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BULLETIN
Hurricane Iota Advisory Number  16
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL312020
400 AM EST Tue Nov 17 2020
 
...IOTA RAPIDLY WEAKENING OVER NORTHEASTERN NICARAGUA...
...LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGE, CATASTROPHIC WINDS, FLASH FLOODING,
AND LANDSLIDES EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AMERICA...
 
 
SUMMARY OF 400 AM EST...0900 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...13.7N 84.3W
ABOUT 10 MI...15 KM ENE OF EL PIA NICARAGUA
ABOUT 65 MI...105 KM WSW OF PUERTO CABEZAS NICARAGUA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...105 MPH...165 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 270 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...950 MB...28.06 INCHES
 
 
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:
 
The government of Colombia has discontinued the Tropical Storm
Warning for Providencia and San Andres Islands.
 
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:
 
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* The coast of Nicaragua from the Honduras/Nicaragua border to
Sandy Bay Sirpi
* The coast of northeastern Honduras from Punta Patuca to the
Honduras/Nicaragua border
 
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* The coast of Nicaragua from south of Sandy Bay Sirpi to Bluefields
* The northern coast of Honduras from west of Punta Patuca to the
Guatemala/Honduras border
* Bay Islands
 
A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area.  Preparations to protect life
and property should have already been completed.
 
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the
next 12 to 24 hours.
 
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 400 AM EST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Iota was located 
near latitude 13.7 North, longitude 84.3 West. Iota is moving toward 
the west near 9 mph (15 km/h), and this general motion is expected 
to continue during the next day or so.  On the forecast track, Iota 
will move farther inland across northern Nicaragua today, and move 
across southern Honduras tonight and Wednesday.
 
Maximum sustained winds are near 105 mph (165 km/h) with higher
gusts.  Iota is now a category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson 
Hurricane Wind Scale.  Additional rapid weakening is expected today
into Wednesday, and Iota is forecast to dissipate over Central 
America by Wednesday night.
 
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from 
the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 
175 miles (280 km).  Puerto Cabezas airport in Nicaragua recently 
reported a sustained wind of 51 mph (82 km/h) and a gust to 77 mph 
(124 km/h).
 
The estimated minimum central pressure is 950 mb (28.06 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.
 
STORM SURGE:  A life-threatening storm surge will raise water levels
by as much as 5 to 10 feet above normal tide levels in areas of
onshore winds along the coast of Nicaragua and Honduras.  Near the
coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.
 
WIND:  Significant wind damage is occurring near Iota's eyewall 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 couple of
days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip
current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather
office.
 
 
NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next intermediate advisory at 700 AM EST.
Next complete advisory at 1000 AM EST.
 
$$
Forecaster Stewart
 
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