Hurricane Eta (2020)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

October 31, 2020 to November 14, 2020

Peak strength

Category 4, 130 kt (150 mph)

Lowest pressure

922 mb (27.23 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

18.2

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

220 nmi (407 km, 253 mi) from the center at its widest

Hurricane-force wind reached

50 nmi (93 km, 58 mi) from the center at its widest

Eyewall radius at its peak

5 nmi (9 km, 6 mi)

Overall size

300 nmi (556 km, 345 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

160 kt (184 mph)

Fastest the center moved

28 kt (32 mph)

Identifier

AL292020

Radar at KAMX as it neared land, Nov 9, 04:00 UTC

The sources count different things and are not added together.

Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.

NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.

Deaths

3 (1 direct, 2 indirect)

Injuries

1

Property damage

$53 million

Crop damage

none recorded

Events recorded

299 in 34 reports from 9 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

98 flash flood, 50 tropical storm, 38 flood, 35 heavy rain, 28 marine tropical storm, 20 marine thunderstorm wind, 17 storm surge/tide, 6 tropical depression, 4 thunderstorm wind, 1 high surf, 1 marine tropical depression, 1 tornado.

1 tornado recorded in the United States, strongest first.

The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.

From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.

Multiple reports of significant flooding received from the broadcast media, trained spotters, law enforcement, and NWS employees were received over the course of a day. Reports of significant street flooding and major, damaging rainfall in northern parts of the county, primarily in Miami Lakes, Country Club, Hialeah, Opa-Locka, and Miami Gardens where streets were impassable in many areas. Major flooding and impassable streets also occurred in downtown Miami and Brickell. Water entered structures in some of these areas, including Hialeah and Miami Gardens. Minor flooding was widespread county-wide. A number of stalled vehicles were reported as well. Rainfall amounts of 4 to almost 14 inches were measured across Miami-Dade County, with a little over 14 inches in Miramar, 8 to 10 inches near Hard Rock Stadium, and 5 to 9 inches in downtown Miami and Brickell.

Miami-Dade, Florida · Flash Flood · Nov 8, 15:00 UTC

A moderate duration of sustained tropical storm winds impacted the coastal waters, with the strongest tropical storm conditions experienced in the passing rain bands of Tropical Storm Eta. These winds lasted from early afternoon on November 8 to late morning on November 09. Seas reached in excess of 18 to 19 feet according to NOAA Buoy 41009, located 20 miles east of Port Canaveral and Buoy 41010, located approximately 140 miles northeast of Port Canaveral. The peak wind gust at Buoy 41009 was 51 mph from the east at 0420LST on November 9.

Volusia-Brevard County Line To Sebastian Inlet 20-60nm, Atlantic South · Marine Tropical Storm · Nov 8, 19:00 UTC

As TS Eta moved westward across the Florida Keys, rain bands produced maximum sustained winds generally between 30-40 mph across metro Miami-Dade County. An earlier rain band moved across metro Miami-Dade County during the evening hours of November 8th, with peak wind gusts of 47 mph/41 knots measured by the ASOS at Homestead Air Reserve at 10:28 PM EST on November 8th. Additional wind gusts recorded of 49 mph/43 knots measured by the ASOS at Opa Locka Airport at 12:15 AM EST on November 9th, and 51 mph/44 knots measured by the ASOS at Miami International Airport at 11:33 PM EST on November 8th. A total of around 93,630 customers lost power in Miami-Dade County. Overall wind impacts were mainly confined to trees and power lines, with several concentrated areas of downed trees and poles along the barrier island communities as well as in deep south Miami-Dade County.

Metropolitan Miami-Dade, Florida · Tropical Storm · Nov 8, 22:00 UTC

Sustained tropical depression force winds around 30 to 35 mph/25 to 30 knots were recorded in the Lake Okeechobee waters. A peak wind gust of 41 mph/36 knots was recorded by the mesonet site at Lake Okeechobee South, North, and Cener (L006, L001, and LZ40, respectively) at 09:45 PM EST on November 8th, 10:30 PM EST on November 8th, and 05:00 AM EST on November 9th in association with a strong outer rain band emanating from TS Eta.

Lake Okeechobee, Atlantic South · Marine Tropical Depression · Nov 9, 01:00 UTC

Hurricane Eta formed in the central Caribbean Sea on October��31st and moved through the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico making four separate landfalls. The first landfall was in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua��before re emerging and making landfall in Cuba and the Florida Keys. Eta made its final landfall in the early morning hours on Nov��12th in Cedar Key with maximum wind speeds of 50 mph and a pressure of 996mb. Sustained winds of 40 mph/35 knots and wind gust of 47mph/41 knots was recorded at Buoy 42013 SW of Longboat Key.

