Tropical Storm Iota Moves to Central America: NPR

Tropical Storm Iota is expected to develop into a major hurricane in the next few days.

National Hurricane Center

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National Hurricane Center

Tropical Storm Iota is expected to develop into a major hurricane in the next few days.

National Hurricane Center

As Central America recovers from Hurricane Eta, which landed as a Category 4 earlier this month, there is yet another hurricane in the region.

Tropical Storm Iota, currently in the Caribbean Sea, is forecast to strengthen and flood the area starting Monday. The National Hurricane Center warns that dangerous winds, storm surges and rain could affect parts of Honduras and Nicaragua with additional hazards in Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia.

The results could be disastrous for a region that is still recovering from the eta that has led so far. Mortality There are at least 150 people. “There are still a lot of people waiting for help at the top of their roofs,” said Nalis Palma of the Sociedad Biblica de Guatemala. ” Aquaweather.

Iota was heading west-southwest on Saturday afternoon, and its speed was expected to increase as it approached the Central American coast on Monday or moved south-west to the Caribbean Sea the next day. According to NHC forecaster Daniel Brown.

Honduras, northern Nicaragua, eastern Guatemala and southern Belize could receive 8 to 16 inches of rain, with up to 30 inches of rain falling in some different areas. 4 to 8 inches of rain can be seen in Costa Rica, Panama and Northern Columbia, while secluded areas reach up to a foot.

“Iota is expected to come close to or near the strength of a hurricane when it comes to the coast of Central America,” Brown said. Said. “Heavy rains from Ayota will lead to deadly flash floods and river flooding in northern Colombia and parts of Central America.”

With the formation of Subtropical Storm Theta earlier this week, 2020 is over Single record For the number of named storms in the Atlantic in a single season. Iota is the 30th hurricane of the season.