Tropical Storm Eta has hit Florida, bringing with it heavy rain and strong winds that forecasters fear may lead to storm surges and flash flooding. Schools, beaches and public transport in much of the southern part of the state were shut before Eta made landfall late on Sunday in Lower Matecumbe Key in the Florida Keys.
Eta has already wreaked devastation in parts of Central America. It passed through Cuba before making landfall in Florida. The National Hurricane Center warned in the early hours of Monday that Eta would bring “strong winds, heavy rains and dangerous storm surge” over parts of South Florida and Florida Keys. It said the storm had brought maximum sustained winds of 65mph (100km/h), was moving at around 14 mph (22km/h) and is forecast to become a hurricane as it moves over the south-eastern Gulf of Mexico.
As much as 12 inches (300mm) of rain could fall and storm surges could reach as high as 4ft (1.2m), the forecast said. In preparation for Eta, officials in Miami-Date and Broward Counties, and in the Keys, ordered the closure of all schools, beaches and public transport. Mobile home parks and campgrounds in low-lying areas were also evacuated and shelters open.(BBC)…[+]
