The National Hurricane Center said Wednesday afternoon that Zeta had strengthened into a category 2 hurricane with maximum winds of 110 miles per hour.
Forecasters noted that some additional strengthening is possible and Zeta should make landfall as a category 2 hurricane later on Wednesday.
The biggest threat from Zeta comes from hurricane-force winds moving over the area, with the worst of the impacts to be felt east of the storm's center.
A Storm Surge Warning and Hurricane Warning are in effect for Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Lower Jefferson, Lower Lafourche, Lower Plaquemines, Lower St. Bernard, Lower Terrebonne, Orleans, Southern Tangipahoa, St. Charles, St. John The Baptist, St. Tammany, and Upper St. Bernard.
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Ascension, Assumption, Livingston, Pearl River, St. James, Upper Jefferson, Upper Lafourche, Upper Plaquemines, Upper Terrebonne, and Washington.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Northern Tangipahoa, Pike, St. Helena, and Walthall.
A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
Mouth of the Atchafalaya River to Navarre Florida
Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain, Pensacola Bay and Mobile Bay
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
Morgan City Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama border
Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Metropolitan New Orleans
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* Mississippi/Alabama border to Walton/Bay County Line Florida