NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER

TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT

HURRICANE ZETA
(AL282020)
24–29 October 2020

Eric Blake, Robbie Berg and Andrew Hagen

National Hurricane Center
10 May 2021

GOES-EAST VISIBLE/INFRARED “SANDWICH” IMAGE OF ZETA NEAR LANDFALL AT 2109 UTC 28 OCTOBER 2020

Zeta was a late-season hurricane that made landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula as a
category 1 (on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale) hurricane. After weakening to a
tropical storm, Zeta rapidly intensified into a category 3 hurricane just before landfall in
southeastern Louisiana. Zeta’s fast forward motion brought strong winds well inland into
areas of the southeastern United States. The hurricane caused 5 direct fatalities and about
$4.4 billion in damage in the United States.
 Hurricane Zeta 2

Table of Contents

SYNOPTIC HISTORY....................................................................................... 3
METEOROLOGICAL STATISTICS .................................................................. 4
Winds and Pressure ....................................................................................... 5
Storm Surge ................................................................................................... 6
Rainfall and Flooding ...................................................................................... 7
Tornadoes....................................................................................................... 8
CASUALTY AND DAMAGE STATISTICS........................................................ 8
Mexico ............................................................................................................ 9
Louisiana ........................................................................................................ 9
Mississippi ...................................................................................................... 9
Alabama ....................................................................................................... 10
Florida .......................................................................................................... 11
Georgia......................................................................................................... 11
South Carolina and North Carolina ............................................................... 11
Virginia ......................................................................................................... 12
FORECAST AND WARNING CRITIQUE ....................................................... 12
Genesis ........................................................................................................ 12
Track ............................................................................................................. 12
Intensity ........................................................................................................ 13
Storm Surge ................................................................................................. 13
Watches and Warnings................................................................................. 14
IMPACT-BASED DECISION SUPPORT SERVICES (IDSS) AND
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION .......................................................................... 14
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................................................. 15
TABLES ......................................................................................................... 15
FIGURES........................................................................................................ 42
 Hurricane Zeta 3

Hurricane Zeta
24–29 OCTOBER 2020

SYNOPTIC HISTORY

The genesis of Zeta was complex. A large area of unsettled weather developed over the
southwestern Caribbean Sea by 19 October due to the combination of a tropical wave and a mid-
level trough. On the next day, low-level southwesterly flow was observed north of Panama, and
deep convection increased north of that country, causing the formation of a weak surface trough.
By this time the original tropical wave had moved near the Yucatan Peninsula with an
accompanying broad area of low pressure noted on satellite imagery. Although high vertical wind
shear prevented additional development of the Yucatan disturbance, southerly flow from that
system caused the precursor trough of the tropical cyclone over the southwestern Caribbean Sea
to drift northward, and by 22 October Zeta’s precursor system was located about 100 n mi
southwest of Jamaica. This disturbance had gradually been improving in organization as upper-
level ridging built over the western Caribbean and moist southwesterly flow in the low- to mid-
levels increased, aided by the positive phase of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (Fig. 1) moving
through the area. The system drifted west-northwestward to a location about 100 n mi south of
Grand Cayman on 23 October, with a broad area of low pressure, disorganized convection and a
poorly defined circulation noted. After deep convection increased overnight, satellite data indicate
that a well-defined low formed by 1200 UTC 24 October, marking the genesis of a tropical
depression about 60 n mi southwest of Grand Cayman. The “best track” chart of the tropical
cyclone’s path is given in Fig. 2, with the wind and pressure histories shown in Figs. 3 and 4,
respectively. The best track positions and intensities are listed in Table 11.

The depression initially drifted west-southwestward as high pressure built over the Gulf of
Mexico, and the depression gradually strengthened to a tropical storm 12 h after genesis as
intense central convection developed, even while the low- and mid-level circulation centers were
not in alignment. Zeta moved slowly and erratically to the west or west-northwest on 25 October
while steadily strengthening in a low-shear and very warm water environment. Aircraft
reconnaissance found that Zeta became a hurricane early on 26 October about 200 n mi
southeast of Cozumel, Mexico. The hurricane moved much faster toward the west-northwest
beginning on that day as deep-layer high pressure strengthened to the north, and Zeta made
landfall near Ciudad Chemuyil, Mexico around 0355 UTC 27 October with an estimated intensity
of 75 kt and a minimum central pressure of 977 mb. Zeta weakened over the Yucatan Peninsula
and then emerged over the southern Gulf of Mexico as a 55-kt tropical storm later that morning.

1 A digital record of the complete best track, including wind radii, can be found on line at ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/atcf.
Data for the current year’s storms are located in the btk directory, while previous years’ data are located in the archive
directory.
 Hurricane Zeta 4

The synoptic pattern was changing rapidly ahead of Zeta as a deep-layer cutoff low over
the southwestern United States moved eastward. This low caused the ridge over the Gulf of
Mexico to erode from the west, and the tropical cyclone moved northwestward on 27 October
across the southern Gulf of Mexico. Zeta maintained its strength that day while it recovered from
land interaction, but began to re-intensify the next day in a conducive environment of low shear
and warm SSTs—an uncommon combination for so late in the year in the southern Gulf of Mexico.
Zeta became a hurricane again early on 28 October while it turned northward and moved faster
over the south-central Gulf of Mexico. The cutoff low reached west Texas that day, and the fast
flow between the low and the retreating ridge located near Florida caused Zeta to accelerate
north-northeastward. This pattern also likely provided a favorable divergent upper-level
environment for strengthening, and Zeta rapidly intensified while it moved quickly (with a forward
speed of 20–25 kt) toward the Louisiana coast. Radar and reconnaissance data indicate that
Zeta made landfall near Cocodrie, Louisiana at around 2100 UTC 28 October with an intensity of
100 kt and a minimum central pressure of 970 mb.

The hurricane’s eye moved directly over New Orleans a couple of hours after landfall, with
the center crossing into southern Mississippi that night and moving across southwestern Alabama
early the next day, bringing strong winds well inland. Zeta weakened to a tropical storm just south
of Tuscaloosa, Alabama early on 29 October and then raced northeastward across northern
Georgia and the southern Appalachian Mountains. The storm transitioned into a post-tropical
cyclone over central Virginia by 1800 UTC that day, and continued moving rapidly northeastward.
Zeta became entwined with a frontal zone early on 30 October and then dissipated over the
western Atlantic Ocean a couple of hundred miles east of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

METEOROLOGICAL STATISTICS
Observations in Zeta (Figs. 2 and 3) include subjective satellite-based Dvorak technique
intensity estimates from the Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (TAFB) and Satellite Analysis
Branch (SAB), and objective Advanced Dvorak Technique (ADT) estimates and Satellite
Consensus (SATCON) estimates from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite
Studies/University of Wisconsin-Madison. Observations also include flight-level, stepped
frequency microwave radiometer (SFMR), and dropsonde observations from six flights of the 53rd
Weather Reconnaissance Squadron of the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command and eleven flights
of the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) WP-3D and G-IV aircraft. Data and imagery from
NOAA polar-orbiting satellites including the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU), the
NASA Global Precipitation Mission (GPM), the European Space Agency’s Advanced
Scatterometer (ASCAT), and Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites, among
others, were also useful in constructing the best track of Zeta, along with WSR-88D radar data
from coastal NWS Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs).

Ship reports of winds of tropical storm force associated with Zeta are given in
Table 2, and selected surface observations from land stations and data buoys are given in Table
3.
 Hurricane Zeta 5

Winds and Pressure

Zeta’s first peak intensity of 75 kt at landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula at 0355 UTC 27
October is based on a combination of NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft data that were available
until about 4 hours before landfall and subsequent lower surface pressures observed at landfall.
The plane measured credible SFMR winds of 66–71 kt during its last mission, along with a central
pressure of about 980–983 mb at 0000 UTC (two drops in the last half hour of the flight measured
984–983 mb, but with varying surface winds of 8 kt to 32 kt). A WeatherFlow station at Xel-Ha
Park measured 978 mb along with 11 kt of wind at 0356 UTC, suggesting a 977 mb pressure at
landfall. With the drop in central pressure in the few hours after the plane departed, it is very
likely further strengthening occurred, and the landfall intensity is set to 75 kt, which is still below
the Knaff-Zehr-Courtney pressure-wind relationship (79 kt) for this system. A sustained wind of
64 kt was also measured at Playa del Carmen, about 20 n mi northeast of the landfall location.

The Louisiana landfall intensity is estimated at 100 kt. Peak 700-mb flight-level winds of
119 kt were measured at 1843 UTC 28 October, a couple of hours before landfall. Subsequently,
the aircraft sampling of Zeta’s eastern quadrant was incomplete leading up to landfall because of
the fast-moving and rapidly intensifying nature of the hurricane, and the northeastern eyewall was
onshore by the time the aircraft returned to the area (Fig. 5). However, the highest winds were
observed on the Slidell, Louisiana, WSR-88D radar (KLIX). Radial velocity data from KLIX
showed 10-bin (~0.25 km per bin) average radar velocities of 125 kt at 2031 and 2033 UTC,
indicating a large area of strong winds, with peak 4-bin velocities of 127 kt for 4 volume scans
centered around 2030 UTC at heights between 9,500 and 10,000 ft. These data would normally
correspond to an intensity of around 110 kt using the typical dropsonde-based wind reductions
from a height of around 700 mb/10,000 ft. However, the available data suggest that these typical
flight-level to surface wind reductions were not realized in the later stages of Zeta, possibly since
the eye was broken in the southeastern quadrant. A dropsonde at 1840 UTC measured a 110 kt
average wind in the lowest 150 meters in the northeastern quadrant, which corresponds to an
intensity of 90–95 kt. This dropsonde was near the area where 700-mb flight-level winds were
119 kt, and the resulting ratio of the surface wind estimate from the dropsonde to the flight-level
winds was roughly 80%. Using this reduction factor for the radar-derived winds (125–127 kt,
which were near 700 mb) results in an intensity estimate of 100 kt at landfall. It is also worth
noting that prior to landfall the pressure fell 3 mb after the aircraft data around 1840 UTC that
supported an intensity of 95 kt. While a 5-kt change is typical for post-analysis best track intensity
changes, this increase in Zeta’s peak intensity crosses the threshold from Category 2 to Category
3. However, these Category 3 sustained winds were likely experienced over only a very small
area at and near the coast near the landfall location, and this change in the estimated landfall
intensity is of little practical significance in terms of the impacts associated with the storm there.
It is also important to emphasize that NHC’s intensity analysis uncertainty is about +/- 10%, and
the atypical structure of Zeta’s inner core at and prior to landfall also contributed to the uncertainty
in this case.

The strongest wind report received from a near-standard height was from the public in
Golden Meadow, Louisiana at 2139 UTC - a sustained wind of 82 kt and a gust to 96 kt (instrument
height 6 m). There were few strong wind reports at the immediate coast in southeastern Louisiana
since the area that experienced Zeta’s peak winds (near and west of Port Fourchon in the East
 Hurricane Zeta 6

Timbalier National Wildlife Refuge) is relatively unpopulated. The first tropical-storm-force winds
were recorded along the Louisiana coast around 1800 UTC 28 October.

In Mississippi, the strongest sustained wind report received was from Gulfport where a
WeatherFlow station measured a sustained wind of 74 kt and a gust to 88 kt at 0057 UTC 29
October, and it is estimated that category 2 were experienced in some locations west of there.
While no sustained hurricane-force winds were measured in Alabama, they are estimated to have
occurred north of coastal Mobile County in unpopulated areas. The peak sustained wind report
in Alabama was at Buccaneer Yacht Club in Mobile, where a WeatherFlow instrument measured
sustained winds of 53 kt at 0147 UTC 29 October. The peak gust in Alabama, 79 kt, was
measured at Mobile Regional Airport near that same time.

Farther east, there were multiple sustained tropical-storm-force wind reports across the
Florida Panhandle, with the highest sustained wind of 41 kt measured by a WeatherFlow
instrument at Santa Rosa Sound at 0157 UTC 29 October. Sustained tropical-storm-force winds
were also noted in portions of northern Georgia, northwestern South Carolina and western North
Carolina while Zeta was still tropical, in mountainous areas and lower elevation areas to the south
and southeast of the Appalachians.

