The images of the ravages of Eta in Central America 0:58
(CNN) -
Tropical Storm Eta made landfall on Cuba's south-central coast early Sunday and is expected to trigger dangerous storm surge and potentially deadly flash floods.
By 4 a.m. (Miami time), Eta had maximum sustained winds of nearly 105 km / h and was moving at 19 km / h, according to the National Hurricane Center of the United States (NHC, for its acronym in English).
The tropical storm is expected to carry up to 60cm.
of rain to parts of Cuba.
The amount of rain is likely to lead to flash floods and life-threatening landslides.
It could also trigger a storm surge that raises water levels up to 60cm to 1.2 meters above normal tides along the coast, according to the NHC.
By Sunday afternoon or evening, tropical storm conditions are expected to begin in South Florida and the Florida Keys, where Eta is heading after traversing Cuba on Sunday morning.
It is expected to strengthen to almost hurricane level when it hits the Florida Keys on Sunday night.
Late on Monday and Tuesday, Eta will move to the Gulf of Mexico, the NHC reported.
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A hurricane watch and a tropical storm watch are in effect for South Florida and the Florida Keys.
A tropical storm warning is also in effect for the Cayman Islands, parts of central Cuba and the northwestern Bahamas.
Eta made landfall along the Nicaraguan coast as a Category 4 hurricane Tuesday afternoon.
Last week it brought more than 60 cm.
of rain to parts of Nicaragua and Honduras.
Latin America and the Caribbean prepare for damage from Eta
In Latin America and the Caribbean, emergency plans for disasters are currently underway in Cuba and Mexico.
Meanwhile, evacuation and relief efforts continue in Guatemala and Honduras, which have been the hardest hit so far, with dozens of people dead and missing.
MIRA: At least 100 dead in Guatemala due to the collapse of a hill after cyclone Eta
In Honduras, at least 23 people have died and two are missing, according to the latest report from the country's Permanent Contingency Commission published Friday night.
More than 9,060 people are housed in 170 shelters, the commission said.
More than 1.6 million people across the country have been affected by the Eta crossing.
In Cuba, the country's Civil Defense updated its alerts on Saturday and issued an "Alarm Phase" for several areas in the west and downtown.
"Against Eta, there is no time to lose and protection is the priority," Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel tweeted on Saturday.
López Obrador warns of a possible "emergency situation"
In Mexico, the National Meteorological Service said that the "wide circulation of Eta causes heavy to torrential rains in the Yucatan peninsula and in southeastern Mexico."
The rain is estimated to last through Monday, the service said.
It will affect the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Yucatán.
The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, suspended an initially planned visit to the states of Nayarit and Sinaloa.
Instead he traveled to the state of Tabasco on Saturday, due to floods and weather conditions linked to Eta.
López Obrador warned of a possible "emergency situation" in Tabasco as widespread floods are expected by Eta.
He said he will convene an emergency meeting of the Security Cabinet.
"We are talking about rain never seen before" in the area, López Obrador said in a video message posted on his official Twitter account.
The president said that they carry out emergency preparations to prevent destruction and loss of human life.
Eta points to South Florida
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for eight counties on Saturday as Eta approaches, according to Fredrick Piccolo Jr., the governor's communications director.
The governor declared an emergency for Broward, Collier, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties in South Florida "as a precaution," Piccolo said.
Counties include the cities of Miami, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, and Key West.
The hurricane watch covers the South Florida coast from Deerfield Beach to Bonita Bay.
For the Florida Keys it ranges from Ocean Reef to Dry Tortugas, including Florida Bay and the Florida Keys.
A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the next 48 hours.
A tropical storm warning is in effect in southern Florida, from north of Golden Beach to Jupiter Inlet and from west of Chokoloskee to Bonita Beach, which includes Lake Okeechobee.
"Recent heavy rains in the region have caused the soil to become saturated and urban flash floods could become a threat by the end of the weekend and early next week, depending on how the storm progresses," said the meteorologist by CNN Derek Van Dam.
Possible storm surge in Florida coastal areas
A flood advisory is in effect through Tuesday night for much of South Florida, where it is possible for 6 to 10 inches of rain.
#Eta is currently forecast to approach southern Florida Monday morning as a Tropical Storm.
Heavy Rain is expected: 5-10 inches with isolated areas of up to 15 inches possible across portions of the Florida peninsula.
For more information, please visit https://t.co/pyol8aO16N pic.twitter.com/vlH8QyJJuZ
- NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) November 7, 2020
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez declared a state of emergency Friday while monitoring the storm.
Giménez said that the soil is already saturated by days of rain, so "floods are a great concern."
In addition to heavy rains, Eta is expected to bring a dangerous storm surge to Florida's coastal areas.
A storm surge of 60 to 90 cm is forecast.
from North Miami Beach to Marco Island, including Vizacína Bay and the Keys.
In addition, a 30 to 60 cm storm surge is forecast for parts of the east coast of Florida, from the Flagler / Volusia County line to North Miami Beach.
After Eta passes through South Florida and the Keys, there is still uncertainty about where the storm will take in the Gulf of Mexico.
There are a handful of mid and upper level atmospheric direction patterns responsible for Eta's seemingly erratic forecast trajectory.
Because of this, Eta's trajectory or forward movement changes are likely over the weekend.
CNN's Alaa Elassar, Melissa Alonso, Radina Gigova, Mallika Kallingal, Gene Norman, and Juan Paz contributed to this report.
Hurricane Eta Tropical Storm