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Hurricane Iota

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Hurricane Iota
Current storm status
Category 5 hurricane (1-min mean)
Satellite image
Forecast map
As of:1:00 p.m. EST (18:00 UTC) November 16
Location:13°30′N 82°00′W / 13.5°N 82.0°W / 13.5; -82.0 (Hurricane Iota) ± 15 nm
About 40 mi (65 km) W of Isla de Providencia, Colombia
About 100 mi (160 km) ESE of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua
Sustained winds:140 knots (160 mph; 260 km/h) (1-min mean)
gusting to 170 knots (195 mph; 315 km/h)
Pressure:918 mbar (27.11 inHg)
Movement:W at 9 knots (10 mph; 17 km/h)
See more detailed information.

Hurricane Iota is currently the latest Category 5 Atlantic major hurricane on record that is impacting Central America, mainly Nicaragua just two weeks after Hurricane Eta devastated the region. 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 originated 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 is the strongest November hurricane in the Atlantic basin since the 1932 Cuba hurricane.

The precursor wave 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

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

At 18:00 UTC on November 8, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began to monitor the Central Caribbean for a tropical wave that 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. In addition, hail could damage the hurricane hunter aircraft investigating the storm.[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.[16] This is the latest formation date of a category 5.

Current storm information

As of 10:00 a.m. EST (15:00 UTC) November 16, Hurricane Iota is within 15 nautical miles of 13°30′N 82°00′W / 13.5°N 82.0°W / 13.5; -82.0 (Iota), about 40 miles (65 km) west of Isla de Providencia, Colombia and about 100 miles (160 km) east-southeast of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. Maximum sustained winds are 140 knots (160 mph; 260 km/h), with gusts to 170 knots (195 mph; 315 km/h). The minimum barometric pressure is 918 mbar (27.11 inHg), and the system is moving west at 9 knots (10 mph; 17 km/h). Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center, and tropical-storm force winds extend outward up to 150 miles (240 km).

For the latest official information, see:

Watches and warnings

Template:HurricaneWarningsTable

Preparations

Tropical storm warnings were first issued for Colombia islands of San Andrés and Providencia around midday on November 14.[17] 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.[18][19]

Impact

Venezuela

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.[20] Some flooding occurred in the state of Miranda.[21]

Colombia

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.[22] The worst damage took place in the Mohán sector of Dabeiba where landslides killed three people, injured 20, and left eight others missing.[23][22][24] Eight people were rescued from the rubble.[22] The landslides destroyed 67 homes and damaged 104 others as well as three schools. A total of 497 people were affected in the community.[24] 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.[23] Across Chocó, an estimated 28,000 people were affected.[24] 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.[23]

An estimated 70 percent of Cartagena saw flooding due to the direct effects of Iota,[25] affecting an estimated 155,000 people.[26] Numerous homes were damaged or destroyed by floods and landslides.[24] City officials converted the Coliseo de Combate into a shelter capable of accommodating 200 people.[27]

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.[28]

See also

References

  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. ^ a b "Tropical Storm IOTA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  9. ^ "Hurricane IOTA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  10. ^ "Hurricane IOTA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  11. ^ "Hurricane IOTA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  12. ^ "Hurricane IOTA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  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 November 16, 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 November 16, 2020.
  15. ^ "Hurricane IOTA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  16. ^ "Hurricane IOTA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  17. ^ "Tropical Storm IOTA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  18. ^ "Tropical Storm IOTA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  19. ^ "Tropical Storm IOTA". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ "Fuertes lluvias causaron inundación en el sector Los Lagos de Los Teques". El Nacional (in Spanish). November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  22. ^ a b c "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.
  23. ^ a b c "Inundaciones, muertos y cientos de afectados dejan las lluvias en Colombia" (in Spanish). Noticias RCN. November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  24. ^ a b c d "Las torrenciales lluvias del huracán Iota causan desastres en Colombia". La Tribuna (in Spanish). November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  25. ^ "Inundaciones en Colombia: 3 muertos" (in Spanish). Turkish Radio. November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  26. ^ "Declaran calamidad pública en Cartagena: Iota deja hasta ahora 155.000 damnificados" (in Spanish). Infobae. November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  27. ^ "Cartagena declara calamidad pública por lluvias e inundaciones". El Tiempo (in Spanish). November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  28. ^ "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.
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