The minimum pressure at landfall in Louisiana is estimated to be 970 mb based on a

dropsonde at 2042 UTC 28 October, which measured 971 mb and 11 kt of surface wind. There
were no other surface pressure reports available in or near the eye along the coast at landfall.

Zeta is the latest landfalling major hurricane on record for the continental United States,
with the old record being the Tampa Bay Hurricane of 25 October 1921.

Storm Surge2
Zeta produced storm surge inundation of 6 to 10 ft above ground level (AGL) along the
Mississippi coast (particularly in the back bays) and along the Alabama coast west of Mobile Bay.
In the Back Bay of Biloxi, a United States Geological Survey (USGS) stream gauge at Old Fort
Bayou in Ocean Springs measured a peak water level of 9.5 ft above Mean Higher High Water
(MHHW), and a second gauge farther to the west in Biloxi recorded 7.2 ft MHHW. A storm surge
hindcast produced by the NHC Storm Surge Unit (not shown) indicates that slightly higher water
levels (up to 10 ft AGL) occurred in the back bay between these two locations in the St. Martin
area. Elsewhere along the Mississippi coast, the National Ocean Service (NOS) tide gauge at
the Bay Waveland Yacht Club recorded a maximum water level of 8.2 ft MHHW, and the NOS
gauge at the Pascagoula NOAA Lab measured a peak water level of 7.1 ft MHHW. Farther to
the east, the NOS gauge at the Bayou La Batre Bridge in Alabama measured a maximum water

2 Several terms are used to describe water levels due to a storm. Storm surge is defined as the abnormal rise of water
generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tide, and is expressed in terms of height above
normal tide levels. Because storm surge represents the deviation from normal water levels, it is not referenced to a
vertical datum. Storm tide is defined as the water level due to the combination of storm surge and the astronomical
tide, and is expressed in terms of height above a vertical datum, i.e. the North American Vertical Datum of 1988
(NAVD88). Inundation is the total water level that occurs on normally dry ground as a result of the storm tide, and is
expressed in terms of height above ground level. At the coast, normally dry land is roughly defined as areas higher
than the normal high tide line, or Mean Higher High Water (MHHW).
 Hurricane Zeta 7

level of 6.9 ft MHHW. The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Mobile found several high
water marks of 4 to 8 ft AGL in the Coden, Alabama, area, but the character of these debris lines
and their exposure suggests that the marks likely included the effects of wave action on top of the
surge. Table 2 and Figure 6 provide observations from various tide stations and water level
sensors along much of the U.S. Gulf coast.

Zeta also produced storm surge inundation of 6 to 10 ft AGL in the unprotected wetland
areas of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, to the west of the West Bank Mississippi River Levee.
The highest observation in the area was 7.0 ft MHHW at a USGS gauge in Barataria Bay to the
north of Grand Isle. However, the storm surge hindcast indicates that higher water levels likely
occurred to the east of that location, with Zeta’s winds piling water up against the west side of the
levee. The observations and hindcast suggest that inundation of 6 to 10 ft AGL occurred west of
the levee between Port Sulphur and Empire. Just to the south of there, a sensor deployed at
Joshua’s Marina in Buras by a storm chase team measured a storm surge of about 5.2 ft above
normal tide levels. Storm surge inundation of 3 to 6 ft AGL occurred elsewhere along the coast
of southeastern Louisiana from Terrebonne Bay to the Mississippi border, including the south and
west shores of Lake Pontchartrain. The highest water level observations in these areas were
5.8 ft MHHW from a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) gauge at Lake Pontchartrain-West
End and 4.8 ft MHHW from an NOS gauge at New Canal Station on Lake Pontchartrain.
Inundation of 1 to 3 ft AGL occurred along the remainder of the Louisiana coast west of
Terrebonne Bay.

In Alabama, storm surge inundation of 3 to 6 ft AGL occurred along the coast of Mobile
Bay. The highest water level observations within the bay were 5.9 ft MHHW at the NOS gauge
at the West Fowl River Bridge and 5.3 ft MHHW at Coast Guard Sector Mobile. On the east side
of the bay, the NOS gauge at Weeks Bay recorded 4.2 ft MHHW. The National Weather Service
surveyed debris lines as high as 7 ft AGL in the Daphne and Spanish Fort areas, but the character
and exposure of these marks indicates that these heights included the effects of waves on top of
the surge. Inundation heights were lower along the open coast, with the NOS gauge at Dauphin
Island registering 2.4 ft MHHW.

Storm surge inundation was 1 to 2 ft AGL along the coast of the Florida Panhandle. The
highest water level observations were 2.1 ft and 2.0 ft MHHW from the NOS gauges at Pensacola
and Panama City Beach, respectively.

Rainfall and Flooding

Zeta is estimated to have produced up to 10 inches (255 mm) of rain in the Yucatan
Peninsula (Fig. 7), with a peak measured total of 9.57 inches (243 mm) at Cozumel. While there
were reports of flooded streets in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, there were no significant
damage reports in Mexico from the flooding.

In the United States, a general area of 4–6 inches of rain was observed from near Zeta’s
landfall location in southeastern Louisiana through southeastern Mississippi and western
Alabama, with peak totals up to about 8 inches (Fig. 8). Peak observed rainfall totals by state
included 7.35 inches in Pearl River, Louisiana, 6.87 inches near Leaksville, Mississippi, and
 Hurricane Zeta 8

4.26 inches near Woodville, Alabama. It should be emphasized, however, that the fast forward
speed of Zeta limited the rainfall and flooding impacts in those areas (see the state-by-state
summaries in the Casualty and Damage Statistics below). Note that there was also an area of
heavy rain in Arkansas (up to about 8 inches) that was not solely associated with Zeta, but was
due to a combination of moisture from Zeta and the non-tropical cut-off low.

The first significant freshwater flooding reports were in northern Georgia, well northeast of
the landfall area, where a narrow strip of 4–6 inches of rainfall occurred from there northward
along the southern and eastern edge of the Appalachian Mountains through western North
Carolina and southern Virginia. The peak rainfall total for Zeta actually occurred in western North
Carolina just east of Cedar Mountain of 8.80 inches, with one other report over 8 inches (Blantyre,
8.41 inches). The peak rainfall total in Georgia was 6.43 inches near Suches, and the highest
total in Virginia was 4.28 inches near Altavista.

An enormous number of rainfall reports were received from Zeta in both its tropical and
extratropical stages. While there are too many reports (~9,000) to include here, the full rainfall
spreadsheet is included at: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/supplemental/zeta_rain.xlsx.

The precursor disturbance of Zeta led to heavy rain and flooding in Jamaica, although no
rainfall totals are available.

Tornadoes
There was only one tornado reported while Zeta was a tropical cyclone, in Noxubee
County, Mississippi. It was rated EF1 (on the Enhanced Fujita Scale) with a path length of 5
miles. The damage estimated from the tornado was about $30,000 from roof damage to two
homes, two sheds and two downed power poles.

CASUALTY AND DAMAGE STATISTICS

Zeta was responsible for five direct fatalities3, all in the United States. One man drowned
due to storm surge near a marina in Biloxi, Mississippi. The other four deaths were due to trees
falling on homes or mobile homes: three in Georgia (2 in Gwinnett County, 1 in Cherokee County)
and one in Alabama (Clarke County). Two additional indirect deaths were reported: an
electrocution from a power line in New Orleans and a motorcycle accident in Harrison County,
Mississippi caused by low-hanging power lines. At least 75 injuries were reported in Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, with over 70 of those occurring in southern Mississippi.

3 Deaths occurring as a direct result of the forces of the tropical cyclone are referred to as “direct” deaths. These would
include those persons who drowned in storm surge, rough seas, rip currents, and freshwater floods. Direct deaths also
include casualties resulting from lightning and wind-related events (e.g., collapsing structures). Deaths occurring from
such factors as heart attacks, house fires, electrocutions from downed power lines, vehicle accidents on wet roads,
etc., are considered “indirect” deaths.
 Hurricane Zeta 9

The NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) estimates that Zeta
caused $4.4 billion (USD) in damage in the United States. The state-by-state breakdowns are in
the U.S. sections below.

Outside of the United States, two deaths occurred in Jamaica from the precursors of Zeta
as heavy rain caused a mudslide that destroyed a home in Shooter’s Hill on 23 October. Note
that these deaths are not considered direct because the system was not yet a tropical cyclone.
The Jamaican government reported up to $15 million (USD) of damage to homes and
infrastructure on the island from the precursor disturbances.

Mexico
The damage reported across Mexico was generally light. There were flooded roads and
extensive tree branch damage in eastern Quintana Roo and Yucatan states, but no deaths or
serious injuries were reported.

Louisiana
Hurricane-force winds caused widespread damage across southeastern Louisiana near
and east of the track of Zeta’s center. Significant wind damage was noted in many parishes south
of Lake Pontchartrain, including Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Terrebonne and
Lafourche Parishes. Hundreds of homes in those parishes suffered significant wind damage, with
numerous reports of lost or severely damaged roofs, and about 100 homes were destroyed,
including a large metal commercial building. Local officials estimated that thousands of additional
homes had minor damage. Numerous trucks, trailers and boats were flipped over by strong winds
along Louisiana Highway 46 (where they were parked to avoid the storm surge). Trees, along
with hundreds of power lines and power poles, were also downed or snapped from Zeta, including
some falling on homes (Fig. 9) and over 500 tree emergencies (trees down on a road or a building)
were reported. Storm surge breached the levee in Grand Isle in a few places and flooded
Louisiana Highway 1, cutting off access from Port Fourchon to Grand Isle. Several homes and
businesses in Leeville and Golden Meadow were flooded, and storm surge overtopped a local
levee in the Myrtle Grove area. The surge also flooded other coastal roads, including Louisiana
Highway 56, and the bottom levels of the Lumcon building in Terrebonne were flooded.

Elsewhere across the state, there was notable damage to trees, power lines and power
poles near as far as about 60 n mi to the left of the track of Zeta’s center, with widespread power
outages. These areas included the parishes of St. Charles, St. Tammany, St. James and St.
John the Baptist. More than 3,000 people were housed in shelters across the state, and overall
about one-half million customers lost power at some point during the hurricane. The NCEI
estimates that about $1.25 billion of damage was caused in the state due to Zeta.

Mississippi
The worst damage from Zeta in the state was in the coastal counties of Hancock, Harrison
and Jackson, which were affected by sustained hurricane-force winds. Many snapped trees,
downed power lines and power poles were reported across those counties, and up to 10,000
homes were damaged from the wind or flying debris. The most extreme damage appears to be
in Harrison County, one person died from the storm surge and numerous homes suffered
 Hurricane Zeta 10

moderate-to-major damage. Similar damage was also reported at several homes in Jackson
County. The storm surge flooding caused hundreds of roads to become impassable in the Bay
St. Louis area, and portions of U.S. Highway 90 were underwater in Harrison County.

Farther north, Stone, George, Perry, Greene and Wayne Counties all reported significant-
to-widespread tree and power line damage. Several hundred homes were damaged in those
counties, primarily due to the wind and/or trees. A couple of hundred homes had severe damage
and a few dozen were destroyed, with falling trees again the primary cause.

Generally minor damage was reported in other areas of southern Mississippi. About 40
roads were blocked from falling trees in Forrest County, and a tree fell onto a home near Rawl
Springs which temporarily trapped the occupants. Scattered trees and power lines were blown
down across Lamar County, with any significant damage occurring south of U.S. Highway 98, and
one tree fell through a house just south of Purvis. Minor tree damage was reported across Pearl
River, Walthall, Pike, Marion, Jones, Clarke and Lauderdale Counties, with the most significant in
Pearl River County. Over 200,000 customers lost power during Zeta across the state, and about
$635 million of damage was estimated by NCEI.

Alabama
Zeta’s large wind field to the east of the center also produced damage in areas of southern
Alabama, with the worst damage in Baldwin and Mobile Counties. Widespread downed trees,
power lines and power poles were reported, and numerous homes suffered roof damage and
structural damage from falling trees. A notable storm surge occurred on the west end of Dauphin
Island, in Bayou La Batre and Coden, and the northwest portion of Mobile Bay. The U.S. Highway
90 Causeway was completely flooded and a portion of Water Street was submerged in Downtown
Mobile. The storm surge also resulted in damage to some restaurants and businesses along the
eastern portion of the U.S. Highway 90 Causeway in Baldwin County. Several piers were
destroyed on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay and the seawall at the Fairhope Pier was damaged,
along with a few docked sailboats. Significant surge extended south to Point Clear where the
surge went across County Road 1, and a few parks along the eastern shore of the bay were
damaged.

