Hurricane Zeta was a late-season tropical cyclone in 2020 that made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula and then in southeastern Louisiana, the latest on record to do so at such strength in the United States.

It continued to strengthen until it reached its peak intensity as a major Category 3 hurricane with 115-mile-per-hour (185 km/h) sustained winds and a minimum pressure of 970 mbar (28.64 inHg) as it made landfall at Cocodrie, Louisiana, that evening.

Zeta gradually weakened as it accelerated northeastward, and became post-tropical on October 29, as it moved through central Virginia, dissipating shortly afterwards off the coast of New Jersey.

After bringing accumulating snow to parts of New England, the extratropical low-pressure system carrying Zeta's remnant energy impacted the United Kingdom on November 1 and 2.

In Mexico, strong winds and storm surge knocked down tree branches onto flooded streets in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, near where Zeta made landfall.

Heavy rain, storm surge, and strong winds also impacted the Southeastern United States and at least six fatalities were confirmed in the region.

Downed power lines and numerous crashes were a result in New England after the remnants of the system brought heavy accumulating snow to parts of the region.

[2] At 00:00 UTC on October 15, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began to monitor the southern Caribbean Sea for the possible development of a broad area of low pressure over the region.

[3] A large area of unsettled weather developed over the southwestern Caribbean by October 19 due to the combination of a tropical wave and a trough of low pressure.

Although unfavorable upper-level winds prevented further development of the tropical wave, southerly flow from that system caused Zeta's precursor trough to drift northward.

[1] Three days later, satellite images and radar data showed that the system, located near Grand Cayman Island at the time, was gradually becoming better organized.

Then, 12 hours later, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Zeta,[1] while located about 270 mi (430 km) east-southeast of Cozumel, Quintana Roo.

[5] After remaining nearly stationary for over a day, the storm began to move northwestward, and, despite experiencing some north-northwestwardly wind shear,[6] Zeta steadily intensified, reaching hurricane strength by 06:00 UTC on October 26, while located about 230 mi (370 km) southeast of Cozumel.

[7] Dry air wrapped around the northern half of Zeta's circulation as it moved off shore over the southern Gulf of Mexico, leaving its center partially exposed,[8] though it began to re-intensify on October 28, in a conducive environment of low shear and warm sea surface temperatures.

[9] It then began to accelerate, turning towards the northeast because of an approaching upper-level low and associated cold front moving across the Southern Plains while ridging was located off the Southeast Atlantic U.S.

[10] While within the swift flow between these systems, Zeta rapidly intensified as it moved quickly, with a forward speed of (25–30 mph (40–48 km/h), toward the Louisiana coast.

[10] It continued to strengthen until it reached its peak intensity, as a category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 970 mbar (29 inHg), as it made landfall near Cocodrie, Louisiana, at 21:00 UTC.

[1] Its maximum sustained winds decreased to tropical storm strength early on October 29, about 25 mi (40 km) south-southeast of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

[12] It then accelerated northeastward across northern Georgia and the southern Appalachian Mountains,[1] before transitioning into a post-tropical cyclone about 25 mi (40 km) south-southeast of Charlottesville, Virginia.

[1] Several days later, the low-pressure system carrying Zeta's remnant energy brought heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the United Kingdom.

[22][23] As the storm began to merge with a cold front, winter weather advisories were issued for inland New England with the threat of accumulating snow causing problems on roads.

[34] Baldwin EMC stocked on supplies and put extra crews on standby ahead of Zeta to help restore power in parts of the state.

[36] Tropical Storm Warnings were issued as far inland as the Carolinas and Virginia on October 28, with the likelihood of tropical-storm-force sustained winds and gusts likely in the areas.

[40] Tree branches were littered across flooded streets in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, near where Zeta made landfall.

[46] Sustained tropical storm force winds began spreading onshore in southeastern coast of Louisiana around 18:00 UTC on October 28.

[1][58] The storm surge flooded the parking garage at the Golden Nugget Casino in Biloxi, leaving several cars partially submerged.

[70][1] After interacting and merging with the winter storm located over the Southern Plains, Zeta caused widespread wind damage throughout the rest of the Southeastern United States.

Due to the risk of further heavy rainfall across areas previously impacted by Aiden, the Environment Agency issued more than 40 flood alerts ahead of the arrival of Zeta's remnants.

The M62 motorway was closed between Leeds and Manchester after high winds caused a lorry to overturn, landing on top of a van in the next lane.

[104] Upon formation, Zeta became the earliest 27th Atlantic tropical or subtropical storm on record, surpassing the old mark of November 29, set by Hurricane Epsilon in 2005.