Tropical storm Zeta forms, reaching the middle of the US Gulf Coast

Zeta predicts a strong tropical storm as the first Wednesday landslide in the Florida Panhund between central Louisiana, off the U.S. Gulf Coast.

“Although the current NHC forecast indicates that the system should weaken below hurricane strength before the landslide, users are reminded that strong tropical storms could still create significant storm surge, rain and wind impacts along the northern Gulf Coast,” the National Hurricane Center said Sunday.

On Saturday, Louisiana Gov. John Bell Edwards said state officials were monitoring the new system.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Cuba’s Pinar del Rio. Tropical storm monitoring is in place from Toulom to Rio Lagardos, Mexico and Cosmel.

Tropical Storm Warning Tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours. A tropical storm monitoring is possible within the tropical storm conditions monitoring area, usually within 48 hours.

Louisiana storms can set a record

If Zeta causes a landslide in Louisiana, it will be the fifth hurricane to do so this season. This would be a new record for most landslides in a season.

Also, it would set a record for most landslides in a season in any state (Florida in 2005).

These figures are only one landslide per storm per state.

Zeta will also be the 11th named hurricane to hit the U.S. continent this season, the most in a year. Previous storms were Bertha, Cristobal, Fay, Hannah, Isaiah, Laura, Marco, Sally, Beta and Delta.

It is unusual for many storms to hit the same place in the same season, but it does happen.

For example, Francis and Jean both attacked the southern tip of Hutchinson Island in Florida in 2004. Harvey attacked Louisiana in 2017, very close to where Cindy landed.

Two hurricanes caused landslides within 30 miles of each other, including Hermine and Colin in Florida in 2016, Ike and Edward in 2008 in Texas, and Katrina and Cindy in Louisiana in 2005.