Iota spreading across Central America
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Update: 18th of November, 8:30 a.m. UTC
Now a tropical storm Iota is moving southeast of Tegucigalpa, Honduras with maximum winds of 65 km/h (40 mph). Iota is expected to be further downgraded to a tropical depression in the next hours.
Life-threatening storm surge and flash flooding is expected across Central America till Thursday. Flooding and mudslides are possible in parts of Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua.
Tropical strom warning is still in effect from the coast of Honduras west of Punta Castilla to the Honduras/Guatemala border and Bay Islands.
Update: 17th of November, 12:30 p.m. UTC
Iota has made landfall in Nicaragua as Category 4 hurricane. Located near 13.7N 84.8W, is moving toward the west near 9 mph (15km/h). This motion is expected for the next day or so. Iota will move further inland across northern Nicaragua today and move across southern Honduras tonight and Wednesday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph (135 km/h) with higher gusts. Rapid weakening is expected today into Wednesday and then dissipation over Central America by Wednesday night.
Iota brings damaging winds and life-threatening storm surge to where a hurricane warning is in effect. Life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding is expected through Thursday across portions of Central America.
Update: 16th of November, 6:00 p.m. UTC
Iota is forecasted to make landfall on the Nicaragua coast tonight while maintaining the strength of Category 5 hurricane. Maximum winds have increased to 260 km/h (160 mph).
Extreme winds together with life-threatening storm surge up to 15 to 20 feet will occur along the northeastern Nicaragua.
Hurricane warnings are in effect for Providencia, the coast of Nicaragua from the Honduras/Nicaragua border to Sandy Bay Sirpi and for the coast of Honduras from Punta Patuca to the Nicaragua border.
Update: 16th of November, 10:00 a.m. UTC
Hurricane Iota is still rapidly strengthening in the western Caribbean and has become a dangerous Category 4 hurricane.
It is possible that Iota may even reach Category 5 hurricane when it approaches Central America.
The hurricane is positioned near 13.6N 81.1W with maximum sustainable winds of 230 km/h (145 mph).
Hurricane warnings remain in effect from Sandy Bay Sirpi to the border with Honduras and from the border of Nicaragua to Punta Patuca.
Update: 15th of November, 10:00 p.m. UTC
Iota has strengthen to Category 1 hurricane with maximum winds of 150 km/h (90 mph) and moving westward at 9 mph towards Honduras and Nicaragua coasts.
The hurricane is expected to further rapidly intensify and possibly reach Category 4 as it moves closer to the Central America on Monday.
Life-threatening storm surge of 10 to 15 feet and catastrophic winds are expected along northeastern Nicaragua and eastern Honduras.
Hurricane warnings has been issued from Sandy Bay Sirpi to the border with Honduras and from the border of Nicaragua to Punta Patuca.
https://www.windy.com/-Satellite-satellite?satellite,11.868,-85.499,5,internal
