Zeta On Track For NC: Here's What To Expect From The Hurricane

CHARLOTTE, NC — A topical storm brewing off the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico will likely bring heavy rains to North Carolina later this week, according to National Weather Service forecasters.

Monday morning, the storm was about 175 miles southeast of Cozumel, Mexico, clocking 70mph winds while moving northwest at about 9mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Zeta is expected to gain hurricane strength midweek in the Gulf before turning towards the Carolinas.

The storm will likely dump 2 to 4 inches of rain along the Gulf Coast, Tennessee Valley, southern Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic states, which could lead to flash flooding, NWS said.

The storm is expected to make landfall in the Gulf late Wednesday, however uncertainty remains about its path. "Zeta will likely bring periods of moderate to heavy rainfall, gusty winds, and the chance of severe storms to portions of the state in the day Wednesday through early Friday," North Carolina Emergency Management said Monday.

Here's the National Weather Service forecast for the greater Charlotte metro:
Today (Oct. 26)
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Calm wind.
Tuesday (Oct. 27)
Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 74. Light west southwest wind.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Calm wind.
Wednesday (Oct. 28)
A 20 percent chance of rain after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Calm wind.
Wednesday Night
A 50 percent chance of rain, mainly after 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Thursday (Oct. 29)
Showers. High near 74. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday Night
Showers likely before 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2am and 3am, then a chance of showers after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday (Oct. 30)
Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 45.
Saturday (Halloween — Oct. 31)
Sunny, with a high near 60.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.
Sunday (Nov. 1)
Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.