User:PurpleLights/Iota

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Hurricane Iota4
Current storm status
Category 4 hurricane (1-min mean)
Satellite image
Forecast map
As of:10:00 p.m. EST (03:00 UTC November 17) November 16
Location:13°36′N 83°24′W / 13.6°N 83.4°W / 13.6; -83.4 (Hurricane Iota) ± 15 nm
About 30 mi (45 km) S of Puerto Cabezas
About 100 mi (155 km) S of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Honduras–Nicaragua border
Sustained winds:135 knots (155 mph; 250 km/h) (1-min mean)
gusting to 165 knots (190 mph; 305 km/h)
Pressure:920 mbar (27.17 inHg)
Movement:W at 8 knots (9 mph; 15 km/h)
See more detailed information.

Hurricane Iota is currently a strong Category 4 major hurricane making affecting Nicaragua, a region devastated by Hurricane Eta just two weeks prior, after becoming the season's first Category 5 hurricane. The thirty-first tropical cyclone, thirtieth named storm, thirteenth hurricane, sixth major hurricane, and first Category 5 hurricane of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Iota was at first as a tropical wave that moved into the Eastern Caribbean on November 10. Late on November 11, the wave began to become better organized and by November 13, it became Tropical Depression Thirty-One. The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Iota six hours later. The storm was initially impacted by some wind shear, but a center relocation and relaxed shear allowed Iota to quickly strengthen into a hurricane on November 15, after which it explosively deepened, becoming a Category 5 hurricane the following day. This made 2020 the fifth consecutive season since 2016 to feature at least one Category 5 hurricane, Iota being the seventh in that line. Iota reached Category 5 intensity later in the year than any other Atlantic hurricane on record. It was the second-strongest November hurricane on record, behind only the 1932 Cuba hurricane. After weakening slightly, Iota made landfall in Northeastern Nicaragua as a high-end Category 4 hurricane.

The precursor wave to Iota generated flash flooding in most of the Caribbean islands. Tropical cyclone watches and warnings were first issued on November 14 in parts of Colombia, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Heavy rains associated with a tropical wave and Iota brought heavy rainfall to parts of Colombia, leading to flash flooding and mudslides. Three people have been killed and eight others are missing.

Meteorological history[change | change source]

Storm path

At 18:00 UTC on November 8, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began to monitor the Central Caribbean for a tropical wave, known as Invest 98-L, was forecasted to enter the area and potentially become a low-pressure area.[1] The wave subsequently entered the Eastern Caribbean by 06:00 UTC on November 10 and moved westward into a more conducive environment for development.[2][3] Late on November 11, the wave started to become better organized and by 15:00 UTC on November 13, it had developed into Tropical Depression Thirty-One in the southern Caribbean, tying 2005 for the most tropical depressions recorded in one season.[4][5][6] Six hours later, the system strengthened into Tropical Storm Iota.[7] After struggling somewhat due to wind shear and dry air, Iota began to rapidly intensify late on November 14, as its convection started to wrap around its center.[8] At 06:00 UTC on November 15, Iota reached hurricane status before strengthening to Category 2 status at 00:00 UTC on November 16.[9][10] By 06:00 UTC on November 16, hurricane hunters discovered that Iota had become a high-end Category 3 major hurricane.[11], making it the first time there were two major hurricanes in November. Meteorologists also found intense lightning in Iota's southwest eyewall along with hail, which is extremely rare for a hurricane given the warm temperatures that are present in those storms.[12][13][14] Just 40 minutes later, at 06:40 UTC, Iota reached Category 4 intensity.[15] At 15:00 UTC, Iota intensified further into the season's first Category 5 hurricane and simultaneously reached its peak intensity with winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 917 mb (27.08 inHg).[16] This is the latest recorded date of a storm becoming a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic basin.[17] After peaking in intensity, Iota's pressure fluctuated some before it weakened slightly to a high-end Category 4 hurricane at 03:00 UTC on November 17 as it began to interact with land.[18] At 03:40 UTC, Iota made landfall along the northeastern coast of Nicaragua near the town of Haulover with sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a pressure of 920 mb (27.17 inHg). Iota's landfall location was approximately 15 miles (25 km) south of where Category 4 Hurricane Eta made landfall on November 3.[19]