Significant wind damage was reported farther north, near and southeast of where the
center of Zeta tracked. The counties of Washington, Choctaw, Clarke, Wilcox and Monroe all
sustained numerous-to-widespread tree and power line damage, and one person died from a
falling tree in Clarke County. Numerous homes, estimated in the hundreds, were reported
damaged in those counties, with the bulk of the damage due to falling trees.

Other wind damage was noted across portions of southern, central and even northeastern
Alabama. Many reports were received of trees, power lines and power poles downed, along with
widespread power outages, some blocked roads and roof damage. Two injuries were noted in
Tallapoosa County from the falling trees, with structural damage observed in Butler, Crenshaw,
Lee, Clay, Chilton, Jefferson, Chambers, Talladega and Perry Counties. Over 400,000 customers
lost power at some point during Zeta, and NCEI estimates that about $840 million of damage was
done in the state due to Zeta.
 Hurricane Zeta 11

Florida
The effects of Zeta were primarily felt in the northwestern part of the state. About 10,000
customers lost power from gusty winds, and downed trees were noted. These trees resulted in a
vehicle accident in Holmes County and five closed roads in Walton County. Strong rip currents
and some beach erosion were reported in Bay County, along with a few signs down. No
significant damage or injuries were recorded.

Georgia
Strong winds from Zeta affected much of Georgia, but were most concentrated in the
northern portion of the state. Similar to other regions, strong gusty winds brought down trees and
power lines, causing widespread outages and damage to some structures. Atlanta was most
severely hit in the early morning hours of 29 October with tropical-storm-force wind gusts, causing
downed trees, blocked roads and downed traffic signals over a large portion of the metropolitan
area. Falling trees were responsible for 3 deaths (2 in Gwinnett County, 1 in Cherokee County),
and at least four families had to be rescued in the Atlanta area due to trees falling on their homes
or cars. DeKalb County reported more than 50 trees down on roadways. There was also some
inland flooding reported in northern Georgia in Union County due to the Nottely River overtopping
its banks, with flooding also reported in Rabun County along several lakes and the Tallulah River.
About 1 million customers lost power at some point during Zeta, mostly in northern Georgia. The
NCEI estimates that Zeta caused $1.1 billion in damage in Georgia and was one of the top 5
costliest tropical cyclones on record there.

South Carolina and North Carolina

Western North Carolina and northwestern South Carolina saw widespread trees and
power lines down, causing significant power outages especially in areas like Burke County, NC,
along with the most serious flooding reported anywhere in Zeta. A flash flood caused a mudslide
in Caldwell County, NC, along with some flooding of the upper Catawba River. Additional flooding
was reported in southern Buncombe County, NC. Some trees and powerlines were reported
downed in the Greenville, SC, area with sustained tropical-storm-force winds recorded at the
nearby airport, and some homes were damaged. Iredell County, NC, also reported widespread
downed trees, with over 200 of them falling on power lines, with other trees falling on a couple of
dozen homes. Mecklenburg County, NC, reported 100 trees down across the county, along with
one tree falling on a structure. Several dozen downed trees were recorded over McDowell
County, NC, knocking down power lines, and 3 vehicles and 1 home were reported damaged. In
addition, flash flooding was reported in that county with water from Jack’s Creek rising over a
bridge and the nearby Bat Cave Road. Three water rescues were made in Surry County, NC,
due to extensive flooding, especially near Elkin and Ararat, and several roads and bridges were
washed out in those areas. Other significant effects were noted in Pickens County, SC, with
about 400 downed trees, and many of these were on roadways or homes, with 15 homes requiring
first responder support. Over 100 reports of wind damage were received in Rockingham County,
NC, mostly from trees blown over. Homes were also reported damaged in Rowan and Union
Counties, NC. Over 400,000 customers lost power in North Carolina from Zeta, along with about
150,000 in South Carolina. About $550 million in damage was estimated in North and South
Carolina from Zeta by NCEI.
 Hurricane Zeta 12

Virginia
A mix of water and wind damage reports were received from the state, mostly in the south-
central portion of the state. These reports were generally of flooding and falling trees causing
some blocked roads and minor structural damage to residences (mostly from the falling trees).
Pittsylvania County noted up to 100 trees knocked down and numerous downed power lines with
damage to one vehicle due to a light pole collapse. The City of Martinsville and Henry County
also reported damage to cars from falling trees and power lines. Around 60,000 customers were
without power at some point during the storm, but damage was less than $25 million across the
state.

FORECAST AND WARNING CRITIQUE

Genesis
Zeta’s formation was not well forecast at first (Table 4). The precursor disturbance was
first mentioned in the NHC Tropical Weather Outlook (TWO) and given a low (<40%) 5-day
chance of formation 228 h before Zeta became a tropical depression. The probabilities stayed in
the low category and were introduced into the 2-day section for about a day (114–96 h prior to
genesis), then all probabilities were removed from the TWO 90 h before genesis. In hindsight,
the genesis was more complex than initially expected and did not happen along a precursor wave
(see Synoptic History section), but instead from a disturbance generated behind the wave (so the
overall system took longer to form than expected). The system was re-inserted into the TWO
66 h before genesis, and 5-day genesis probabilities were increased to the medium (40–60%)
category 30 h before formation and to the high (>60%) category about 18 h before formation. The
disturbance was first given a low chance of 2-day formation 48 h before it became a tropical
depression, a medium chance 24 h and a high chance 18 h before formation. While many models
showed the genesis of a tropical cyclone, almost all of them showed it forming too soon and not
necessarily due to the correct evolution, leading to a challenging genesis forecast.

Track
A verification of NHC official track forecasts for Zeta is given in Table 5a. Official forecast
track errors were lower than the mean official errors for the previous 5-yr period at all forecast
times through 48 h, above the mean official forecast errors at 60–72 h, and well below the mean
at 96 h (albeit for a small sample). Overall, this was a skillful set of forecasts considering the high
climatology and persistence (OCD5) errors, roughly 50–75% greater than their respective 5-year
means at all forecast times, which generally indicate that Zeta’s overall track was harder to
forecast than that of a typical Atlantic tropical cyclone (possibly due to the unusual track for late
October).
 Hurricane Zeta 13

A homogeneous comparison of the official track errors with selected guidance models is
given in Table 5b and Fig. 10.4 On the whole, none of the models had lower errors than the NHC
official forecasts. A large portion of the guidance had a notable northeastward bias, especially
for the landfall in Mexico (Fig. 11a). Across the Gulf Coast, the models largely had an eastward
bias at first, but about 24 h after genesis the biases were much smaller (though still to the east),
and the track guidance also came into better agreement (Fig. 11b). Fig. 12 shows a comparison
of all of the model/forecast runs before Louisiana landfall from the NHC official forecast (OFCL),
HFIP Corrected Consensus aid (HCCA), the GFS model and the U.K. Met global model (EGRI).
The NHC track forecasts were very accurate and consistently showed a track close to the eventual
Louisiana landfall location. The Hurricane Multi-Scale Ocean-Coupled Non-Hydrostatic Model
(HMNI) and EGRI had poor forecasts for Zeta (the former having a high northeast bias, while the
latter was too slow/left), while the Canadian model (CMCI) and HCCA had relatively good
forecasts for the hurricane.

Intensity
A verification of NHC official intensity forecasts for Zeta is given in Table 6a. Official
forecast intensity errors were higher or much higher than the mean official errors for the previous
5-yr period at all forecast times except 60 h. This pattern matches the OCD5 errors that were
generally higher than their respective 5-yr means, suggesting that Zeta’s intensity was more
difficult to forecast than for a typical Atlantic tropical cyclone, likely due to land interaction and the
rapid intensification (RI) episode in the Gulf of Mexico.

A homogeneous comparison of the official intensity errors with selected guidance models
is given in Table 6b and Figure 13. NHC’s official intensity forecasts were generally not as good
as some of the guidance in the short-term, but beat most of the guidance at 48 h and beyond.
The GFS, ECMWF and LGEM models did not do well for Zeta’s intensity forecast. Overall the
HCCA and HWRF models were the best performers for Zeta, although the long-range
performance of all models was fairly poor.

Two periods were especially difficult for the model suite – one near the Yucatan Peninsula
(not enough strengthening before landfall) and the second in the Gulf of Mexico (Fig. 14a) due to
the bulk of the guidance missing Mexico. In fact, the intensity trends near Yucatan were not
correctly predicted by almost all guidance (presumably due to the poor track forecast), showing
steady strengthening through the central Gulf of Mexico then weakening over the northern Gulf
of Mexico. The RI episode in the Gulf of Mexico before landfall was not forecast by any of the
guidance (Fig. 14b) even as it was starting, although the HWRF model did provide useful guidance
that the intensification could be significant.

Storm Surge
For the coasts of Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana, the initial peak storm surge
inundation forecast issued at 2100 UTC 26 October was 4 to 6 ft above normally dry ground

4The Florida State Superensemble (FSSE) did not have enough forecasts to meet NHC’s homogeneity requirement
and thus were not included in the track / intensity model verification.
 Hurricane Zeta 14

somewhere between Port Fourchon, Louisiana, and Dauphin Island, Alabama. For the
Mississippi coast, the forecast was raised to 5 to 8 ft AGL at 1500 UTC 27 October and ultimately
settled on 7 to 11 ft AGL at 2100 UTC 28 October (in the hours before the worst surge affected
that area). For the peak surge along the Louisiana coast, the forecast was raised to 5 to 7 ft AGL
at 0900 UTC 28 October and then ultimately to 6 to 9 ft AGL at 2100 UTC 28 October, about the
time Zeta was making landfall near Cocodrie, Louisiana.

Watches and Warnings

Coastal wind watches and warnings associated with Zeta are given in Table 7. For the
United States, a Hurricane Watch was issued about 45 h before the sustained tropical-storm-
force winds reached the coast, and a Hurricane Warning was issued about 33 h before the
sustained tropical-storm-force winds reached land. These values are close to the desired lead-
times of 48 h for watches and 36 h for warnings. Note that other than a small eastward extension
of the Tropical Storm Warning area, the watches and warnings were consistent from first issuance
until landfall.

Storm surge watches and warnings associated with Zeta are given in Table 8 and
indicated in Fig. 15. A Storm Surge Watch was first issued for the northern Gulf coast from
Intracoastal City, Louisiana, to Navarre, Florida, including Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Borgne,
Vermilion Bay, Mobile Bay, and Pensacola Bay at 2100 UTC 26 October. The entire watch area
was upgraded to a Storm Surge Warning at 0900 UTC 27 October. The watch and warning were
issued approximately 45 h and 33 h, respectively, before the onset of sustained tropical-storm-
force winds around 1800 UTC 28 October on the Louisiana coast.

NHC uses storm surge inundation of 3 ft or greater above normally dry ground as a first-
cut threshold for issuing storm surge watches and warnings. As shown in Fig. 14, nearly all tide
and stream gauges that measured at least 3 ft above MHHW fell within the Storm Surge Warning
area. A few gauges on the south side of Lake Pontchartrain outside of the Hurricane and Storm
Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS) recorded water levels higher than 3 ft MHHW;
however, a storm surge warning was intentionally not issued for that area because it would have
triggered emergency alerts within the adjacent greater New Orleans area within the HSDRRS.
No observations of inundation of 3 ft or greater above normally dry ground were received from
the eastern end of the warning area (western Florida Panhandle) or the western end (around
Vermilion Bay).

IMPACT-BASED DECISION SUPPORT SERVICES (IDSS) AND

PUBLIC COMMUNICATION

The NHC began communication with emergency managers on 26 October as Zeta was in
the northwestern Caribbean through its landfall in Louisiana on 28 October. This communication
included briefings and Federal video-teleconferences with FEMA Headquarters and FEMA
Regions 4 and 6, along with the Gulf States. These decision support briefings were coordinated
through the FEMA Hurricane Liaison Team, embedded at the NHC. In addition, the NHC director
 Hurricane Zeta 15

maintained direct communications with senior state emergency management officials to discuss
the evolving threat to the Gulf coast. The Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch of NHC provided
five live briefings on Zeta to the U.S. Coast Guard District 8 in New Orleans between 25 and 28
October in support of USCG’s life-saving mission. In addition to NHC’s IDSS described above,
there was a large-scale collaborative IDSS effort across the NWS, including WFOs, RFCs, and
National Centers, in response to the multiple life-threatening hazards produced by Zeta along the
Gulf Coast and in the southeastern United States.

