Last Updated on November 3, 2020, 2:33 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Slow-moving Eta has rapidly intensified into a Category 4 hurricane, is expected to bring life-threatening strong winds and storm surge to Nicaragua and Honduras on early Tuesday.
Portions of Central America may receive about 3 feet of rain, resulting in catastrophic landslides and flooding in some areas.
The National Hurricane Center said that Eta might become a Category 5 hurricane before it hits.
The NHC said in its 10 pm Monday advisory that some strengthening is forecast during the next 12 hours, and Eta may become a Category 5 hurricane before it makes landfall.
A Category 5 hurricane has winds of over 156 mph.
The NHC said that Eta had become a November hurricane as it is undergoing rapid strengthening continuously.
Wind speed of Eta went up 80 mph and more than doubled from 7 pm on Sunday, Eta was only a tropical storm by then, to 7 pm on Monday.
This is over double the qualification for rapid intensification, a wind speed increase of 35 mph in a day.
The NHC said on Monday evening that Eta is now a Category 4 hurricane, with sustained winds of 150 mph and higher gusts, which is dangerous.
Eta is located around 70 miles from the Nicaragua/Honduras border, and the hurricane is moving to the west-southwest at seven mph.
Conditions would deteriorate in Nicaragua throughout the night, with an expected landfall early on Tuesday.
The NHC said that the continued strengthening is expected until the hurricane reaches the coast of Nicaragua. It would make landfall on early Tuesday as a Category 4 hurricane, before moving inland over northern Nicaragua through Wednesday.
Monday night, conditions were starting to deteriorate along the northeastern coast of Nicaragua.
A hurricane warning is put in place for the entire coast of Nicaragua.
Also, a tropical storm warning is in place for the northeastern coast of Honduras.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