Current storm information[change | change source]

As of 10:00 p.m. EST (03:00 UTC November 17) November 16, Hurricane Iota is within 15 nautical miles of 13°36′N 83°24′W / 13.6°N 83.4°W / 13.6; -83.4 (Iota), about 30 miles (45 km) south of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua and about 100 miles (155 km) south of Cabo Cracias a Dios on the Honduras–Nicaragua border. Maximum sustained winds are 135 knots (155 mph; 250 km/h), with gusts to 165 knots (190 mph; 305 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 920 mbar (27.17 inHg), and the system is moving west at 8 knots (9 mph; 15 km/h). Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center, and tropical-storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km).

For the latest official information, see:

Watches and warnings[change | change source]

Hurricane Warning
Hurricane conditions
expected within 36 hours.
Tropical Storm Warning
Tropical storm conditions expected within 36 hours.

Preparations[change | change source]

Hurricane Iota rapidly strengthening prior to peak intensity.

Tropical storm warnings were first issued for the Colombian islands of San Andrés and Providencia around midday on November 14.[20] Three hours later, a hurricane watch was issued for Providencia, as well as along the coast of Northern Nicaragua and Eastern Honduras, with a tropical storm watch also issued for Central Honduras.[8] All of the watches were eventually upgraded to warnings, with an additional hurricane watch for San Andrés as well as a tropical storm warning for south central Nicaragua.[21][22] The rest of the coastline of Honduras, as well as the Bay Islands, were later put under tropical storm warnings on November 16.[16]

Impact[change | change source]

South America[change | change source]

Venezuela[change | change source]

The precursor tropical wave to Iota produced heavy rain across Venezuela's Falcón, primarily in the Paraguaná Peninsula. In the Silva municipality, flooding affected 288 homes. Damage to homes was reported in El Cayude and El Tranquero. The community of Santa Ana lost electrical service. Civil Protection officials advised residents of possible flooding along the Matícora reservoir in Mauroa, the Barrancas river, and the Quebrada de Uca river.[23] Some flooding occurred in the state of Miranda.[24]

Colombia[change | change source]

Heavy rain from the outer bands of Iota spread across northwestern Colombia on November 14.

Heavy rains associated with a tropical wave and Iota caused extensive damage in Colombia.[25] The worst damage took place in the Mohán sector of Dabeiba where landslides killed three people, injured 20, and left eight others missing.[26][25][27] Eight people were rescued from the rubble.[25] The landslides destroyed 67 homes and damaged 104 others as well as three schools. A total of 497 people were affected in the community.[27] Approximately 100 vehicles were trapped by rockfalls along a road between Dabeiba and Urabá. Flooding affected 10 municipalities within the Chocó Department; the town of Lloró was isolated after the only bridge to the community collapsed. A landslide in Carmen de Atrato killed one person when his home was buried.[26] Across Chocó, an estimated 28,000 people were affected.[27] A van with two occupants disappeared when a landslide dragged the vehicle into the Atrato River. Emergencies were declared for 29 municipalities in the Santander Department where multiple rivers topped their banks. Several families were evacuated from Cimitarra due to rising water along the Carare River. A bridge collapse along the Chicamocha River isolated approximately 1,000 people in Carcasí and Enciso. More than 1,000 homes were damaged in the Atlántico Department: 693 in Malambo, 200 in Candelaria, and 150 in Carreto.[26]

An estimated 70 percent of Cartagena saw flooding due to the direct effects of Iota,[28] affecting an estimated 155,000 people.[29] Numerous homes were damaged or destroyed by floods and landslides.[27] City officials converted the Coliseo de Combate into a shelter capable of accommodating 200 people.[30]

