In short :
- Iota reached category 5;
- It hits Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala;
- He devastated Providencia and San Andres.
🌀 Hurricane #Iota is hitting the #Nicaragua in the middle of the night. The satellite image is impressive. Substantial damage is to be feared. (via @zoom_earth) pic.twitter.com/ufLA6H6k0F
– Guillaume Séchet (@Meteovilles) November 17, 2020
Iota is a hurricane of incredible power. He reached Category 5 and became the latest on record with this intensity. Indeed, the previous record dated back to 1932, when the Cuban hurricane hit on November 8. He is currently in Nicaragua with winds of force of Category 1. Terrifying images were broadcast when the storm made landfall.
🌀 Terrifying images of #Bilwi (Puerto Cabezas) northwest of #Nicaragua when the hurricane arrives #Iota before night falls this November 16, 2020 (via@nelvaldez) pic.twitter.com/bpk0KSjqG1
– Guillaume Séchet (@Meteovilles) November 17, 2020
Sustained winds from this devastating hurricane reached 260 km / h. Iota will lose intensity quickly. The winds will lose strength, but it is mostly torrential rains that will cause the most damage.
Strong winds are currently blowing at over 150 km / h and torrential rain is flooding some areas, including Honduras, northern Nicaragua and southern Belize. According to US Agency estimates, up to 750mm of rain is possible.
Such rain accumulations cause flooding, flash floods, mudslides and landslides. This is a real disaster for this region which is barely recovering from the passage of Hurricane Eta which killed hundreds.
Iota will continue its journey in the heart of Central America, gradually losing intensity.
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