Tropical Storm Eta targets Florida west coast as it nears fourth landfall

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Tropical Storm Eta spun toward Florida’s west coast on Wednesday on its erratic path to a fourth landfall, threatening squall winds, storm surge and prompting the state’s governor to declare a state of emergency in 13 counties.

Eta, which had weakened slightly from hurricane strength to become a tropical storm, is the 28th named storm of the busiest Atlantic hurricane season on record, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center. Its fourth landfall was projected early on Thursday, north of Tampa Bay, after it already slammed Central America, Cuba and the upper Florida Keys.

It had dropped nearly 18 inches of rain over parts of South Florida by Monday, moved southwest and then stalled over the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday before making a northward turn. It was last moving on a northward trajectory at 12 miles per hour (19 kph).