NHC opened a media pool on 27–28 October to network broadcast and cable
news/weather outlets and local TV stations along the northern Gulf Coast and inland from Lake
Charles, Louisiana, to Panama City, Florida. During the 2-day pool operation, 43 broadcasts
were generated for generic distribution, network, cable and local affiliates and Skype
interviews. Audio recordings of the top-of-the-hour generic pool broadcasts were made available
on the NHC website.

On social media, the @NHC_Atlantic Twitter account had 23 million Twitter impressions
beginning when Zeta’s precursor disturbance was highlighted in the Tropical Weather Outlook on
21 October. NHC provided 8 Facebook Live broadcasts via its Facebook page with 300,000
views during the 2-day period. Postings of the latest NHC advisories were made onto the NHC
Facebook page at a minimum of once every three hours. The post reach during this event was
2.5 million, and the post engagement was 1.2 million.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Data in Table 3 were compiled from Post Tropical Cyclone Reports issued by NWS
Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) in Jackson, Mississippi; Birmingham, Alabama; Peachtree
City, Georgia; Blacksburg, Virginia; Tallahassee, Florida; Mobile, Alabama; and New Orleans and
Lake Charles, Louisiana, as well as Public Information Statements issued by inland WFOs. Data
and reports from the Weather Prediction Center (WPC), National Data Buoy Center, NOS Center
for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers were also used in the creation of this report. Laura Alaka and William Booth
from the NHC Storm Surge Unit provided storm surge data and a storm surge hindcast for the
analysis, Senior Hurricane Specialist John Cangialosi created the best track map (Fig. 2),
Hurricane Specialist Philippe Papin created the radar figures (Fig. 5a-c), David Roth from WPC
created the rainfall map and Roger Edwards from the Storm Prediction Center provided the final
tornado count.
 Hurricane Zeta 16

Table 1. Best track for Hurricane Zeta, 24–29 October 2020.

Wind
Pressure
Date/Time (UTC) Latitude (°N) Longitude (°W) Speed Stage
(mb)
(kt)

24 / 1200 18.4 82.6 1007 25 tropical depression

24 / 1800 18.2 83.0 1006 30 "
25 / 0000 18.0 83.2 1005 35 tropical storm
25 / 0600 17.7 83.5 1004 40 "
25 / 1200 17.8 83.6 1003 45 "
25 / 1800 18.0 83.7 1000 50 "
26 / 0000 18.2 83.8 996 55 "
26 / 0600 18.5 84.1 993 65 hurricane
26 / 1200 18.9 84.8 990 65 "
26 / 1800 19.4 85.7 984 70 "
27 / 0000 19.9 86.6 980 70 "
27 / 0355 20.4 87.4 977 75 "
27 / 0600 20.6 87.9 981 65 "
27 / 1200 21.3 89.0 985 60 tropical storm
27 / 1800 22.2 90.0 988 55 "
28 / 0000 23.2 90.8 990 55 "
28 / 0600 24.4 91.5 984 65 hurricane
28 / 1200 26.0 91.7 978 80 "
28 / 1800 28.0 91.1 973 95 "
28 / 2100 29.2 90.6 970 100 "
29 / 0000 30.2 89.9 973 85 "
29 / 0600 32.8 87.5 986 60 tropical storm
29 / 1200 35.3 83.6 990 45 "
29 / 1800 37.8 78.2 992 45 extratropical
30 / 0000 39.5 71.7 993 45 "
30 / 0600 dissipated
28 / 2100 29.2 90.6 970 100 maximum winds,
minimum pressure
and landfall near
Cocodrie, Louisiana
27 / 0355 20.4 87.4 977 75 landfall near Ciudad
Chemuyil, Mexico
 Hurricane Zeta 17

Table 2. Selected ship reports with winds of at least 34 kt for Hurricane Zeta, 24-29
October 2020.

Ship call
Date/Time Latitude Longitude Wind Pressure
sign
(UTC) (N) (W) dir/speed (kt) (mb)

28 / 0400 MAOR7 24.0 88.4 140 / 42 1009.3

28 / 0900 MAOR7 24.0 89.7 170 / 36 1006.2

28 / 1100 MAOR7 23.9 90.2 180 / 36 1005.6

28 / 1700 9HA401 27.9 91.5 320 / 40 988.1

29 / 1800 WDI317 32.5 77.8 220 / 45 1006.8

 Hurricane Zeta 18

Table 3. Selected surface observations for Hurricane Zeta, 24–29 October 2020.

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

MEXICO
Weatherflow
Cancun (XCCN) 27/0228 1000.7 27/0220 56 64
(21.06N 86.78W) (1 min, 11 m)
Cozumel (XCOZ) 27/0244 992.0 27/0329 48 68
(20.53N 86.94W) (1 min, 11 m)
Playa del Carmen (XPDC) 27/0311 991.2 27/0253 64 76
(20.58N 87.12W) (1 min, 11 m)
Puerto Morelos (XPRM) 27/0249 995.2 27/0651 57 65
(20.83N 86.89W) (1 min, 10 m)
Tulum-Xel-Ha Park (XTUL) 27/0356 978.1 27/0432 38 48
(20.32N 87.36) (1 min, 10 m)

Public/Other
Akumal (iCyclone) 27/0357 979.2
(20.40N 87.32W)
Playa del Carmen
(iCyclone) 27/0350 996.0
(20.62N 87.09W)

UNITED STATES
Buoys
42012 (NOAA) 29/0020 1004.3 29/0341 43 52
(30.06N 87.55W) (1 min, 4 m)
42056 (NOAA) 26/1150 1002.6 26/1741 52 60
(19.82N 84.95W) (1 min, 4 m)

Gulf of Mexico Offshore Oil Platforms

Main Pass 289C (KVKY) 29/0215 55 64
(29.25N 88.44W) (2 min, 115m)
Mississippi Canyon (MDJ) 28/1815 45 53
(28.64N 89.79W) (90 m)

LOUISIANA
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Sites
Belle Chasse NAS (KNBG) 28/2255 973.2 28/2335 46 76 1.59
(29.82N 90.03W) (2 min, 10 m)
Boothville/Venice (KLNQ) 28/2235 995.6I 28/2215 40I 59I
(29.35N 89.44W) (2 min, 10 m)
Houma (KHUM) 28/1850 1003.7I 28/1850 32I 42I
(29.56N 90.66W) (2 min, 10 m)
New Orleans International 41
28/2310 978.3 28/2335 62 2.93
(KMSY) (29.98N 90.25W) (2 min, 10 m)
New Orleans Lakefront
(KNEW) 28/2320 973.6
(30.04N 90.03W)
Reserve (KAPS) 28/2315 991.2 28/2315 35 46 1.94
(30.09N 90.58W) (2 min, 10 m)
Slidell (KASD) 29/0025 977.0 28/2353 36 59 4.06
(30.35N 89.82W) (2 min, 10 m)

Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) Sites

 Hurricane Zeta 19

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

SW Pass (BURL1) 28/2200 55 65

(28.91N 89.43W) (2 min, 38 m)

National Ocean Service (NOS) Sites

Frenier Landing (FREL1) 28/2336 983.7 28/2336 40 53
(30.11N 90.42W) (1 min, 10 m)
Grand Isle (GISL1) 28/2154 39 61 3.24 3.0
(29.27N 89.96W) (2 min, 7 m)
New Canal (NWCL1) 28/2324 974.5 28/2254 59 85 4.77 5.15 4.8
(30.03N 90.11W) (2 min, 10 m)
North of Eugene Island
28/2130 993.6 28/2130 34 42 2.22 1.2
(EINL1) (4 m)
(29.37N 91.38W)
Pilot’s Station East/SW
28/2212 996.2 28/2218 54 67 2.90 2.5
Pass (PSTL1) (2 min, 20 m)
(28.93N 89.41W)
PIlottown (PILL1) 28/2230 997.8 28/2300 46 59
(29.18N 89.26W) (2 min, 10 m)
Shell Beach (SHBL1) 28/2330 980.2 28/2342 70 88 3.66 4.11 3.4
(29.87N 89.67W) (2 min, 16 m)
West Bank 1 (BYGL1) 28/2230 977.3 28/2206 32 47
(29.79N 90.42W) (2 min, 31 m)
Port Fourchon (PTFL1) 3.10 3.0
(29.11N 90.20W)
Freshwater Canal Locks 19
(FRWL1) 29/1600 26 2.77 3.44 2.6
(29.55N 92.31W)
(20 m)
Pilot’s Station East 54
(PSTL1) 28/2100 996.2 28/2218 67 2.90 2.5
(28.93N 89.41W)
(24 m)
Calcasieu Pass (CAPL1) 27
28/1930 1002.8 29/0612 33 1.91 2.14 1.7
(29.77N 93.34W) (12 m)
Pilottown (PILL1) 46
28/2218 997.8 28/2300 59 1.99 1.6
(29.18N 89.26W) (12 m)
Lake Charles (LCLL1) 28/2048 1004.2 1.75 2.23 1.5
(30.22N 93.22W)
Bulk Terminal (BKTL1) 1.83 2.00 1.3
(30.19N 93.30W)
LAWMA, Amerada Pass 23
(AMRL1) 28/2136 994.3 29/0948 33 2.12 1.86 1.2
(11 m)
(29.45N 91.34W)
Berwick, Atchafalaya River 28
(TESL1) 28/2130 37 0.86 2.05 0.0
(29.67N 91.24W)
(13 m)

United States Geological Survey (USGS) Stream Gauges

Barataria Bay N of Grand
Isle (NGIL1) 7.81 7.0
(29.42N 89.95W)
Pearl River Navigation
Canal Lock & Dam #1 7.35
(PRUL1)
(30.46N 89.78W)
Caillou Bay SW of
Cocodrie (CCOL1) 5.22 4.3
(29.08N 90.87W)
 Hurricane Zeta 20

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

American Bay near Pointe-

a-la-Hache (PLHL1) 5.70I 4.3I
(29.57N 89.70W)
Crooked Bayou near
Delacroix (GRPL1) 5.47 4.1
(29.71N 89.72W)
Hackberry Bay NW of
Grand Isle (HACL1) 4.80I 4.0I
(29.40N 90.04W)
Little Lake near Cutoff
(CTFL1) 4.62 3.9
(29.52N 90.18W)
Black Bay near Pointe-a-la-
Hache (PSIL1) 4.68I 3.3I
(29.63N 89.56W)
Barataria Pass at Grand
Isle (EGIL1) 3.74 2.9
(29.27N 89.95W)
Caminada Pass NW of
Grand Isle (CPGL1) 3.58 2.8
(29.23N 90.05W)
Caillou Lake SW of Dulac
(DCLL1) 3.33 2.3
(29.25N 90.92W)
Mississippi Sound near
Grand Pass (GRPL1) 2.39 1.2
(30.12N 89.25W)
Lake Pontchartrain – West
End (WEGL1) 6.30 5.8
(30.02N 90.12W)
Rigolets near Lake
Pontchartrain (RIGL1) 5.32 4.3
(30.16N 89.74W)
Lake Pontchartrain at
Lakefront Airport (PLAL1) 4.21I 3.6I
(30.04N 90.02W)
Bayou Dupre Flood Gate
(BDML1) 4.35 3.1
(29.94N 89.84W)
Chef Manteur Pass near
Lake Borgne (CMPL1) 4.04 2.9
(30.07N 89.80W)
Lake Pontchartrain at
Mandeville (LPML1) 3.34 2.7
(30.37N 90.09W)
Pass Manchac
Pontchatoula (PMPL1) 2.84 1.8
(30.28N 90.40W)
Bayou Bienvenue Flood
Gate 2.65 1.5
(30.00N 89.92W)

Timmer/Simpson/Theiss Surginator Sensors

Buras – Joshua’s Marina 5.2E
(29.35N 89.54W)
 Hurricane Zeta 21

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Venice –
Venice Marina 2.8E
(29.24N 89.36W)
Venice – Cypress Cove
Marina 1.8E
(29.25N 89.36W)

Hydrometeorological Automated Data System (HADS) Sites (NWS)

