Hurricane Zeta (2020)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

October 24, 2020 to October 30, 2020

Peak strength

Category 3, 100 kt (115 mph)

Lowest pressure

970 mb (28.64 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

7.5

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

290 nmi (537 km, 334 mi) from the center at its widest

Hurricane-force wind reached

40 nmi (74 km, 46 mi) from the center at its widest

Eyewall radius at its peak

20 nmi (37 km, 23 mi)

Overall size

450 nmi (833 km, 518 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

110 kt (127 mph)

Fastest the center moved

54 kt (62 mph)

Identifier

AL282020

Radar at KHDC as it neared land, Oct 28, 21:00 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

6 (5 direct, 1 indirect)

Injuries

2

Property damage

$547 million

Crop damage

none recorded

Events recorded

385 in 26 reports from 14 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

170 tropical storm, 82 flood, 33 flash flood, 33 strong wind, 16 storm surge/tide, 15 hurricane (typhoon), 11 marine tropical storm, 7 marine hurricane/typhoon, 6 heavy rain, 5 thunderstorm wind, 3 tropical depression, 2 tornado, 2 debris flow.

2 tornadoes 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.

Significant flooding occurred in the Sea Pines neighborhood of Lantana resulting from a combination of heavy rainfall of the previous days plus 4-5 inches of rain on the night and early morning of October 24th and 25th. Numerous calls were received from residents stranded in their homes, some who had water in their homes up to their knees. Streets were impassable across the entire neighborhood. Flood waters lingered for several days in the area (this is detailed in a separate storm entry under Flood).

Palm Beach, Florida · Flash Flood · Oct 25, 05:00 UTC

Emergency managers and town officials reported that significant flooding persisted in the Sea Pines neighborhood in Lantana from heavy rain late on October 24th and early on October 25th (see Flash Flood entry in this episode for more information on the causative event). Streets continued to be impassable for most of this time frame, and many residents were stranded. Local assessments indicated that high-water marks were observed just underneath window sills in a few homes, with a number of homes having water intrusion. Over 1 million gallons of water were pumped out of the neighborhood.

Palm Beach, Florida · Flood · Oct 25, 13:00 UTC

Zeta produced hurricane force winds with wind gusts nearing or exceeding 100 mph, especially near the coast. Away from the coast, most places experienced sustained tropical storm force winds with at least a few hurricane force wind gusts. Zeta's winds resulted in widespread damage across the county including snapped trees, downed power lines and power poles. At the peak, about 77 percent of the county was without power. Hundreds of homes and dozens of businesses were also damaged, some from falling trees. One home collapsed when its 18ft pilings gave way in the wind. However, inspection of the structure suggests the pilings were not properly reinforced. The county ordered mandatory evacuations of low lying areas near the coast and opened several shelters.

Hancock, Mississippi · Hurricane (Typhoon) · Oct 28, 22:00 UTC

Zeta produced storm surge that overtopped a local levee in the Myrtle Grove area, resulting in the inundation of pasture land. A USGS gauge near Point A La Hache reported a peak water level of 5.70 ft NAVD88. The West End (PSTL1) gauge measured a peak of 2.54 ft MHHW. The West End (PILL1) gauge measured a peak of 1.57 ft MHHW. The Amer Bay Palh (PLHL1) gauge measured a peak of 5.70 ft NAVD88. The Delecroix (CBDL1) gauge measured a peak of 5.47 ft NAVD88. The Empire (EWEL1) gauge measured a peak of 5.26 ft NAVD88. The Black Bay Pahl (PSIL1) gauge measured a peak of 4.68 ft NAVD88. The Caernarvon (COCL1) gauge measured a peak of 3.45 ft NAVD88. Higher water levels likely occurred on the west bank of the parish where there are no official gauges.

Lower Plaquemines, Louisiana · Storm Surge/Tide · Oct 28, 22:00 UTC

Zeta produced widespread damage due to high winds. A Weatherflow station near the border of St. Bernard and Orleans parishes on Bayou Bienvenue recorded a maximum sustained wind of 87 mph with peak gust of 112 mph, though it should be noted that at 27.4m. The station is elevated higher than the standard observation height of 10m. Trees, power lines and power poles were snapped throughout the parish with the parish responding to around 550 tree emergencies. 40 city facilities suffered minor structural damage in addition to 400 residential and commercial buildings. 10 buildings sustained major damage. 1 indirect fatality occurred due to electrocution and one injury due to falling debris from a roof collapse.

Orleans, Louisiana · Hurricane (Typhoon) · Oct 28, 22:00 UTC

This tornado touched down on Prairie Point Road where some trees had large limbs broken along with a few pine trees snapped. The tornado moved in a northern direction and caused a bit more minor tree damage along Buggs Ferry Road. After moving through open fields, the tornado then crossed Boswell Road. Here several trees were damaged with some snapped and a few uprooted. The tornado then moved along a portion of Magnolia Road. Here, two homes sustained roof damage. One shed was heavily damaged with the roof off and some walls down. Another large shed had minor siding damaged. Two power poles were down along with multiple trees snapped or had limbs torn off. Tin debris was thrown across the field here as well as on the north side of Baldwyn Road where it lifted. The maximum estimated winds were 95 mph.

