Hurricane Eta threatens its fourth landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast

As of Wednesday, Eta strengthened again to a Category 1 hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico and it could soon drift towards Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The hurricane watches are in effect from Anna Maria Island to Yankeetown, Florida, meaning hurricane conditions are possible in the area within the next 24 hours. 

With maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, Eta is now set for landfall along the Big Bend of Florida, just to the east of Ocala, by Thursday night or early Friday morning, CNN said.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm is 170 miles from Tampa.

However, some further strengthening is still possible today, and Eta will likely be near or above hurricane force when it makes landfall Thursday along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

This is set to be the storm’s fourth landfall. Eta first made landfall in Central America last week and as a Category 4 hurricane, then in Cuba and in Lower Matecumbe Key on Sunday.

Tropical storm warnings are currently in place for Dry Tortugas and Bonita Beach, Florida, to Suwannee River, Florida.

As per CNN reports, areas along the Florida coastline should expect widespread rainfall of 1 to 3 inches with some areas possibly seeing as much as 5 inches through Friday.