PENSACOLA, FL – Both Escambia County and the City of Pensacola have declared a State of Emergency in response to Tropical Storm, nor Hurricane Zeta. As of 7am CDT, Zeta is moving toward the north near 17 mph (28 km/h). A faster northward to north-northeastward motion is expected to begin later this morning. On the forecast track, the center of Zeta will approach the northern Gulf Coast this morning and make landfall in southeastern Louisiana this afternoon. Zeta will move close to the Mississippi coast this evening, and move across the southeastern and eastern United States on Thursday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 90 mph (150 km/h) with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is forecast this morning, and Zeta is expected to reach the northern Gulf Coast as a hurricane before weakening over the southeastern United States on Thursday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles (240 km).
Airport staff is continuing to monitor the storm and its progression. Please continue to communicate with your airline for changes to flights as the storm will impact many flights in the evening hours. We will send updates through our website and social media as decisions are made.