Barataria Bay Pass
(EGIL1) 28/2200 64
(29.27N 89.95W)
Barataria Bay near Grand
Isle (NGIL1) 28/2200 60
(29.42N 89.95W)
Bay Dosgris (E of Galiano)
(DOSL1) 28/2200 68
(29.47N 90.10W)
Caillou Lake near Dulac 15
SW (DCLL1) 28/2130 46
(29.25N 90.92W)
Calliou Bay near Cocodrie
18 SW (CCOL1) 28/2000 49
(29.08N 90.87W)
Mississippi Sound at Grand
Pas (GRPL1) 28/2300 45
(30.12N 89.25W)
NE Bay Gardene Near Pt a
La Hache 11E (BGNL1) 28/2230 63
(29.59N 89.61W)
New Orleans (NORL1) 4.70
(29.93N 90.14W)
Seabrook Closure (SBCL1) 29/0000 33
(30.03N 90.04W)

Weatherflow
Bayou Bienvenue (XBYU) 28/2312 971.1 28/2252 76 97
(30.00N 89.90W) (5 min, 27 m)
Dulac (XDUL) 28/2136 980.6 28/2146 55 68
(29.35N 90.73W) (1 min, 10 m)
Mandeville (XMVL) 29/0012 980.1 29/0035 42 51
(30.36N 90.09W) (1 min, 10 m)
Midlake (XPTN) 28/2335 976.8 28/2351 56 64
(30.20N 90.12W) (1 min, 12 m)
New Orleans Lakefront
28/2334 972.6 28/2358 58 67
(XLKF) (1 min, 10 m)
(30.04N 90.02W)
Waggaman (XJEF) 28/2234 973.6 28/2235 48 65
(29.94N 90.23W) (1 min, 10 m)

Offshore Oil Platforms

Louisiana Offshore Oil Port
28/2133 993.1I 28/1958 35I 60I
(LOPL1) (2 min, 58 m)
(28.89N 90.02W)
South Marsh Island 268A
28/1910 46 52
(KSCF) (25 m)
(29.12N 91.87W)
 Hurricane Zeta 22

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

West Delta 27A (KDLP) 28/2135 51 73

(29.12N 89.55W) (2 min, 35 m)

Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS)

Big Branch NWR (BBNL1) 29/0047 43 4.74
(30.32N 89.94W)
Sela Portable (TS947) 28/2134 23 57
(30.11N 89.86W) (2 m)

Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP)

Belle Chasse (CW3916) 28/2217 987.1I 28/2215 32I 54I
(29.84N 90.00W)
Belle Chasse (EW3364) 28/2218 986.5I 28/2218 31I 52I
(29.86N 89.99W)
Bourg (FW6044) 28/2150 978.3 28/2210 30I 50I
(29.56N 90.60W)
Gretna (EW8473) 28/2330 976.6 28/2231 23I 44I
(29.91N 90.05W)
Houma (EW3858) 28/2128 987.1 4.84
(29.56N 90.64W)
Kenner (FW1110) 28/2315 979.3 28/2301 27 50 3.39
(30.03N 90.22W)
Lacombe (FW1251) 29/0030 981.0 4.17
(30.32N 89.97W)
Laplace (AU112) 28/2335 985.8 2.48
(30.06N 90.45W)
Mandeville (FW1704) 29/0016 985.4 4.01
(30.42N 90.07W)
New Orleans (CW4185) 28/2246 978.0I 28/2246 25I 54I 2.83
(29.95N 90.20W)
New Orleans (EW6362) 28/2325 975.3 28/2250 30 58
(29.97N 90.09W)
New Orleans (FW1622) 28/2308 977.0 28/2238 24 43 3.85
(29.94N 90.07W)
Raceland (D1103) 28/2202 982.7 28/2202 29 47 2.91
(29.70N 90.57W)

Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) Sites

Lacombe 1.4N (LA-ST-8) 4.95
(30.32N 89.93W)

Public/Other
Barataria 28/2159 977.0I 28/2159 49I
(29.73N 90.12W)
Bourg 28/2154 995.6 28/2144 33 55
(29.54N 90.59W) (17 m)
Braithwaite 28/2304 976.3 28/2304 47 59
(29.87N 89.95W) (11 m)
Estelle 28/2215 981.7I 28/2354 32I 48I
(29.84N 90.12W) (6 m)
Golden Meadow 28/2134 983.1 28/2139 82 96
(29.16N 90.18W) (6 m)
Golden Meadow 28/2129 72 91
(29.39N 90.27W)
Grand Isle 28/2033 47 76
(29.23N 90.00W)
Gretna 28/2300 974.3I 28/2230 36I 55I
(29.93N 90.06W) (2 m)
 Hurricane Zeta 23

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Jefferson 28/2314 974.3 28/2349 47I 55

(29.95N 90.14W) (5 m)
New Orleans 1 WSW 28/2259 82
(29.96N 90.10W)
Slidell 28/2330 980.4I 28/2330 49I 70I
(30.22N 89.82W) (7 m)
St. Rose 28/2244 979.7 28/2319 44 54
(29.96N 90.32W) (9 m)
Westwego 28/2300 975.6 28/2230 35 56
(29.91N 90.14W) (3 m)

MISSISSIPPI
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Sites
Biloxi (KBIX) 29/0100 989.5 29/0126 56 78 2.67
(30.43N 88.92W) (2 min, 10 m)
Gulfport (KGPT) 29/0055 985.8 29/0049 55 83 1.97
(30.40N 89.07W) (2 min, 10 m)
Hattiesburg (KHBG) 29/0227 984.8 29/0227 28 50 3.67
(31.27N 89.26W) (2 min, 10 m)
Hattiesburg (KPIB) 29/0225 988.8 29/0225 31 40 2.26
(31.47N 89.33W) (2 min, 10 m)
Meridian (KMEI) 29/0358 992.1 29/0417 28 39 3.51
(32.34N 88.75W) (2 min, 10 m)
Meridian (KNMM) 29/0422 993.9 29/0512 23 34 4.15
(32.55N 88.56W) (2 min, 10 m)
Pascagoula (KPQL) 29/0135 996.3 29/0040 39 53 2.03
(30.46N 88.53W) (2 min, 10 m)

National Ocean Service (NOS) Sites

Petit Bois Island, Port of
29/0048 997.9 29/0048 49 68
Pascagoula (PTBM6) (10 min, 5 m)
(30.21N 88.50W)
Bay Waveland Yacht Club
29/0036 980.7 29/0018 70 90 8.74 9.23 8.2
(WYCM6) (2 min, 10 m)
(30.33N 89.33W)
Pascagoula NOAA Lab
(PNLM6) 7.41 7.95 7.1
(30.37N 88.56W)

USGS Stream Gauges

Old Fort Bayou at Ocean
Springs (OPFM6) 10.88 9.5
(30.42N 88.82W)
Back Bay of Biloxi
(BBBM6) 8.57 7.2
(30.42N 88.98W)
East Pearl River near
Claiborne (EPCM6) 8.57 7.2
(30.19N 89.53W)
Pascagoula River at
Pascagoula (PRPM6) 7.97 6.7
(30.37N 88.56W)
West Pascagoula River at
Gautier (WPGM6) 7.97 6.6
(30.38N 88.61W)

Hydrometeorological Automated Data System (HADS) Sites (NWS)

 Hurricane Zeta 24

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Chickasawhay River at
Leaksville (LEKM6) 6.87
(31.15N 88.56W)
Chickasawhay River at
Enterprise (ENSM6) 4.61
(32.18N 88.82W)

Weatherflow
Biloxi (XBIL) 29/0156 985.0 29/0101 52 73
(30.44N 88.98W) (1 min, 15 m)
Gulfport (XGPT) 29/0042 985.9 29/0057 74 88
(30.36N 89.11W) (1 min, 10 m)
Ship Island (XSHI) 29/0044 990.3 29/0052 67 75
(30.23N 88.98W) (1 min, 12 m)

Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS)

Black Creek (BLCM6) 4.23
(30.85N 89.03W)
Camp Keller (CKWM6) 29/0050 29 65 2.31
(30.52N 88.98W) (6 m)
Grand Bay (GRBM6) 29/0125 28 45 2.66
(30.44N 88.43W) (6 m)
Hancock (NNHM6) 29/0109 39 3.57
(30.45N 89.45W) (6 m)
Lauderdale (RLDM6) 4.74
(32.37N 88.46W)
Leakesville (LKKM6) 29/0314 58
(31.14N 88.60W) (6 m)
MS Sandhill (SHCM6) 29/0151 22 56 1.88
(30.45N 88.66W) (6 m)
Ragland Hills (FRGM6) 29/0227 21 35 4.11
(31.20N 89.18W) (6 m)
Wausau (LAUM6) 29/0409 40 4.01
(31.53N 88.89W) (6 m)

Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP)

Carriere (AU216) 29/0040 980.4 4.70
(30.64N 89.70W)

Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) Sites

Carriere 5.4 E (MS-PR-13) 4.59
(30.62N 89.56W)
Picayune 5.6 ENE (MS-
PR-4) 4.85
(30.55N 89.59W)

Public/Other
Bay St. Louis (iCyclone) 29/0034 979.6
(30.32N 89.34W)
Hattiesburg Forrest County
EMA 29/0225 49
(31.25N 89.34W)
Lake Bogue Homa
(KMSLAURE22) 29/0352 30 44
(31.70N 89.02W)
Macedonia 3 SSW
(KMSPETAL10) 29/0234 38 52
(31.34N 89.20W)
 Hurricane Zeta 25

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Moss Point 28/2315 997.6I 29/0159 38I 50I

(30.49N 88.47W) (12 m)
Ocean Springs 29/0104 991.5 29/0104 29 44
(30.36N 88.73W) (7 m)
Saucier 29/0134 31 52
(30.63N 88.97W) (35 m)
Three Rivers 29/0134 31I 50I
(30.60N 88.47W) (26 m)
Wool Market 29/0059 988.1I 29/0106 36I 52I
(30.50N 88.96W) (27 m)

ALABAMA
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Sites
Alabaster (KEET) 29/0640 990.9
(33.18N 86.78W)
Alexander City (KALX) 29/0655 997.3 29/0755 30 54 1.24
(32.91N 85.96W) (2 min, 10 m)
Anniston (KANB) 29/0745 991.9 29/0841 34 47 1.31
(33.60N 85.85W) (2 min, 10 m)
Auburn Univ Airport
29/0635 1002.4 29/0740 30 55
(KAUO) (2 min, 10 m)
(32.62N 85.44W)
Evergreen (KGZH) 29/0400 999.0 29/0349 37 61 1.14
(31.42N 87.04W) (2 min, 10 m)
Fairhope (KCQF) 29/0135 1001.7 29/0255 37 50
(30.46N 87.88W) (2 min, 10 m)
Florala Municipal (K0J4) 29/0402 1005.8 29/0658 29 47
(31.04N 86.31W) (2 min, 10 m)
Greenville (KPRN) 29/0452 994.2 29/0658 29 56
(31.85N 86.61W) (2 min, 10 m)
Maxwell AFB (KMXF) 29/0556 996.6 29/0553 35 51 1.06
(32.39N 86.37W) (2 min, 10 m)
Mobile (KBFM) 29/0130 999.0 29/0105 43I 64I 1.12
(30.64N 88.07W) (2 min, 10 m)
Mobile (KMOB) 29/0205 997.3 29/0210 48 79 1.71
(30.68N 88.25W) (2 min, 10 m)
Montgomery (KMGM) 29/0553 996.5 29/0645 36I 53I
(32.30N 86.40W) (2 min, 10 m)
Pell City (KPLR) 29/0715 991.1 29/0815 27 44
(33.56N 86.25W) (2 min, 10 m)
Selma (KSEM) 29/0511 34 53
(32.34N 86.99W) (2 min, 10 m)
Sylacauga (KSCD) 29/0655 992.3 29/0735 36I 54I
(33.17N 86.30W) (2 min, 10 m)
Talladega (KASN) 29/0755 993.2 29/0835 33 36I 1.45
(33.57N 86.05W) (2 min, 10 m)
Troy (KTOI) 29/0616 1002.7 29/0621 27 45
(31.86N 86.01W) (2 min, 10 m)

Coastal-Marine Automated Network (C-MAN) Sites

Dauphin Island (DPIA1) 29/0100 1000.8 29/0100 49 62
(30.25N 88.07W) (14 m)
Middle Bay Light, AL
29/0039 998.6 29/0230 53 58
(MBLA1) (14 m)
(30.44N 88.01W)