On November 15–16, Iota passed close to the outlying Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina. On Providencia, two shelters had their roof blown off and communication was lost with the island around 08:00 UTC on November 16. On San Andrés, numerous trees were uprooted, some of which fell on homes, and several homes lost their roof.[31]

Central America[change | change source]

Nicaragua[change | change source]

As Iota was moving ashore, the Puerta Cabezas airport north of the landfall point reported sustained winds of 70 mph (113 km/h) with a gust to 103 mph (166 km/h).[18]

See also[change | change source]

References[change | change source]

  1. ↑ "NHC Graphical Outlook Archive". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  2. ↑ "NHC Graphical Outlook Archive". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  3. ↑ "NHC Graphical Outlook Archive". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  4. ↑ "NHC Graphical Outlook Archive". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  5. ↑ Pedersen, Joe Mario (November 13, 2020). "31st tropical depression of record season to form, Eta chills out as an extratropical low". orlandosentinel.com.
  6. ↑ Brown, Daniel. "Tropical Depression Thirty-One Advisory Number 1". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  7. ↑ Brown, Daniel. "Tropical Storm Iota Discussion Number 2". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Tropical Storm Iota Intermediate Advisory Number 5A". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 16 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ↑ "Hurricane Iota Intermediate Advisory Number 7A". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 16 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ↑ "Hurricane Iota Intermediate Advisory Number 10A". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 16 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ↑ "Hurricane Iota Intermediate Advisory Number 11A". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 16 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ "Hurricane Iota Discussion Number 12". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 16 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ↑ "Some wild reports from the 16 mile wide eye of major #Hurricane #Iota. 8ºC/14ºF temperature increase inside the eye, along with notation of frequent lightning in the southwest eyewall and hail. Hail is very rare in hurricanes at that flight level; really bizarre and intense". Twitter. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  14. ↑ "Hail is very rare in hurricanes for several reasons: – Hurricanes are wicked warm even at mid-levels due to hefty release of latent heat – Updrafts weaker than in supercells – If hail fell, sideways winds would blow it around while falling, giving time to melt before surface". Twitter. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  15. ↑ "Hurricane Iota Tropical Cyclone Update". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 16 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Hurricane Iota Advisory Number 13". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 16 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ↑ "Hurricane Iota Discussion Number 13". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 16 November 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Hurricane IOTA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  19. ↑ "Hurricane IOTA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  20. ↑ "Tropical Storm Iota Advisory Number 5". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  21. ↑ "Tropical Storm Iota Advisory Number 6". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  22. ↑ "Tropical Storm Iota Advisory Number 7". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  23. ↑ Mariana Souquett Gil (November 15, 2020). "Lluvias generaron inundaciones en la población de Santa Ana en Falcón" (in Spanish). Effect Cocuyo. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Fuertes lluvias causaron inundación en el sector Los Lagos de Los Teques". El Nacional (in Spanish). November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 "Ola invernal en Colombia: Lluvias en 25 departamentos por 'La Niña' y el huracán Iota". El País (in Spanish). Colprensa. November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 "Inundaciones, muertos y cientos de afectados dejan las lluvias en Colombia" (in Spanish). Noticias RCN. November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 "Las torrenciales lluvias del huracán Iota causan desastres en Colombia". La Tribuna (in Spanish). November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Inundaciones en Colombia: 3 muertos" (in Spanish). Turkish Radio. November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Declaran calamidad pública en Cartagena: Iota deja hasta ahora 155.000 damnificados" (in Spanish). Infobae. November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Cartagena declara calamidad pública por lluvias e inundaciones". El Tiempo (in Spanish). November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  31. ↑ "El huracán Iota deja incomunicada a la isla colombiana de Providencia" (in Spanish). Yahoo! News. EFE. November 16, 2020. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.

External links[change | change source]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hurricane Iota.
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