BULLETIN
Hurricane Iota Advisory Number 17
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL312020
900 AM CST Tue Nov 17 2020
…IOTA COULD PRODUCE POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC FLASH FLOODING AND
MUD SLIDES ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AMERICA FOR THE NEXT DAY OR
TWO…
SUMMARY OF 900 AM CST…1500 UTC…INFORMATION
———————————————-
LOCATION…13.7N 85.2W
ABOUT 135 MI…220 KM E OF TEGUCIGALPA HONDURAS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…75 MPH…120 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…W OR 270 DEGREES AT 12 MPH…19 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…980 MB…28.94 INCHES
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
——————–
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
The governments of Nicaragua and Honduras have changed the
Hurricane Warning to a Tropical Storm Warning for their
respective coastlines from Sandy Bay Sirpi Nicaragua to Punta
Patuca Honduras.
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Bluefields Nicaragua to the Guatemala/Honduras border
* Bay Islands
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area.
Interests elsewhere in Nicaragua and Honduras should monitor the
progress of Iota.
For storm information specific to your area, please monitor
products issued by your national meteorological service.
DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
———————-
At 900 AM CST (1500 UTC), the center of Hurricane Iota was located
near latitude 13.7 North, longitude 85.2 West. Iota is moving toward
the west near 12 mph (19 km/h). The hurricane will move farther
inland across northern Nicaragua today, and move across southern
Honduras tonight before dissipating near El Salvador early
Wednesday.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 75 mph (120 km/h)
with higher gusts. Iota should weaken to a tropical storm this
afternoon, a tropical depression this evening, and degenerate into
a remnant low pressure area on Wednesday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles
(280 km).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 980 mb (28.94 inches).
HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
———————-
Key messages for Hurricane Iota can be found in the Tropical Cyclone
Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT1, WMO header WTNT41 KNHC
and on the web at www.hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT1.shtml.
WIND: Strong winds are occuring near the center of Iota and
these winds will spread farther inland across northern Nicaragua
during the next several hours. Tropical storm conditions are
occurring in the Tropical Storm Warning areas in Nicaragua and
Honduras.
RAINFALL: Iota is expected to produce the following rainfall
accumulations through Thursday:
Honduras, northern Nicaragua, southeast and central Guatemala and
southern Belize: 10 to 20 inches (250 to 500 mm), with isolated
maximum totals of 30 inches (750 mm).
El Salvador and Panama: 4 to 8 inches (100 to 200 mm), with isolated
maximum totals of 12 inches (300 mm).
This rainfall will lead to significant, life-threatening flash
flooding and river flooding, along with mudslides in areas of higher
terrain.
Southern Nicaragua and Costa Rica: 3 to 5 inches (75 to 125 mm),
with isolated maximum totals of 10 inches (250 mm).
SURF: Swells generated by Iota will affect much of the coast of
Central America and the Yucatan Peninsula during the next day or so.
These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip
current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather
office.