Tropical Storm Eta Brings Gusty Winds, Heavy Rains; South Fla., Schools, Courts Closed, Plus Other Shutdowns

From the Florida Phoenix:

By Diane Rado

November 9, 2020

Tropical storm Eta has been moving westward over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, “with gusty winds and heavy rains still occurring over portions of South Florida and the Florida Keys,” according to an advisory at 7 a.m. from the National Hurricane Center.

Schools, beaches, parks and other venues have already been closed in South Florida, according to the Miami Herald.

Various courts have been shut down Monday, including trial courts in Broward, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach County, according to the Florida Supreme Court.

As of Saturday, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency for Broward, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties.

The order said there is a “risk of severe flooding, strong winds, storm surge, hazardous seas, and the potential for isolated tornadic activity for portions of south Florida.”

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Florida’s coastal areas, from the Brevard/Volusia county line to Anna Marie Island, according to the advisory. The warning also includes Lake Okeechobee and the Florida Keys, from Ocean Reef to the Dry Tortugas.

more to come…

This story was originally published by the Florida Phoenix. For more stories from the Florida Phoenix, visit FloridaPhoenix.com.