Noxubee, Mississippi · Tornado · Oct 28, 23:09 UTC

Winds gusted between 35 and 50 mph for several hours. A gust to 45 mph was recorded at the Lawrenceville AWOS (KLZU) at 5:06 AM EST. The Gwinnett County Emergency Manager reported hundreds of trees and numerous power lines blown down across the county. At least 70 homes were damaged by falling trees. In Buford, a tree fell onto a home killing a man and a woman.

Gwinnett, Georgia · Tropical Storm · Oct 29, 03:00 UTC

Trees were knocked down at multiple locations including Alabama Highways 68 and 176, U.S. Highway 11 at County Road 83, County Roads, 212, 479, 124, and 127. Trees were knocked down on Interstate 59 at mile markers 208 and 234. Also, a power pole was knocked down onto County Road 359. A tree and power lines were knocked down onto County Road 88 in the 100 block.

Dekalb, Alabama · Tropical Storm · Oct 29, 05:00 UTC

Emergency manager reported flash flooding developed along portions of the Catawba River and many of its tributaries across central McDowell County after 3 to 5 inches of rain fell in around 24 hours. In addition to around two dozen roads being inundated and closed, a water rescue occurred at an apartment complex in Old Fort when Mill Creek overflowed its banks. Private bridges were destroyed by intense stream flow along Second Broad River at Mimosa Dr and Clear Creek Rd (both in the Marion area) and along Peppers Creek Rd in North Cove. A culvert under Hidden Forest Drive was also washed out by a tributary of Limekiln Creek in Woodlawn. Additionally, a stream gauge on the Catawba River exceeded its established flood stage in the Pleasant Gardens community, indicating inundation of a campground off North Main St just north of Marion.

Mcdowell, North Carolina · Flash Flood · Oct 29, 12:15 UTC

Pappy's Trading Post published photos to their social media site of their property and nearby areas inundated by the Nottely River. The USGS river gage downstream reported the Nottely River rose to Minor Flood Stage, cresting at 14.68 feet. Radar estimates indicate that 4 to 6 inches of rain occurred in the area, resulting in the flash flooding.

Union, Georgia · Flash Flood · Oct 29, 13:00 UTC

Numerous businesses along Wilkesboro Boulevard from the Yadkin River bridge to Memorial Park were flooded when the Yadkin River swiftly rose out of its banks, the result of 4 to 5 inches or rain within a 24-hour period both preceding and during the passage of Tropical Storm Zeta. Multiple personal weather stations observed 2-3 inches of rain within a 1-hour period just before the onset of flooding. Flash flooding ended as the river crested during mid-afternoon, and roads were reopened during the evening once the river receded. Among the businesses flooded were Extreme Collision Auto Body, which had to move several vehicles to prevent them from being damaged by flood waters. Flood waters completely inundated Memorial Park as well as the Yadkin River Greenway.

Wilkes, North Carolina · Flash Flood · Oct 29, 13:15 UTC

Multiple weather stations in the southeastern portion of Franklin County recorded between two to locally 3.5 inches of rainfall inside a three hour period during the passage of Tropical Storm Zeta. Rainfall rates of one to two inches per hour were observed in some locations. This rain caused multiple streams to flood out of their banks onto nearby roadways in the Snow Creek area, making them impassible until the water receded. This includes Muddy Fork Road flooded by Reed Creek and Sutton Hollow Road closed due to flooding of Crawford Creek and Snow Creek. Fawndale Road and portions of the Virgil Goode Highway were also reported flooded and impassible for a few hours.

Franklin, Virginia · Flash Flood · Oct 29, 14:40 UTC

Multiple data sources across all of Patrick County, including trained spotters and personal automated weather stations, indicate that between two and locally three inches of rain fell during a two-hour period during the passage of Tropical Storm Zeta from roughly 9 am to 11 am EDT. Rainfall rates were observed at one to two inches per hour in spots. This rain caused multiple streams to flood out of their banks onto nearby roadways, some up to 12 inches deep in the vicinity of Buffalo Creek, making them impassible until the water receded. This included Egg Farm Road where it intersected Grassy Branch Creek, as water was estimated to be at least eight inches deep over the roadway.

Patrick, Virginia · Flash Flood · Oct 29, 15:04 UTC

Western Branch at Upper Marlboro was in Minor Flood Stage during the indicated time period, reaching a peak level of 12.68 feet at 3:30 AM on October 30th. The Water Street bridge in Upper Marlboro was completely covered by water, and much of Race Track Road was flooded between Marlboro Pike and the community center.

Prince George'S, Maryland · Flood · Oct 30, 02:13 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 Zeta