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#1025610 (Received by flhurricane at: 3:42 PM 16.Nov.2020)
TCDAT1

Hurricane Iota Discussion Number 14
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL312020
400 PM EST Mon Nov 16 2020

Iota has a powerful appearance on the latest satellite imagery, with
a well-defined eye and solid eyewall. The last aircraft mission
reported winds similar to the previous crew, with maximum 700-mb
flight-level winds of about 145 kt, with SFMR values of 130-135 kt,
and a central pressure of about 919 mb. This data support an initial
wind speed of about 140 kt, although this could be a little
generous. The next aircraft will be in the hurricane early this
evening for a final reconnaissance assessment. Little change in
intensity is expected before landfall this evening, and rapid
weakening is anticipated over central America. Notably, strong
winds are expected near the core and in coastal areas of Honduras
for about a day after landfall, along with torrential rainfall.

The hurricane is moving westward a little slower, about 8 kt. The
forecast has been gradually adjusting southward with Iota refusing
to gain much latitude, seemingly under the influence of a strong
ridge. The new NHC track is nudged southward again, but still
remains close to where Hurricane Eta made landfall a couple of weeks
ago. Iota is expected to dissipate over the high terrain of central
America before reaching the eastern Pacific.

This remains a catastrophic situation for northeastern Nicaragua
with an extreme storm surge of 15-20 ft forecast along with
destructive winds and potentially 30 inches of rainfall, and it is
exacerbated by the fact that it should make landfall in almost the
exact same location that category 4 Hurricane Eta did a little less
than two weeks ago.


Key Messages:

1. Iota is expected to remain a catastrophic category 5 hurricane
when it approaches the coast of Nicaragua tonight. Extreme winds and
a life-threatening storm surge are expected along portions of the
coast of northeastern Nicaragua, where a hurricane warning is in
effect.

2. Through Thursday, heavy rainfall from Iota will likely lead to
life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding across portions
of Central America. Flooding and mudslides in Honduras and Nicaragua
could be exacerbated by Hurricane Etas recent effects there,
resulting in significant to potentially catastrophic impacts.


FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 16/2100Z 13.6N 82.7W 140 KT 160 MPH
12H 17/0600Z 13.7N 83.8W 110 KT 125 MPH...INLAND
24H 17/1800Z 13.8N 85.6W 55 KT 65 MPH...INLAND
36H 18/0600Z 13.8N 87.8W 35 KT 40 MPH...INLAND
48H 18/1800Z...DISSIPATED

$$
Forecaster Blake