Hurricane Iota continues to strengthen rapidly in the Caribbean as it approaches Nicaragua and Honduras, areas that were just battered by Hurricane Eta earlier this month.
“Iota is expected to continue to rapidly intensify and could possibly be a catastrophic category 5 hurricane when it approaches the coast of Central America tonight,” the National Hurricane Center wrote in a Monday update. “Extreme winds and a life-threatening storm surge are expected along portions of the coast of northeastern Nicaragua and eastern Honduras, where a hurricane warning is in effect.”
#Hurricane #Iota has rapidly strengthened overnight and now has 155 mph (245 km/h) sustained winds. It could reach category 5 status later today before making landfall with 12-18 feet of storm surge. More on this exceptionally dangerous situation: https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB pic.twitter.com/gNGzvJlPUe
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) November 16, 2020
An Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft and crew made a 10-hour round-trip flight into the eye of the hurricane to measure wind speeds and barometric pressure. The crew “encountered intense lightning and hail in the southwestern quadrant” before reaching the 15-nautical-mile-wide eye.
Iota is expected to weaken rapidly after making landfall with the “rugged terrain” of Nicaragua and Honduras. Even if Iota fails to reach Category 5 strength, the storm will bring “life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding across portions of Central America.” The NHC warned that the lingering effects of Eta on the region could increase the risk of mudslides.
Storm surges from Iota could reach as high as 12 feet to 18 feet above normal water levels.
Nicaragua and Honduras have encouraged evacuations from low-lying areas, according to CBS News. CBS’s David Parkinson said the storm could “dump up to 30 inches of rain in places like San Pedro Sula, which saw around that amount from Eta.” By Sunday afternoon, Nicaraguan officials said about 1,500 people had been evacuated but that another 83,000 people in the region were in danger.
Iota is the 30th named storm of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, which has the most named storms of any season since scientists began keeping records. The previous record from 2005 was 28 named storms. At 31 storms, named or unnamed, 2020 is also now tied with 2005 for the most total storms. Hurricane season ends on Nov. 30.
