Two Records Just Set By Category 5 Hurricane Iota

November 16 2020

In this wild year of 2020 and already record number of named storms in the tropical Atlantic, two more records were just set today.

Hurricane Iota (eye-Ota) was the 30th named storm of the season, and like its predecessor Theta, it formed in the western Caribbean and quickly went from minimal tropical storm with 40 mph winds, to a major hurricane aiming for Nicaragua in two days time.

Strongest Of The Season: Category 5 Hurricane Iota has sustained winds of 160 mph, and gusts to 195 mph.

New Records

Most Named Storms In A Season: 30

Latest Category 5 on record: The last Category 5 in the Atlantic Basin was in 1932 (Nov 5-8). These are the only two Cat 5s in November on record.

Hurricane Iota Snapshot

Ironic Name

The word iota is the 9th letter in the Greek Alphabet, also means an extremely small amount. There is a popular saying, “no one iota”, meaning not the slightest amount. This being the strongest storm of the season is quite the contrary.

Hurricane Iota Satellite Loop

National Hurricane Center Report

SUMMARY OF 1000 AM EST...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...13.5N 82.0W
ABOUT 40 MI...65 KM W OF ISLA DE PROVIDENCIA COLOMBIA
ABOUT 100 MI...160 KM ESE OF PUERTO CABEZAS NICARAGUA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...160 MPH...260 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 270 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...917 MB...27.08 INCHES

Forecast Track

While this will hit the same areas as Theta did earlier this month, it wil not curve north and head to the US.

Iota is expected to continue west across the many 6,000 Ft mountains and quickly weaken.

If there is anything left over when it reaches the Pacific Ocean, it could regenerate and get a new name.

National Hurricane Center Forecast And Warnings

Rainfall 10 to 20 inches with spots up to 30 inches.

Wind and Storm Surge: Catastrophic

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* Providencia
* The coast of Nicaragua from the Honduras/Nicaragua border to
Sandy Bay Sirpi
* The coast of northeastern Honduras from Punta Patuca to the
Honduras/Nicaragua border

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* San Andres

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* San Andres
* The coast of Nicaragua from south of Sandy Bay Sirpi to Bluefields
* The northern coast of Honduras from west of Punta Patuca to the
Guatemala/Honduras border
* Bay Islands

Atlantic Tropical History: Maps of Origin Regions Every 10 Days

Atmospheric Memory Of Hurricanes Over Thousands Of Years Shaped The Coast

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