Hurricane Zeta held steady at category strength at the 10 a.m. Wednesday advisory from the National Hurricane Center, though the NHC notes further strengthening is possible before landfall later today.
Still, southeast Louisiana is in line for a major wind event as Zeta quickly moves through the area.
A Storm Surge Warning and Hurricane Warning are in effect for Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Lower Jefferson, Lower Lafourche, Lower Plaquemines, Lower St. Bernard, Lower Terrebonne, Orleans, Southern Tangipahoa, St. Charles, St. John The Baptist, St. Tammany, and Upper St. Bernard.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Ascension, Assumption, Livingston, Pearl River, St. James, Upper Jefferson, Upper Lafourche, Upper Plaquemines, Upper Terrebonne, and Washington.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Northern Tangipahoa, Pike, St. Helena, and Walthall.
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
Mouth of the Atchafalaya River to Navarre Florida
Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain, Pensacola Bay and Mobile Bay
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
Morgan City Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama border
Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Metropolitan New Orleans
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
Mississippi/Alabama border to Walton/Bay County Line Florida
WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected within the Hurricane Warning area on the northern Gulf Coast this afternoon, with tropical storm conditions beginning later this morning. Tropical storm conditions are expected within the Tropical Storm Warning area on the northern Gulf Coast by late today.
Damaging winds, especially in gusts, will spread well inland across portions of southeastern Mississippi this evening through early Thursday morning.
RAINFALL: Areas of heavy rainfall, both in advance of and along the track of Zeta, will impact areas from the central Gulf Coast to the Mid-Mississippi and Ohio Valleys, and eastward into the southern to central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic today through Thursday. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches with isolated amounts of 6 inches are expected across these areas, resulting in flash, urban, small stream, and minor river flooding.
TORNADOES: A few tornadoes are expected this afternoon through tonight over southeastern parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, southern Alabama, and the western Panhandle of Florida.