National Ocean Service (NOS) Sites

 Hurricane Zeta 26

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Fort Morgan (FMOA1) 29/0136 1000.9 29/0054 58 68

(30.23N 88.02W) (36 m)
Coast Guard Sector Mobile
29/0130 999.4 29/0148 39 55 6.16 6.49 5.3
(MCGA1) (7 m)
(30.65N 88.06W)
Bayou La Batre Bridge
(BLBA1) 7.21 7.82 6.9
(30.41N 88.25W)
West Fowl River Bridge
(WFRA1) 6.45 6.82 5.9
(30.38N 88.16W)
Mobile State Docks
(OBLA1) 29/0242 1000.2 5.64 6.32 5.2
(30.71N 88.04W)
Chickasaw Creek (CIKA1) 5.20 5.79 4.5
(30.78N 88.07W)
Dog River Bridge (BYSA1) 5.05 4.4
(30.57N 88.09W)
Weeks Bay, Mobile Bay
(WBYA1) 4.53 4.2
(30.42N 87.83W)
East Fowl River Bridge
(EFRA1) 4.16 4.50 3.7
(30.44N 88.11W)
Dauphin Island (DILA1) 2.76 3.11 2.4
(30.25N 88.08W)

National Weather Service High Water Marks

Coden 4-8
(waves)

Daphne 5-7
(waves)

Spanish Fort 2-7

(waves)

Bayou La Batre 3-4

(waves)

Dauphin Island 1-3

(waves)

Hydrometeorological Automated Data System (HADS) Sites (NWS)

Clanton (CLXA1) 29/0650 33 49 1.69
(32.85N 86.61W) (3 m)
Russellville 4 SSE
(RUXA1) 3.78
(34.45N 87.71W)
Woodville 2 W (WDVA1) 4.26
(34.62N 86.30W)
Selma (SLXA1) 29/0540 37 54 2.10
(32.34N 86.98W) (3 m)
Talladega (TLXA1) 29/0855 34 49 2.31
(33.57N 86.06W)
Thomasville 2S (TOXA1) 29/0445 38 52 3.75
(31.93N 87.74W) (3 m)

Weatherflow
Buccaneer Yacht Club
29/0123 998.5 29/0147 53 62
(XBUC) (1 min, 10 m)
(30.58N 88.07W)
 Hurricane Zeta 27

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Gulf Shores (XGLF) 29/0210 39 50

(30.36N 87.65W) (1 min, 10 m)

Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS)

Grove Hill (TT309) 29/0426 36 70 2.73
(31.69N 87.76W)

Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP)

Calvert (EW0390) 29/0259 993.2 29/0314 31 59 1.82
(31.15N 88.00W)
Childersburg (EW5369) 29/0652 991.5 29/0722 47
(33.27N 86.36W)
Gulf Shores (DW2229) 29/0153 1002.7 29/0353 28 50
(30.25N 87.72W)
Madison (EW2748) 29/0830 995.3 3.97
(34.70N 86.76W)
Madison (FW2925) 3.99
(34.72N 86.78W)
Margaret (DW5411) 29/0728 991.2 29/0738 30 44 1.03
(33.47N 86.34W)
Mobile (FW6880) 29/0230 1000.3 29/0200 22 50 1.91
(30.66N 88.14W)
Ohatchee (FW1272) 29/0656 994.9 29/0615 25 46
(33.81N 85.98W)
Orange Beach (FW3872) 29/0146 1003.0 29/0216 33 54
(30.28N 87.58W)

University of South Alabama Chili Mesonet

Loxley 37I 50I
(30.64N 87.70W)

Dauphin Island Sea Lab Mesonet

Meaher Park (MHPA1) 29/0230 998.3I 29/0300 42I
(30.67N 87.94W) (9 m)

Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) Sites

Thomasville 5.2 SSW (AL-
CK-10) 3.35
(31.84N 87.77W)

Public/Other
Downtown Mobile 1W
(MBCFS) 29/0125 53
(30.69N 88.05W)
Pinto Island 1 NE 29/0144 61
(30.68N 88.02W)
Robertsdale 3 ENE 29/0143 59
(30.57N 87.67W)

FLORIDA
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Sites
Crestview (KCEW) 29/0353 1006.4 29/0410 26 46
(30.79N 86.52W) (2 min, 10 m)
Duke Field (KEGI) 29/0417 1006.1 29/0417 32 42
(30.65N 86.52W) (2 min, 10 m)
Hurlburt Field (KHRT) 29/0356 1006.4 29/0331 31 46
(30.42N 86.68W) (2 min, 10 m)
 Hurricane Zeta 28

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Milton (KNDZ) 29/0356 1002.0 29/0156 33 50

(30.70N 87.02W) (2 min, 10 m)
Milton (KNSE) 29/0404 1003.0 29/0256 34 49
(30.72N 87.02W) (2 min, 10 m)
Pensacola (KPNS) 29/0325 1004.9 29/0250 39 49
(30.47N 87.20W) (2 min, 10 m)
Pensacola NAS (KNPA) 29/0256 1004.7 29/0156 37 51
(30.35N 87.32W) (2 min, 10 m)

National Ocean Service (NOS) Sites

Panama City Beach
29/0800 1008.5 29/0436 32 38 2.63 2.85 2.0
(PCBF1) (17 m)
(30.21N 85.88W)
Pensacola (PCLF1) 29/0224 1004.6 29/0430 34 44 2.49 3.04 2.1
(30.40N 87.21W) (10 m)
Apalachicola (APCF1) 29/1930 1009.3 29/0436 22 26 2.12 2.63 1.8
(29.73N 84.98W) (9 m)
Panama City (PACF1) 29/0912 28 34 2.29 2.41 1.6
(30.15N 85.67W) (10 m)
Cedar Key (CKYF1) 29/2054 1009.1 29/2230 26 30 2.10 3.03 1.5
(29.13N 83.03W) (12 m)

USGS Stream Gauges

Spring Creek (SBIF1) 3.35 1.7
(30.07N 84.33W)
Suwannee River (SUWF1) 3.00 1.5
(29.34N 83.09W)
Aucilla River at Nutall Rise
(NUTF1) 3.29 1.4
(30.11N 83.98W)
Spring Creek (SBIF1) 3.35 1.7
(30.07N 84.33W)

Northwest Florida Water Management District Gauges

White City (SEWF1) 1.7
(29.88N 85.22W)

Suwannee River Water Management District Gauges

Steinhatchee (STIF1) 1.9
(29.67N 83.38W)

Weatherflow
Ft. Walton Beach (XFWB) 29/0338 1005.7 29/0358 38 47
(30.40N 86.56W) (1 min, 7 m)
Gulf Breeze (XGBZ) 29/0226 1003.3 29/0434 33 42
(30.36N 87.16W) (1 min, 15 m)
Okaloosa Island Fishing
29/0335 37 47
Pier (XOFP) (5 min, 14 m)
(30.39N 86.59W)
Santa Rosa Sound
29/0225 1002.8 29/0157 41 51
(DB127) (1 min, 7 m)
(30.38N 87.01W)

WeatherSTEM
Berrydale (1088W) 29/0350 1003.4 29/0210 28 50 1.40
(30.91N 87.03W)
Century (1208W) 29/0340 999.0 29/0240 42 53 1.33
(30.97N 87.41W)
 Hurricane Zeta 29

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Ft. Walton Beach (0241W) 29/0620 1006.8 29/0350 32 36

(30.45N 86.62W)
Gonzalez 2 SSW (1206W) 29/0200 1001.7 29/0150 29 45
(30.58N 87.30W)
Gulf Breeze (0327W) 29/0230 1006.1 29/0000 35 44
(30.36N 87.17W)
Navarre Beach (0401W) 29/0310 1006.1 29/0350 39 47
(30.38N 86.86W)
Pace (0904W) 29/0240 1004.4 29/0430 36 53 0.94
(30.61N 87.15W)
Pace (1213W) 29/0420 1004.4 29/0420 38 46
(30.70N 87.18W)
Pensacola (0402W) 29/0310 1001.7 29/0330 34 52
(30.50N 87.25W)
Pensacola (1199W) 29/0250 1005.1 29/0540 31 43
(30.43N 87.22W)
Pensacola (1201W) 29/0300 1004.1 29/0120 30 43
(30.48N 87.21W)
Pensacola (1203W) 29/0300 1003.7 29/0210 41 46
(30.49N 87.30W)

Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP)

Niceville (CW7473) 29/0645 1007.5 29/0401 31 45
(30.49N 86.46W)
Perdido Key (FW7996) 29/0126 1005.8 29/0126 33
(30.33N 87.37W)
Valparaiso (DW6507) 29/0416 1007.1 29/0301 29 49
(30.50N 86.49W)

University of South Alabama Chili Mesonet

Jay 41I 50I
(30.95N 87.17W)

Public/Other
Ed Walline Beach (EDWA) 29/0730 39 43
(30.35N 86.23W)

GEORGIA
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Sites
Atlanta (KATL) 29/0918 999.3 29/0918 28 45 0.89
(33.66N 84.42W) (2 min, 10 m)
Atlanta (KPDK) 29/0902 997.6 29/0953 27 41 0.98
(33.88N 84.30W) (2 min, 10 m)
Blairsville (KDZJ) 29/1015 997.3 29/1135 28 42 3.26
(34.85N 84.00W) (2 min, 10 m)
Canton (KCNI) 29/0915 996.3 29/1055 27 46
(34.31N 84.42W) (2 min, 10 m)
Carrollton (KCTJ) 29/0755 998.3 29/0735 28 43
(33.63N 85.15W) (2 min, 10 m)
Cartersville (KVPC) 29/0853 994.8 29/0853 24 42 1.07
(34.14N 84.85W) (2 min, 10 m)
Columbus (KCSG) 29/0745 1003.0 30/0710 26 49
(32.53N 84.93W) (2 min, 10 m)
Fulton County Brown Field
29/0853 997.7 29/0842 25 44 0.82
(KFTY) (2 min, 10 m)
(33.78N 84.52W)
 Hurricane Zeta 30

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Gainesville (KGVL) 29/0953 998.0I 29/0953 40 1.36

(34.27N 83.83W)
Jasper (KJZP) 29/0915 996.3 29/0915 35 45
(34.45N 84.46W) (2 min, 10 m)
Jefferson (KJCA) 29/0955 1000.0 29/0955 29 42 1.10
(34.18N 83.56W) (2 min, 10 m)
Kennesaw (KRYY) 29/0850 996.6 29/0850 39
(34.01N 84.60W)
Marietta (KMGE) 29/0856 996.3 29/0856 28 42 0.83
(33.92N 84.52W) (2 min, 10 m)
Monroe (KD73) 29/0930 1001.7 29/1010 28 41
(33.78N 83.69W) (2 min, 10 m)
Pine Mountain (KPIM) 29/0735 1002.7 29/0855 26 39
(32.84N 84.88W) (2 min, 10 m)
Rome (KRMG) 29/0911 991.9 29/0911 23I 44 1.92
(34.35N 85.16W) (2 min, 10 m)

Hydrometeorological Automated Data System (HADS) Sites (NWS)

Epworth 5SW (EPWG1) 3.34
(34.90N 84.44W)
Owltown / Choestoe
(CHOG1) 6.31
(34.80N 83.90W)
Pine Mountain 4 NE
(BURG1) 3.81
(34.97N 83.12W)
Suches 4 NW (SCHG1) 6.43
(34.72N 84.07W)
Sugar Hill (CMMG1) 29/0915 29/0915 32 0.93
(34.16N 84.08W)
Tate City (TUSG1) 3.79
(34.95N 83.62W)

WeatherSTEM
Athens (0756W) 29/1000 999.7 29/1030 21 46
(33.94N 83.38W)
Cumming (0637W) 29/0910 996.3 29/1020 31 39 1.56
(34.22N 84.11W)
Cumming (1076W) 29/0930 993.2 29/0930 30 43 1.77
(34.22N 84.12W)
Druid Hills (0536W) 29/0900 36 47 0.92
(33.80N 84.32W)
1.0 E Oakwood 29/0910 42
(34.23N 83.87W)
0.9 W Rest Haven 29/0930 42
(34.13N 83.99W)

Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS)

