Zeta, Tropical Storm That Won't Quit

Tropical Storm Zeta kept its strength Thursday in the eastern Atlantic and could break the record for lasting the longest into January since record keeping began in 1851.

The 27th and final named storm in a tumultuous, record-breaking hurricane season that officially ended more than a month ago, Zeta had sustained winds near 40 mph on Thursday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Zeta's winds had been 35 mph earlier in the day, briefly making the storm just a tropical depression. Zeta posed no threat to land.

Its first incarnation as a tropical storm lasted from Dec. 30 to around 4 a.m. Thursday. The storm was expected to weaken soon because of strong wind shear, hurricane specialist Stacy Stewart said.

"This thing has been very tenacious," he said. "It's probably its last gasp."

Zeta is only the second Atlantic storm in recorded history to survive into January, joining Hurricane Alice in 1955. After Zeta dissipates, Stewart said, forecasters will review records to determine whether it or Alice lasted longest into January.

The 2005 hurricane season officially ended Nov. 30, but hurricane specialist Jack Beven said the season will be considered finished when the last Zeta advisory is issued.

The 2006 season officially begins June 1, but early storms will be part of its tally. The first name on the list is Alberto.

At 4 p.m. EST, Zeta was centered about 1,020 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands and moving northwest near 8 mph.

The 2005 season had 14 hurricanes including Katrina, which devastated Louisiana and Mississippi in August and became the most costly disaster in U.S. history. The 2005 season marked the first time that the Greek alphabet was used to name storms because the list of proper names was exhausted.

Forecasters predict hurricane seasons will be more active than usual for at least another decade.