Eta dumps blustery rain on Florida west coast

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. » Tropical Storm Eta dumped torrents of blustery rain on Florida’s west coast as it moved over Florida after making landfall north of the heavily populated Tampa Bay area Thursday morning, triggering some flooding but no major damage. The storm slogged ashore near Cedar Key, Florida, and was moving northeast across the state, according to the National Weather Service in Miami. Its maximum winds had fallen by early afternoon to 40 mph (65kph) and it was located about 40 miles (65 kilometers) northeast of Jacksonville. Although it was not the most powerful storm to hit the U.S. this year, Eta still had broad impact across the Tampa Bay region andwas linked to at least one death there.