ZETA

As any leftover rain continues to clear the area, the wind will become the main factor throughout the day Friday. Drive thru trick or treat forecast for Friday, 10/30/2020As the wind calms, temperatures Saturday morning start in the 30s. Weather pattern for Halloween 2020Come Sunday, another cold front will move through the area, producing a few showers mainly east of the Parkway early in the afternoon. Cold front #2 arrives Sunday-MondayIt’s likely that we’ll see snow develop on our favored west-facing slopes. Temperatures struggle to get out of the 40s Monday with freezing temperatures possible by Tuesday morning (if the wind calms down).

ROANOKE, Va. – Zeta made landfall Wednesday as a strong Category 2 hurricane and has been racing through the Deep South ever since. Therefore, a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the southern half of our region. Tropical storm warning in effect for the southern half of our viewing area ThursdayIn addition to the threat for localized flooding, there’s the potential for wind gusts to reach 50 mph between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. in these locations. An additional 1-2″+ is expected from the storm, which could lead to flooding of creeks, streams, poor drainage and low-lying areas. FutureTracker - midday ThursdayAfter about 12 p.m., we’ll watch for some segments of high wind gusts and possible rotation (especially in Southside).

Early voting ended Tuesday, so Zeta hasn’t disrupted any voting so far. Early voting ended Tuesday, so Zeta hasn’t disrupted any voting so far. State officials weren’t sure how many of the 336 early voting locations statewide were closed or delayed in opening. ___6:55 a.m.Officials in Georgia say high winds from Tropical Storm Zeta have caused a second death in the South. ___4:00 a.m.A tropical storm warning is in effect in Atlanta as Tropical Storm Zeta makes its way quickly toward the northeast.

Hurricane Zeta passed through Wednesday with a tidal surge that caused the boat to become unmoored. In Atlanta and New Orleans, drivers dodged trees in roads and navigated intersections without traffic signals. John Bel Edwards said the state sustained “catastrophic” damage on Grand Isle in Jefferson Parish, where Zeta punched three breaches in the levee. Edwards ordered the Louisiana National Guard to fly in soldiers to assist with search and rescue efforts and urged continued caution. Zeta was the 27th named storm of a historically busy year with more than a month left in the Atlantic hurricane season.

ROANOKE, Va. – Several area schools are closing on Thursday due to potential weather impacts related to the tropical storm warning. Zeta to move directly over our area as a tropical depression Thursday]Below is a list of all of the school closings and delays across our region. In addition to the closings listed below, Henry County Public Schools will operate virtually on Thursday. We have discontinued our phone system and all status changes must be submitted online. Click here if you’re using the WSLS 10 app or having trouble seeing the list.

As Hurricane Zeta churned toward the northern Gulf Coast today (Oct. 28), the International Space Station captured some incredible views of the massive storm from orbit. The space station passed over Zeta just before 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) as its external cameras recorded video of the strengthening hurricane. Now a Category 2 storm, Zeta is expected to make landfall in southeastern Louisiana this afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Video: Hurricane Zeta spied by space station in stunning time-lapseRelated: How Earth-orbiting satellites are tracking the 2020 hurricane seasonWhile the International Space Station can only see the storm when its orbit passes above the swirling clouds, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are closely monitoring Hurricane Zeta with a suite of Earth-observing satellites. #Zeta now has winds of 100 mph and a #Hurricane Warning is in effect.

ROANOKE, Va. – Prior to Zeta, our weather remains fairly calm Wednesday. FutureTracker - Wednesday eveningPreceding Zeta, we’ll see a batch of heavy rain overnight into early Thursday morning. FutureTracker - early Thursday morningAs Zeta races up the spine of the Appalachian Mountains, our weather deteriorates with tropical rain moving in after 9 or 10 in the morning Thursday. FutureTracker - Thursday afternoonWhen all is said and done, most of the area is looking to accumulate 1-3 inches of rain. Layman Family Farms trick-or-treat eventColder air lags behind a bit, but makes its way into the area in time for Halloween.

