increase Thursday. Winds sustained 15-25 mph with gusts of 30-40 mph during the morning through early afternoon. Winds will potentially gust to 50+ mph in some of the stronger rain bands then diminish by later in the afternoon into the evening.

** dangerous rip currents at area beaches with rough seas/surf much of this week.

** on-&-off rain bands will move from south to north across the area through midday Thursday diminishing from west to east in the afternoon. These bands will produce brief stronger winds, heavy rain & isolated waterspouts or tornadoes. . Rainfall through Thursday will average a half inch to 1.5″.

** some minor flooding, especially at high tide with higher than avg. tides also along the St. Johns River & some of its tributaries + an approaching new moon phase. Tide times * here *. Some might remember the severe flooding with Irma in 2017 when the storm was in a similar location to where Eta is forecast to be. THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SITUATION. The flooding will *not* be near as severe since Eta will be much weaker than Irma was 3 year ago.... while coming in more from the west vs. Irma’s approach from the south & southwest. Still... there will likely be at least some - mainly short term - flooding in some of the same locations as during Irma in ’17 (downtown Jacksonville, near the St. Johns River & its tributaries... a rise on Black Creek but not a major flooding situation with most if not all streams & rivers staying within their banks).

** virtually *no* storm surge due to Eta’s angle of approach + weakening trend

LISTEN: Mike Buresh ‘All the Weather All the Time’ Podcast

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