Englewood To Tarpon Springs Fl 20 To 60nm, Gulf of Mexico · Marine Tropical Storm · Nov 9, 01:54 UTC

The Cooperative Weather Observer at Huddleston 4 SW, VA (HUDV2) observed a 72-hour (ending 12Z on November 13th) precipitation amount of 6.46 inches. This was the highest 72-hour total for this station during the month of November, and the 6th highest all-time. The 48-hour total (also ending 12Z on November 13th) of 6.25 inches was also the highest 48-hour total for November and 2nd highest all-time. The 24-hour total of 5.16 inches measured at 12Z on the 12th is the highest 24-hour measurement for November and 2nd-highest all-time 24-hour amount. All of these amounts are 10- to 25-year ARI events per NOAA Atlas 14 point precipitation estimates. Records date back to September 1950.

Bedford, Virginia · Heavy Rain · Nov 10, 12:00 UTC

The Cooperative Weather Observer at Yadkin 6 E observed a 72-hour storm total of 5.70 inches rainfall, ending 12Z on November 13th. This is the highest 72-hour total for the month of November in the station's history, though only the 19th-highest of all months. The station observed a 24-hour total of 4.08 inches ending on 12Z of the 12th, and a 48-hour total of 5.15 inches ending at 12Z on the 13th, all of which are new highest records for the month of November. These amounts are in the 5- to 10-year ARI range per NOAA Atlas 14 Point Frequency Estimates.

Yadkin, North Carolina · Heavy Rain · Nov 10, 12:00 UTC

Persistent heavy rains lead to urban flooding along the downtown waterfront as well as ponding of water in poorly drained areas, making some roads and streets briefly impassable.

St. Thomas, Virgin Islands · Flood · Nov 10, 20:48 UTC

After 2 to 3 inches of rain fell across Appomattox county during the morning, an additional 1.75 to 2.25 inches of rain fell during the evening, most of it within a hour, as a line of slow-moving thunderstorms passed across the area. This caused numerous creeks, already running high from the earlier rainfall, to flood out of their banks. Notable among the flood reports was water about one foot deep running across Horseshoe Road. At least five water rescues were performed by emergency personnel, including one at North Creek Road where North Creek was observed flooding the roadway, and another at River Ridge Road at the Appomattox River. Additional rounds of rain of weaker intensity persisted through the late evening hours, maintaining the flooding conditions, though flash flooding ended by 11:00 pm.

Appomattox, Virginia · Flash Flood · Nov 11, 23:23 UTC

The Emergency Manager reported water flowing over White Road and other nearby roadways due to rising water from neighboring creeks. Several fields and pastures were also inundated. Radar estimates indicate that 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain fell quickly over the area, causing the flash flooding.

Bartow, Georgia · Flash Flood · Nov 11, 23:30 UTC

Hurricane Eta formed in the central Caribbean Sea on October 31st and moved through the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico making four separate landfalls. The first landfall was in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua before re emerging and making landfall in Cuba and the Florida Keys. Eta made its final landfall in the early morning hours on Nov 12th in Cedar Key with maximum wind speeds of 50 mph and a pressure of 996mb. ASOS site located at the St.Pete-Clearwater International Airport (KPIE) reported a wind gust of 58 mph/50 kts.

Tampa Bay, Gulf of Mexico · Marine Tropical Storm · Nov 12, 01:39 UTC

Multiple personal weather stations observed 3 to 5 inches of rain during the early morning hours of November 12th, about half of these amounts during a 90-minute period with the main convective band. This resulted in flash flooding of Forbush Creek, including along Union Cross Church Road where is crosses over the Creek. This road was completely flooded and impassible until the flood waters receded. Residents along the creek were stranded inside their homes due to the flooding, and required rescue from the Yadkinville Fire Department.

Yadkin, North Carolina · Flash Flood · Nov 12, 10:15 UTC

Minimal impacts storm were reported across Glynn county. On 11/12 at 9:53 am, the ASOS station at St. Simons Airfield measured at peak wind of 17 mph (150 deg) with a peak gust of 33 mph (150 deg) at 10:06 am. At 9:33 am, the Weatherflow mesonet site on Jekyll Island measured a peak wind of 40 mph (177 deg) with peak gust of 45 mph (173 deg).

Coastal Glynn, Georgia · Tropical Storm · Nov 12, 14:53 UTC

A vehicle was overtaken by floodwaters at the intersection of Eugenes Rd. and Spring Branch Rd. A person and dog managed to escape the stranded vehicle.

Horry, South Carolina · Flash Flood · Nov 12, 21:30 UTC

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A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.

Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.

• Tropical cyclone report, National Hurricane Center
• Every advisory and discussion NHC issued while it was live
• Best track as KMZ, National Hurricane Center
• Best track as a shapefile, National Hurricane Center
• Wikipedia article: Hurricane Eta