Zeta weakens to a tropical storm

Zeta weakens to a tropical storm

Hurricane Zeta, the third storm of its size to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast, is now a tropical storm.

Bryan Wood reports.

The hurricane that barreled into the U.S. Gulf Coast Wednesday (October 28) has weakened to a tropical storm.

That's according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, but damage has already been done in towns and cities where it made landfall in Louisiana.

In New Orleans, Zeta dumped torrential rains, while strong winds tore roofs off of buildings, and knocked over trees.

LaToya Cantrell is the mayor of New Orleans: Thankfully it came through very quckly as predicted.

We are now beginning to assess the damage.

CBS reports one person has died in the aftermath, after being electrocuted by a wire.

The NHC says the tropical storm is now located over the state of Alabama, with maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour.

Earlier on Wednesday, Zeta slammed the coast as a category two hurricane with 110-mile-per-hour winds.

Since making landfall, storm surge warnings have ended for the Mississippi coast and Florida Panhandle.

Zeta marks the third hurricane to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast this year alone.