Hurricane Zeta passed through Wednesday leaving much of the city and metro area without power. Even as Zeta battered the south, the upcoming election was still on the mind of some residents. “Guys, we received the brunt of Zeta, and Zeta gave us a good punch,” McInnis told WDSU-TV. More than 875,000 customers were without electricity in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, including about 350,000 in metro New Orleans. Zeta had top sustained winds of 110 mph (177 kph) as a Category 2 hurricane at landfall and is the 27th named storm of a historically busy Atlantic hurricane season — with over a month left to go.

Hourly planner for Tuesday, 10/27/2020We’ll be warmer Wednesday, with Zeta making landfall along the Gulf Coast during the evening. Some pockets may be heavy, but we don’t expect any strong winds at this time. FutureTracker - early Thursday morningWhere Zeta differs from the six previous storms we’ve dealt with is that it will be moving quickly. This means high wind gusts will be a threat between Noon and 6 p.m. Thursday, in addition to tropical downpours. FutureTracker - early Thursday eveningOnce Zeta moves to the east, the wind will stay strong through Friday even though much of the day will be dry.

ROANOKE, Va. – 5 p.m. Wednesday updateA Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for many along and south of U.S. 460. Hurricane Zeta has continued to gain strength this afternoon and it’s now a category 2 hurricane with winds of 110 mph. 5 a.m. Tuesday updateZeta made its first landfall along the Yucatan Peninsula and is now emerging into the Gulf of Mexico as a strong tropical storm. Hurricane and tropical storm warnings have been posted in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and western Cuba ahead of the storm’s arrival. On the forecast track, Zeta will move into the Gulf of Mexico and make landfall late Wednesday along the Gulf Coast.

Meanwhile, parts of the Rockies and Plains are getting hit with a lot of snow from a powerful storm system out west. Winter weather alerts on Monday, 10/26/2020Then, there’s Tropical Storm Zeta which continues to strengthen. Tropical tracker for the next few days - ZetaRemnant rain from Zeta is expected here Wednesday night and especially Thursday. The exact track of Zeta’s remnants will determine exactly what times we’ll see the heaviest rain, but it does look as though Thursday will be the worst weather day this week. We’ll keep you posted as Zeta’s track becomes more certain.

Clouds gather over Playa Gaviota Azul as Tropical Storm Zeta approaches Cancun, Mexico, early Monday morning, Oct. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Victor Ruiz Garcia)MIAMI – Hurricane Zeta lashed Mexico's Caribbean coast resorts around Tulum with high winds and rain Monday night as it headed toward the Yucatan Peninsula and then a possible landfall on the central U.S. Gulf Coast at midweek. It was the second time this month that boat captain Francisco Sosa Rosado had to perform the same maneuver, after Hurricane Delta hit the resort in early October. Trees felled by Hurricane Delta barely three weeks earlier still littered parts of Cancun, stacked along roadsides and in parks. There was also a Tropical Storm Zeta in 2005, but that year had 28 storms because meteorologists later went back and found they missed one, which then became an “unnamed named storm."

– One of the most active seasons in the tropics (by some metrics) continues as Tropical Storm Zeta became the latest named storm in the Atlantic Basin. As of 8 a.m., it’s just barely at tropical storm status with 40 mph winds and it’s not moving at all. Tropical Storm Zeta satellite and current data (8 a.m. Sunday) (WSLS)The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season has now tied 2005 with 27 named storms. 2005′s strongest storm, Wilma, was also stronger than this year’s strongest, Laura. 2005 vs. 2020 in the Atlantic basin (WSLS)There are still 37 days left in hurricane season and 68 in 2020 as a whole, so there’s a good chance we’ll see at least one more named storm to break the record.

ROANOKE, Va. – While some of you may have experienced spotty showers during the daytime Saturday, most of us stayed dry. Martinsville is the big winner for rain so far with Lynchburg and Roanoke not far behind. Today's chance of rain (WSLS)The wedge will also keep temperatures down as chilly air coming down from a New England high pressure system gets trapped against our mountains. Today's hourly temperature planner (WSLS)The weather improves through the early stages of the work week, with warmer temperatures and drier conditions. We will have to keep our eye on the tropics for later in the week as whatever is left of Tropical Storm Zeta could combine with a complex storm system.