Brasstown (BRSG1) 29/1206 36 4.38
(34.81N 83.71W)
Chattooga (CHGG1) 29/1106 49 2.24
(34.64N 83.52W)
Nimblewill (CPMG1) 3.88
(34.61N 84.13W)
Suches (TCCG1) 29/1205 36 3.98
(34.77N 84.07W)
 Hurricane Zeta 31

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Tallulah (TULG1) 3.74

(34.91N 83.33W)

Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP)

Ellijay (EW5151) 3.27
(34.55N 84.27W)

Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network (AEMN)

Floyd-NW GA Research &
Ed Center 29/0800 991.6 29/0900 22 42
(34.34N 85.12W)
Gaines-Lake Lanier 29/0900 998.6 29/0945 20 46
(34.35N 83.79W)

Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) Sites

Blairsville 5.3 ESE (GA-
UN-9) 5.14
(34.84N 83.87W)
Dillard 4 NE (GA-RB-1) 6.42
(34.99N 83.30W)
Hiawassee 5 SSE (GA-
TW-1) 5.30
(34.89N 83.71W)
Rabun Gap 2 SW (GA-RB-
4) 5.61
(34.94N 83.42W)
Tiger 2 NW (GA-RB-13) 5.19
(34.87N 83.46W)

Public/Other
Rome 29/1000 48 1.92
(34.35N 85.17W)
Canton Cherokee 29/0915 46
(34.32N 84.42W)
Dallas 29/1002 39
(33.83N 84.74W)
Lawrenceville 29/1006 39
(33.98N 83.97W)
Smyrna 29/0933 39
(33.87N 84.50W)
Peachtree City 29/0741 38
(33.35N 84.57W)

TENNESSEE
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Sites
Cleveland (KRZR) 29/1015 993.9 1.84
(35.21N 84.79W)
Knoxville (KTYS) 29/1103 995.6 29/1640 24 30 1.49
(35.81N 83.99W) (2 min, 10 m)
Madisonville (KMNV) 29/1035 995.3
(35.55N 84.38W)
Sevierville (KGKT) 29/1135 994.9 29/1635 19 25 1.25
(35.86N 83.53W) (2 min, 10 m)

Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS)

Ocoee (BOCT1) 29/1105 39 1.90
(35.16N 84.59W)
 Hurricane Zeta 32

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP)

Chattanooga (CW5013) 29/0930 994.9
(35.00N 85.13W)

Public/Other
Wears Valley 3 ESE 29/1000 48
(35.70N 83.61W)

SOUTH CAROLINA
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Sites
Anderson (KAND) 29/1056 999.2 29/1056 30 51
(34.50N 82.71W) (2 min, 10 m)
Clemson (KCEU) 29/1054 997.9
(34.67N 82.88W)
Fairfield County /
29/1355 34
Winnsboro (KFDW)
Greenville (KGMU) 29/1105 999.7I 29/1105 24I 37I
(34.85N 82.35W) (2 min, 10 m)
Greenville /Spartanburg 34
29/1153 998.6 29/1237 47
(KGSP) (34.89N 82.22W) (2 min, 10 m)
Lancaster (KLKR) 29/1355 38
(34.73N 80.85W)
Liberty / Pickens (KLQK) 29/1115 998.7 29/1135 27I 45I
(34.81N 82.70W) (2 min, 10 m)

McEntire JNBG (KMMT) 29/1433 35

Seneca (KCEU) 29/1054 998.0I 29/1054 17I 38I
(34.67N 82.88W) (2 min, 10 m)

Shaw AFB (KSSC) 29/1442 35

WeatherSTEM
Clemson University
(0477W) 29/1100 29/1140 29 39
(34.68N 82.84W)
Greenville (1184W) 29/1210 29/1110 37 72
(34.94N 82.41W)
Newberry 29/1210 37
Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS)
Carolina Sandhills 29/1414 35
Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP)
Chestnut Springs (D1971) 29/1130 29/1115 31 62
(35.16N 82.46W)

Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) Sites

Salem 2 NE (SC-OC-92) 5.64
(34.91N 82.95W)
Salem 1 SW (SC-OC-78) 5.62
(34.88N 82.99W)

NORTH CAROLINA
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Sites
 Hurricane Zeta 33

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Alamance (KBUY) 29/1454 998.0 29/1705 24 44

(36.05N 79.48W) (2 min, 10 m)
Albemarle (KVUJ) 30/0435 1001.4 29/1415 31 45
(35.42N 80.15W) (2 min, 10 m)
Asheville (KAVL) 20/1202 995.9 29/1254 20 34 2.76
(35.43N 82.54W) (2 min, 10 m)
Charlotte (KCLT) 30/0152 999.4 29/1325 31 50
(35.22N 80.95W) (2 min, 10 m)
Concord Regional (KJQF) 29/1450 40
(35.39N 80.70W)
Franklin (K1A5) 29/1115 999.0
(35.22N 83.41W)
Greensboro (KGSO) 29/1427 996.9 29/1411 33 44 0.71
(36.10N 79.95W) (2 min, 10 m)
Hickory (KHKY) 29/1240 993.6 29/1342 24 48
(35.74N 81.38W) (2 min, 10 m)
Mt Airy (KMWK) 29/1435 997.6 29/1555 14I 23I 4.08I
(36.46N 80.55W) (2 min, 10 m)
Pope AFB (KPOB) 29/1553 45
(35.17N 79.02W)
Raleigh-Durham (KRDU) 29/1607 45
(35.90N 78.78W)
Reidsville (KSIF) 29/1455 995.6 29/1455 23 40
(36.44N 79.84W) (2 min, 10 m)
Rocky Mount-Wilson
(KRWI) 29/1649 45
(35.85N 77.90W)

WeatherSTEM
Greensboro (0783W) 29/1430 998.0 29/1640 25 47
(36.06N 79.89W)
NC State Stadium (0789W) 29/2250 996.6 29/1710 26 49
(35.80N 78.72W)
Winston-Salem State Univ
(0585W) 29/1400 992.9 29/1550 42 54
(36.08N 80.22W)

Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS)

Blantyre (BLAN7) 8.41
(35.30N 82.62W)
Hendersonville - Guion
Farm (GUIN7) 29/1210 56 4.79
(35.21N 82.59W)
Mt. Island Lake (MTIN7) 29/1410 18 49
(35.38N 80.99W) (6 m

Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP)

Advance (EW7058) 29/1353 996.6 29/1423 31 44
(35.99N 80.44W)
Banner Elk (EW9464) 29/1301 995.3 29/1131 28 47
(36.20N 81.85W)
Banner Elk (FW8439) 29/1250 999.7 29/1456 24 50 1.92
(36.20N 81.83W)
Belmont (DW5686) 29/1306 1000.3 29/1256 25 51
(35.25N 81.03W)
Blowing Rock (EW3885) 29/1345 995.3 29/1545 25 47 2.48
(36.17N 81.63W)
 Hurricane Zeta 34

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Cashiers (EW5101) 29/1045 29/0931 54 89

(35.08N 83.15W)
Connelly Springs
(FW7455) 29/1231 996.6 29/1231 25 46
(35.65N 81.50W)
Connelly Springs
(FW7456) 29/1231 998.0 29/1231 22 49
(35.58N 81.56W)
Conway (KK4ARX)
(E0790) 29/1930 997.0 29/1730 44 63
(36.43N 77.23W)
Morganton (FW7442) 29/1231 996.3 29/1231 23 45 1.41
(35.66N 81.65W)
Morganton (FW7457) 29/1216 997.0 29/1401 21 45
(35.64N 81.78W)

Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) Sites

Black Mountain
(NC-BC-76) 6.84
(35.59N 82.31W)
Brevard 6 S (NC-TR-24) 5.06
(35.14N 82.73W)
Brevard 10 S (NC-TR-32) 5.58
(35.09N 82.77W)
Cedar Mountain 2 E
(NC-TR-27) 8.80
(35.15N 82.61W)
East Flat Rock
(NC-HN-12) 5.17
(35.29N 82.41W)
Hendersonville 6 SW (NC-
HN-25) 6.86
(35.24N 82.50W)
Hendersonville 2.4 SSE
(NC-HN-32) 5.04
(35.29N 82.44W)
Lenoir 5 WNW
(NC-CD-28) 5.02
(35.94N 81.61W)

Public/Other
Brooks Crossroads 2 NNE 29/1330 54
(36.15N 80.77W)
Clingmans Dome 29/1200 50
(35.56N 83.5W)
Fairview 1 S 29/1202 50 68
(35.51N 82.4W)
Linville 3 NE 29/1400 58
Beech Mountain 29/1210 43
VIRGINIA
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Sites
Blackstone (KBKT) 29/1755 994.9 29/1715 25 38
(37.08N 77.95W)
 Hurricane Zeta 35

Minimum Sea Level Maximum Surface

Pressure Wind Speed
Storm Storm Estimated Total
Location surge tide Inundation rain
Date/ Date/ (ft)c (ft)d (ft)e (in)
Press. Sustained Gust
time time
(mb) (kt)b (kt)
(UTC) (UTC)a

Danville (KDAN) 29/1453 995.3 29/1650 21 40

(36.57N 79.33W) (2 min, 10 m)
Fredericksburg (KRMN) 3.82
(38.40N 77.46W)
Norfolk (KORF) 29/2010 995.9 29/1835 32 41
(36.90N 76.19W) (2 min, 10 m)
Rustburg (K0V4) 29/1715 994.6 29/1755 25 35
(37.14N 79.02W) (2 min, 10 m)

Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) Sites

Altavista 6 NNE (VA-CM-
14) 4.28
(37.19N 79.24W)

a Date/time is for sustained wind when both sustained and gust are listed.
b Except as noted, sustained wind averaging periods for C-MAN and land-based reports are 2 min; buoy averaging
periods are 8 min.
c Storm surge is water height above normal astronomical tide level.
d
Storm tide is water height above the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88).
e Estimated inundation is the maximum height of water above ground. For NOS tide gauges and USGS water level

sensors, the height of the water above Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) is used as a proxy for inundation
E Estimated
I Incomplete data
 Hurricane Zeta 36

Table 4. Number of hours in advance of formation associated with the first NHC Tropical
Weather Outlook forecast in the indicated likelihood category. Note that the timings
for the “Low” category do not include forecasts of a 0% chance of genesis.

Hours Before Genesis

48-Hour Outlook 120-Hour Outlook

Low (<40%) 114 / 48 (2nd entry) 228 / 66 (2nd entry)

Medium (40%-60%) 24 30

High (>60%) 18 18

Table 5a. NHC official (OFCL) and climatology-persistence skill baseline (OCD5) track
forecast errors (n mi) for Hurricane Zeta, 24–29 October 2020. Mean errors for
the previous 5-yr period are shown for comparison. Official errors that are smaller
than the 5-yr means are shown in boldface type.

Forecast Period (h)

12 24 36 48 60 72 96 120
OFCL 19.5 25.0 39.8 63.1 85.8 101.8 75.1
OCD5 70.1 171.5 280.2 368.4 452.0 527.6 610.5
Forecasts 18 16 14 12 10 8 4
OFCL (2015-19) 24.1 36.9 49.6 65.1 80.7 96.3 133.2
OCD5 (2015-19) 44.7 96.1 156.3 217.4 273.9 330.3 431.5
 Hurricane Zeta 37

Table 5b. Homogeneous comparison of selected track forecast guidance models (in n mi)
for Hurricane Zeta, 24–29 October 2020. Errors smaller than the NHC official
forecast are shown in boldface type. The number of official forecasts shown here
is smaller than that shown in Table 5a due to the homogeneity requirement.

