The National Weather Service office which services the central Florida Attractions area has issued a detailed look of the expected impacts of hurricane Eta as it approaches the Florida coast. Tropical storm warnings currently are not in place for Disney, Universal, or Sea World, but do impact Legoland and Busch Gardens.
The primary impacts are expected to be north of I-4, though some rain and wind impacts are a possibility throughout the region. Here’s a detailed overview as issued by the NWS in Melbourne, FL…
HURRICANE ETA LOCAL STATEMENT ADVISORY NUMBER 45
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL AL292020
1043 AM EST WED NOV 11 2020
THIS PRODUCT COVERS EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA
**TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS AND WATCHES FOR LAKE AND VOLUSIA
COUNTIES**
NEW INFORMATION
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* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- NONE
* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:
- A TROPICAL STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR COASTAL VOLUSIA AND
INLAND VOLUSIA
- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN LAKE AND
SOUTHERN LAKE
* STORM INFORMATION:
- ABOUT 260 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DAYTONA BEACH FL OR ABOUT 220
MILES SOUTHWEST OF ORLANDO FL
- 26.2N 83.7W
- STORM INTENSITY 75 MPH
- MOVEMENT NORTH-NORTHEAST OR 15 DEGREES AT 10 MPH
SITUATION OVERVIEW
------------------
HURRICANE ETA, CURRENTLY IS MOVING NORTH-NORTHEAST, ABOUT 145 MILES
SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF TAMPA. ETA IS FORECAST TO TURN GRADUALLY NORTHEAST
TONIGHT AND THURSDAY, MAKING LANDFALL AS A MODERATE, BUT WEAKENING
TROPICAL STORM ALONG THE FLORIDA NATURE COAST WELL NORTH OF TAMPA, BY
AROUND SUNRISE ON THURSDAY.
THE COMBINATION OF AN EASTWARD SHIFT IN THE TRACK, AND A SLIGHTLY
HIGHER INTENSITY FORECAST WILL INCREASE THE THREAT OF TROPICAL STORM
CONDITIONS FOR LAKE AND VOLUSIA COUNTIES. IT WILL ALSO BRING GREATER
RAINFALL AMOUNTS, GUSTY SQUALLS AND AN INCREASING THREAT FOR ISOLATED
TORNADOES TO MUCH OF EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA.
EXPECT INCREASING WINDS TONIGHT THROUGH LATE THURSDAY MORNING, MAINLY
NORTHWEST OF I-4. SUSTAINED SPEEDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH ARE EXPECTED OVER
NORTHERN PORTIONS OF LAKE COUNTY, AND NORTHWEST PORTIONS OF VOLUSIA
COUNTIES, WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 50 TO 60 MPH IN SQUALLS. WHILE WIND
SPEEDS WILL DECREASE FARTHER SOUTH, BREEZY CONDITIONS ARE STILL
EXPECTED.
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL TOTALS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES, WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS UP TO
5 INCHES, ARE POSSIBLE NORTHWEST OF INTERSTATE 4, WITH LOWER AMOUNTS
TO THE SOUTH.
CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN HAZARDOUS OVER THE ATLANTIC WATERS WITH HIGH
SURF, RIP CURRENTS, AND A STRONG NORTHWARD FLOWING LONGSHORE CURRENT
ALONG THE COAST. LARGE BREAKING WAVES BETWEEN 5 TO 8 FEET NEAR THE
COAST.
A FEW TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE IN FAST MOVING SQUALLS, MAINLY OVER
THE INTERIOR COUNTIES, WHERE CONDITIONS WILL BE MORE FAVORABLE.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------
* WIND:
PROTECT AGAINST DANGEROUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS
ACROSS LAKE AND VOLUSIA COUNTIES. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA
INCLUDE:
- SOME DAMAGE TO ROOFING AND SIDING MATERIALS, ALONG WITH DAMAGE
TO PORCHES, AWNINGS, CARPORTS, AND SHEDS. A FEW BUILDINGS
EXPERIENCING WINDOW, DOOR, AND GARAGE DOOR FAILURES. MOBILE
HOMES DAMAGED, ESPECIALLY IF UNANCHORED. UNSECURED LIGHTWEIGHT
OBJECTS BECOME DANGEROUS PROJECTILES.
- SEVERAL LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED, BUT WITH GREATER
NUMBERS IN PLACES WHERE TREES ARE SHALLOW ROOTED. SEVERAL
FENCES AND ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER.
- SOME ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM LARGE DEBRIS, AND MORE WITHIN URBAN
OR HEAVILY WOODED PLACES. A FEW BRIDGES, CAUSEWAYS, AND ACCESS
ROUTES IMPASSABLE.
- SCATTERED POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES, BUT MORE PREVALENT
IN AREAS WITH ABOVE GROUND LINES.
* FLOODING RAIN:
PREPARE FOR DANGEROUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT
IMPACTS, MAINLY NORTHWEST OF INTERSTATE 4 POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:
- MODERATE RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT SEVERAL EVACUATIONS AND
RESCUES.
- RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY QUICKLY BECOME SWOLLEN WITH SWIFTER
CURRENTS AND OVERSPILL THEIR BANKS IN A FEW PLACES, ESPECIALLY
IN USUALLY VULNERABLE SPOTS. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, CANALS, AND
DITCHES OVERFLOW.
- FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER SOME STRUCTURES OR WEAKEN FOUNDATIONS.
SEVERAL PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE EXPANDED AREAS OF RAPID
INUNDATION AT UNDERPASSES, LOW-LYING SPOTS, AND POOR DRAINAGE
AREAS. SOME STREETS AND PARKING LOTS TAKE ON MOVING WATER AS
STORM DRAINS AND RETENTION PONDS OVERFLOW. DRIVING CONDITIONS
BECOME HAZARDOUS. SOME ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES.
PREPARE FOR LOCALLY HAZARDOUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE
LIMITED IMPACTS ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA
* TORNADOES:
PROTECT AGAINST A TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTS
ACROSS EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:
- THE OCCURRENCE OF ISOLATED TORNADOES CAN HINDER THE EXECUTION
OF EMERGENCY PLANS DURING TROPICAL EVENTS.
- A FEW PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE TORNADO DAMAGE, ALONG WITH POWER
AND COMMUNICATIONS DISRUPTIONS.
- LOCATIONS COULD REALIZE ROOFS PEELED OFF BUILDINGS, CHIMNEYS
TOPPLED, MOBILE HOMES PUSHED OFF FOUNDATIONS OR OVERTURNED,
LARGE TREE TOPS AND BRANCHES SNAPPED OFF, SHALLOW-ROOTED TREES
KNOCKED OVER, MOVING VEHICLES BLOWN OFF ROADS, AND SMALL BOATS
PULLED FROM MOORINGS.
* OTHER COASTAL HAZARDS:
HIGH SURF, RIP CURRENTS, AND A STRONG NORTHWARD FLOWING LONGSHORE
CURRENT WILL CONTINUE IN IN THE CENTRAL FLORIDA ATLANTIC SURF ZONE
TODAY AND THURSDAY. REMAIN OUT OF THE SURF UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE!
A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR THE CENTRAL FLORIDA ATLANTIC
WATER OUT TO 60 NAUTICAL MILES FOR WINDS OF AROUND 20 TO 25 KNOTS AND
SEAS UP TO 10 FEET.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
----------------------------------
* EVACUATIONS:
EVACUATIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED.
* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:
WHEN SECURING YOUR PROPERTY, OUTSIDE PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE CONCLUDED
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE CONDITIONS DETERIORATE. THE ONSET OF
STRONG GUSTY WINDS OR FLOODING CAN CAUSE CERTAIN PREPAREDNESS
ACTIVITIES TO BECOME UNSAFE.
KEEP CELL PHONES WELL CHARGED. CELL PHONE CHARGERS FOR AUTOMOBILES CAN
BE HELPFUL, BUT BE AWARE OF YOUR RISK FOR DEADLY CARBON MONOXIDE
POISONING IF YOUR CAR IS LEFT IDLING IN A GARAGE OR OTHER POORLY
VENTILATED AREA.
IF YOU ARE A VISITOR, BE SURE TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE CITY OR TOWN IN
WHICH YOU ARE STAYING AND THE NAME OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH IT RESIDES.
LISTEN FOR THESE LOCATIONS IN LOCAL NEWS UPDATES. PAY ATTENTION FOR
INSTRUCTIONS FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
RAPIDLY RISING FLOOD WATERS ARE DEADLY. IF YOU ARE IN A FLOOD-PRONE
AREA, CONSIDER MOVING TO HIGHER GROUND. NEVER DRIVE THROUGH A FLOODED
ROADWAY. REMEMBER, TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN!
IF A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA, BE READY TO SHELTER
QUICKLY, PREFERABLY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND IN AN INTERIOR ROOM NOT
PRONE TO FLOODING. IF DRIVING, SCAN THE ROADSIDE FOR QUICK SHELTER
OPTIONS.
IF IN A PLACE THAT IS VULNERABLE TO HIGH WIND, SUCH AS NEAR LARGE
TREES, OR A MANUFACTURED HOME, OR ON A BOAT, CONSIDER MOVING TO A
SAFER SHELTER BEFORE THE ONSET OF THE STRONGEST WINDS OR FLOODING.
CLOSELY MONITOR WEATHER.GOV, NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL NEWS OUTLETS
FOR OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. LISTEN FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THE
FORECAST.
THERE IS A THREAT FROM TORNADOES WITH THIS STORM. HAVE MULTIPLE WAYS
TO RECEIVE TORNADO WARNINGS. BE READY TO SHELTER QUICKLY.
* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
- FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READY.GOV
- FOR INFORMATION ON CREATING AN EMERGENCY PLAN SEE GETAGAMEPLAN.ORG
- FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION SEE REDCROSS.ORG
NEXT UPDATE
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THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN MELBOURNE FL AROUND 5 PM EST, OR SOONER IF CONDITIONS
WARRANT.