New Delhi (NVI): Hurricane Iota made landfall in Nicaragua on Monday night, as a Category 4 hurricane after battering the Colombian islands of San Andres and Providencia.
The storm made landfall near the town of Haulover, with sustained winds near 155 mph, according to an advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
Hurricane Iota’s landfall location is approximately 15 miles south of where Hurricane Eta made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on November 3.
The storm is expected to move inland across northern Nicaragua and southern Honduras till midnight.
A hurricane warning is in effect for the coast of Nicaragua from the Honduras/Nicaragua border to Sandy Bay Sirpi, and the northeastern coast of Honduras from Punta Patuca to the Nicaragua border, according to the hurricane center.
The National Hurricane Center has warned of “flash flooding, life-threatening storm surge, and powerful winds” across Central America from the latest storm.
Hurricane #Iota Advisory 16A: Iota Expected to Produce Flash Flooding, Landslides, Life-Threatening Storm Surge, and Powerful Winds Across Portions Of Central America Today. https://t.co/VqHn0u1vgc
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) November 17, 2020
Iota first impacted the islands of San Andres and Providencia, which have been part of Colombia for centuries, but are geographically closer to Central America than to the Colombian mainland.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for Providencia, while San Andres is under a hurricane watch, the hurricane center said.
Before it weakened, Iota was the first Category 5 storm of this record-breaking hurricane season and is threatening many areas of Central America that are still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Eta.
Iota will weaken rapidly after landfall and is forecast to dissipate over Central America by Wednesday, the advisory said.
Furthermore, hurricane and tropical storm warnings are also in effect for surrounding area.
Meanwhile, rainfall accumulations throughout Central America are expected to be high, with Honduras, northern Nicaragua, Guatemala and southern Belize seeing between 8 and 16 inches of rainfall, according to the advisory.
Costa Rica and Panama should also see about 4 to 8 inches of rainfall, with up to 12 inches possible in some areas.
-CHK