Forecast Period (h)

Model ID
12 24 36 48 60 72 96 120
OFCL 20.5 25.4 40.0 64.0 87.2 108.3 75.1
OCD5 61.0 173.1 280.3 366.2 447.1 518.6 610.5
GFSI 23.3 37.2 48.2 62.9 98.7 143.5 229.1
EMXI 21.7 35.4 64.1 92.5 115.9 133.8 112.0
EGRI 25.3 37.8 70.8 105.7 134.1 120.8 392.6
CMCI 29.8 50.8 79.7 100.1 88.7 101.4 98.3
NVGI 37.4 73.9 109.5 148.3 211.4 219.3 246.0
HWFI 24.7 34.7 41.3 66.5 103.8 140.9 115.4
HMNI 23.9 37.7 55.4 86.2 146.3 256.8 338.6
CTCI 23.2 38.6 60.8 93.2 128.3 195.7 158.1
HCCA 20.1 26.4 40.1 65.4 95.1 113.1 57.7
AEMI 26.1 35.8 40.9 53.7 83.9 116.7 82.0
GFEX 20.5 28.9 43.4 66.1 92.5 116.6 83.2
TVCA 20.9 27.2 42.0 69.1 101.4 120.0 58.0
TVCX 21.0 27.1 43.0 68.4 98.7 113.1 47.3
TVDG 21.0 27.2 42.7 68.9 98.6 108.5 57.8
TABD 30.8 44.3 66.6 89.7 120.9 184.6 255.8
TABM 30.4 39.1 40.9 56.6 90.5 134.0 203.3
TABS 37.8 70.7 92.5 127.7 170.8 210.1 227.1
Forecasts 15 15 13 11 9 7 4
 Hurricane Zeta 38

Table 6a. NHC official (OFCL) and climatology-persistence skill baseline (OCD5) intensity
forecast errors (kt) for Hurricane Zeta, 24–29 October 2020. Mean errors for the
previous 5-yr period are shown for comparison. Official errors that are smaller
than the 5-yr means are shown in boldface type.

Forecast Period (h)

12 24 36 48 60 72 96 120
OFCL 7.5 11.6 12.1 12.1 11.5 16.2 32.5
OCD5 8.7 14.2 16.4 19.2 12.3 14.1 29.5
Forecasts 18 16 14 12 10 8 4
OFCL (2015-19) 5.2 7.7 9.4 10.7 11.9 13.0 14.4
OCD5 (2015-19) 6.8 10.8 14.1 17.0 18.8 20.6 22.5

Table 6b. Homogeneous comparison of selected intensity forecast guidance models (in kt)
for Hurricane Zeta, 24–29 October 2020. Errors smaller than the NHC official
forecast are shown in boldface type. The number of official forecasts shown here
is smaller than that shown in Table 6a due to the homogeneity requirement.

Forecast Period (h)

Model ID
12 24 36 48 60 72 96 120
OFCL 8.1 12.0 12.7 12.3 11.1 13.6 36.7
OCD5 9.4 14.9 16.8 19.4 12.4 13.6 38.7
HWFI 9.1 10.7 8.0 11.6 12.1 18.3 29.7
HMNI 7.6 11.7 13.9 16.7 14.7 19.7 38.0
CTCI 7.3 13.2 17.8 19.3 15.2 20.4 46.7
DSHP 8.6 10.0 11.8 14.5 12.6 13.4 35.3
LGEM 9.7 12.1 14.7 15.3 12.4 15.4 40.3
IVCN 7.9 9.9 11.3 14.5 11.4 14.3 37.7
IVDR 7.9 10.0 11.5 14.6 11.3 14.4 39.3
HCCA 7.4 9.9 9.9 11.4 11.4 14.9 34.7
GFSI 9.9 13.5 18.2 19.1 15.4 22.6 54.3
EMXI 13.0 18.1 17.6 17.9 22.0 26.1 42.3
Forecasts 16 15 13 11 9 7 3
 Hurricane Zeta 39

Table 7. Tropical cyclone wind watch and warning summary for Hurricane Zeta, 24–29
October 2020.

Date/Time
Action Location
(UTC)

24 / 2100 Tropical Storm Watch issued Pinar del Rio, Cuba

25 / 0300 Tropical Storm Watch changed to Pinar del Rio

Tropical Storm Warning
25 / 0300 Tropical Storm Watch issued Tulum to Rio Lagartos, Mexico

25 / 1200 Tropical Storm Watch changed to Tulum to Rio Lagartos

Hurricane Watch
25 / 1500 Tropical Storm Warning issued Tulum to Rio Lagartos

25 / 2100 Tropical Storm Warning changed Tulum to Rio Lagartos

to Hurricane Warning
25 / 2100 Hurricane Watch discontinued All

26 / 0900 Tropical Storm Warning issued Dzilam to Progreso

26 / 0900 Tropical Storm Warning issued Punta Allen to Tulum

26 / 0900 Hurricane Warning modified to Tulum to Dzilam

26 / 2100 Tropical Storm Watch issued AL/MS Border to Okaloosa/Walton CL

26 / 2100 Tropical Storm Watch issued Intracoastal City to Morgan City

26 / 2100 Tropical Storm Warning Pinar del Rio

discontinued
26 / 2100 Hurricane Watch issued Morgan City to AL/MS Border

26 / 2100 Hurricane Watch issued Lake Pontchartrain

26 / 2100 Hurricane Watch issued Lake Maurepas

27 / 0000 Tropical Storm Warning All

discontinued
27 / 0000 Hurricane Warning discontinued Tulum to Dzilam

27 / 0000 Hurricane Warning issued Progreso to Punta Allen

27 / 0900 Tropical Storm Watch changed to AL/MS Border to Okaloosa/Walton CL

Tropical Storm Warning
 Hurricane Zeta 40

Date/Time
Action Location
(UTC)

27 / 0900 Hurricane Watch changed to Morgan City to AL/MS Border

Hurricane Warning
27 / 0900 Hurricane Watch changed to Lake Pontchartrain
Hurricane Warning
27 / 0900 Hurricane Watch changed to Lake Maurepas
Hurricane Warning
27 / 0900 Hurricane Warning changed to Progreso to Punta Allen
Tropical Storm Warning
27 / 1800 Tropical Storm Warning Progreso to Punta Allen
discontinued
28 / 0900 Tropical Storm Warning modified AL/MS Border to Walton/Bay CL
to
28 / 1500 Tropical Storm Watch All
discontinued
29 / 0300 Hurricane Warning modified to Pearl River to AL/MS Border

29 / 0300 Hurricane Warning discontinued Lake Pontchartrain

29 / 0300 Hurricane Warning discontinued Lake Maurepas

29 / 0600 Hurricane Warning discontinued All

29 / 0900 Tropical Storm Warning modified Navarre to Walton/Bay CL

to
29 / 1200 Tropical Storm Warning All
discontinued
 Hurricane Zeta 41

Table 8. Storm surge watch and warning summary for Hurricane Zeta, 24–29 October
2020.

Date/Time
Action Location
(UTC)

26 / 2100 Storm Surge Watch issued Intracoastal City LA to Navarre FL

Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Borgne, Vermilion

26 / 2100 Storm Surge Watch issued
Bay, Mobile Bay, and Pensacola Bay

27 / 0900 Storm Surge Warning issued Intracoastal City LA to Navarre FL

Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Borgne, Vermilion

27 / 0900 Storm Surge Warning issued
Bay, Mobile Bay, and Pensacola Bay
Intracoastal City to the Mouth of the
27 / 2100 Storm Surge Warning discontinued
Atchafalaya River LA

27 / 2100 Storm Surge Warning discontinued Vermilion Bay

Mouth of the Atchafalaya River LA to the

29 / 0300 Storm Surge Warning discontinued
Mouth of the Pearl River

29 / 0300 Storm Surge Warning discontinued Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne

Mouth of the Pearl River to the

29 / 0600 Storm Surge Warning discontinued
Mississippi/Alabama border

29 / 0600 Storm Surge Warning discontinued Alabama/Florida border to Navarre FL

29 / 0600 Storm Surge Warning discontinued Pensacola Bay

29 / 0900 Storm Surge Warning discontinued All

 Hurricane Zeta 42

Figure 1. Velocity potential anomalies at 200 mb (VP200) from 5°N-5°S. The shading shows
unfiltered VP200 anomalies (negative values [in blue] represent mass divergence).
Black contours show MJO-filtered VP200 anomalies; dashed lines represent the
upper-level divergent (convectively active) phase of the MJO. The contour interval
begins at 1 standard deviation and is in 0.5 standard deviation increments
thereafter. The red dot is the genesis location of Zeta. Figure courtesy of Michael
Ventrice (DRW Trading).
 Hurricane Zeta 43

Figure 2. Best track positions for Hurricane Zeta, 24–29 October 2020.
 Hurricane Zeta 44

Figure 3. Selected wind observations and best track maximum sustained surface wind speed curve for Hurricane Zeta, 24-29 October
2020. Aircraft observations have been adjusted for elevation using 90%, 80%, 75% and 80% adjustment factors for
observations from 700 mb, 850 mb, 925 mb, and 1500 ft, respectively. Advanced Dvorak Technique estimates represent the
Current Intensity at the nominal observation time. SATCON intensity estimates are from the Cooperative Institute for
Meteorological Satellite Studies. Dashed vertical lines correspond to 0000 UTC, and solid vertical lines correspond to landfalls.
 Hurricane Zeta 45

Figure 4. Selected pressure observations and best track minimum central pressure curve for Hurricane Zeta, 24–29 October 2020.
Advanced Dvorak Technique estimates represent the Current Intensity at the nominal observation time. SATCON intensity
estimates are from the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies. KZC P-W refers to pressure estimates derived
using the Knaff-Zehr-Courtney pressure-wind relationship. Dashed vertical lines correspond to 0000 UTC, and solid vertical
lines correspond to landfalls.
 Hurricane Zeta 46

Figure 5. Snapshots of Slidell, Louisiana WSR-88D (KLIX) radial velocity data at (a) 2030 UTC (b)
2047 UTC, and (c) 2058 UTC on 28 October 2020 as Zeta made landfall. Annotated in
each panel is the flight path of the hurricane hunter aircraft (white arrows and text), peak
700 mb and SFMR winds on flight legs in (a) and (c) in yellow and purple text, respectively,
eye dropsonde pressure and wind in (b) in yellow text, and the northeast eyewall 4-bin
sample average from the radial velocity data (white box with denoted text). Note that the
hurricane hunter flight path did not cross the region of peak winds observed in the radar
velocity data.
 Hurricane Zeta 47

Figure 6. Maximum water levels measured from tide and stream gauges from Hurricane Zeta. Water levels are referenced as feet above
Mean Higher High Water (MHHW), which is used as a proxy for inundation (above ground level) on normally dry ground along
the immediate coastline.
 Hurricane Zeta 48

Figure 7. Rainfall accumulation (mm) over Mexico generally in association with Zeta from 24–28 October 2020. Figure courtesy
CONAGUA.
 Hurricane Zeta 49

Figure 8. Rainfall accumulations (inches) from Hurricane Zeta. Image courtesy of David Roth at the NOAA Weather Prediction Center.
 Hurricane Zeta 50

Figure 9. A tree downed by Zeta on a home in Metairie, Louisiana (Twitter via Scott Walker, Jefferson Parish Councilman)
 Hurricane Zeta 51

Figure 10. Homogeneous track forecast error comparison of NHC official forecasts (black) with selected guidance models (in n mi) for
Hurricane Zeta, 24–29 October 2020.
 Hurricane Zeta 52

A B

Figure 11. NHC official forecast and track guidance through 96 h for 1800 UTC 24 October (a) and 1200 UTC 25 October (b). The white
line with the hurricane symbols is the best track of Zeta. The red dots indicate the verifying positions at the end of the forecasts.
 Hurricane Zeta 53

A B

C D

Figure 12. (a) All NHC official track forecasts made for Zeta through Louisiana landfall, (b) as in (a) but for HCCA model track forecasts,
(c) as in (a) but for GFS model track forecasts, (d) as in (a) but for UKMET model track forecasts.
 Hurricane Zeta 54

Figure 13. Homogeneous intensity forecast error comparison of NHC official forecasts (black) with selected guidance models (in kt) for
Hurricane Zeta, 24–29 October 2020.
 Hurricane Zeta 55

(a)

(b)

Figure 14. (a) NHC official forecast and intensity model solutions (colored lines, kt) from 0000 UTC
25 October, about 48 h before landfall in Yucatan. (b) NHC official forecast and intensity
model solutions (kt) from 0000 UTC 28 October, 21 h before landfall in Louisiana. The
best track intensity (kt) is indicated by the white line and symbols.
 Hurricane Zeta 56

Figure 15. Maximum water levels measured during Hurricane Zeta from tide and stream gauges (circles), as well as areas covered by
storm surge watches (lavender) and warnings (magenta). Water levels are referenced as feet above Mean Higher High Water
(MHHW), which is used as a proxy for inundation (above ground level) on normally dry ground along the immediate coastline.
Black markers denote water levels less than 3 ft above ground level, and white markers denote water levels 3 ft or higher above
ground level.