Former Tropical Depression Twentynine strengthened into Tropical Storm Eta over the central Caribbean Sea on Saturday night and Hurricane Watches were issued for Nicaragua and Honduras. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Eta was located at latitude 15.0°N and longitude 74.2°W which put it about 600 miles (965 km) east of Cabo Gracias a Dios. Eta was moving toward the west at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1005 mb.

A Hurricane Watch was issued for the portion of the coast from Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua to Punta Patuca, Honduras.

The circulation around former Tropical Depression Twentynine exhibited greater organization on Saturday night and the National Hurricane Center upgraded the system to Tropical Storm Eta. The inner part of a rainband wrapped partly around the eastern side of the center of circulation. Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center. Storms near the center generated upper level divergence which pumped mass away from the tropical storm. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 50 miles (80 km) on the northern side of Tropical Storm Eta. The winds in the southern half of Eta were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Eta will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 48 hours. Eta will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Storm Eta could intensify into a hurricane within 48 hours.

Tropical Storm Eta will move south of a ridge of high pressure over the western Atlantic Ocean. The ridge will steer Eta toward the west during the next couple of days. On its anticipated path Tropical Storm Eta could approach Nicaragua and Honduras in 48 hours. Eta could be a hurricane when it gets there.