Tropical Storm Eta Path, Tracker as Theta Forms to Break Hurricane Season Record

Subtropical Storm Theta set a new record for the most named storms in a hurricane season in the U.S., according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Theta, which developed Monday evening, marked the 29th named storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, breaking the previous record set in the 2005 season which saw 27 named storms.

Theta follows Tropical Storm Eta, which made landfall in Lower Matecumbe Key of the Florida Keys on Sunday night, with torrential rain and maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour (mph).

Eta was reported to be lingering just north of the Yucatan Channel, while the risk of flooding over south Florida and the western region of Cuba remains, as of 3 a.m. CST Tuesday, according to the NHC.

"Heavy rainfall from Eta will continue across western Cuba and South Florida today [Tuesday] and tonight. Additional flash and urban flooding, especially across previously inundated areas, will be possible in South Florida. Flash and urban flooding will also be possible for western Cuba.

"Eta could approach the Florida Gulf Coast later this week as a tropical storm, and possibly bring impacts from rain, wind, and storm surge. Interests in this area should continue to monitor the progress of Eta and updates to the forecast this week," the NHC noted.

Eta is forecast to gradually strengthen through early Thursday. However, "after that time, increasing shear and drier mid-level air are likely to cause Eta to weaken. The rate of this weakening is pretty uncertain, and a lot depends on how much Eta can re-intensify over the next couple of days," the NHC added.

Theta is projected to remain in the eastern Atlantic region over the next several days. As of 9 a.m. GMT Tuesday, the storm was reported to be moving toward the east at nearly 12 mph, with eastward to east-northeastward movement expected across the eastern Atlantic in the coming days.

"Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected during the next few days. Winds of 40 mph extend outward up to 115 miles (185 km) from the center," the NHC noted.

Eta and Theta could potentially be joined by a third storm in the central Caribbean region where an area of low pressure may develop this week.

Weather conditions may be favorable for the low pressure system to become a tropical depression or storm later this week or over the weekend as it moves west, the Weather Channel reported.

There is a low to moderate chance of development over the next several days, which may be a potential threat to Central America, Jamaica and/or Cuba, according to AccuWeather meteorologists.

The latest count of named storms shattered the total previously projected by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) Climate Prediction Center, which back in May forecasted 13 to 19 named storms for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.