Hurricane Zeta has strengthened to a Category 1 Hurricane as it travels toward the Gulf Coast. Heavy wind, rain, and storm surge 5-8 feet over normal tide levels are expected to hit the coast by this afternoon.

The storm is south-southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi river with sustained winds of 75 mph. Zeta is moving at 15 mph and is expected to accelerate as it approaches the US.  The fast pace of the storm is expected to protect the affected areas from widespread catastrophic flooding. If Hurricane Zeta strikes Louisiana, it will be the fifth named storm to do so this season – setting a record for the state.

Mansfield is currently on Code Yellow for the coastal areas of each of the following states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle.