Hurricane Iota making landfall on northeastern Nicaragua on November 17īy 06:00 UTC on November 16, hurricane hunters discovered that Iota had become a high-end Category 3 major hurricane, marking the first time that two major hurricanes were recorded in November. At 06:00 UTC on November 15, Iota reached hurricane status, before strengthening to Category 2 status at 00:00 UTC on November 16. After struggling somewhat due to wind shear and dry air, Iota began to rapidly intensify over warm waters late on November 14, as convection started to wrap around the storm's center. Six hours later, the system strengthened into Tropical Storm Iota. 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. The wave subsequently entered the Eastern Caribbean by 06:00 UTC on November 10 and moved westward into a more conducive environment for development. ![]() At 18:00 UTC on November 8, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began to monitor the tropical wave in their tropical weather outlooks, as the system was forecasted to enter the area and potentially become a low-pressure area within a few days. For the next several days, the tropical wave moved westward, while producing disorganized thunderstorms mainly east of the wave's axis. On October 30, a tropical wave emerged from the west coast of Africa into the Atlantic. Meteorological history Įxtratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression ![]() An estimated total of 5.2 million people were affected by the storm. Donations worth hundreds of millions of USD were given to affected countries. Numerous power outages were restored in the days that followed. Relief efforts soon followed, which included placing tents, opening temporary hospitals, and delivering food and water to those in need. Total damage estimates for the hurricane were set at $1.4 billion (2020 USD). The preliminary estimate for the damage in Nicaragua was $564 million (2020 USD). As many as 41 people were reported as missing. At least 67 people were killed due to Iota, including at least 28 in Nicaragua and 16 in Honduras, among other countries. Mudslides caused extensive damage and multiple deaths. Extremely heavy rain fell on much of Nicaragua, widening flash flooding caused by the hurricane's high storm surge. Heavy rains associated with a tropical wave and Iota brought heavy rainfall to parts of Colombia, leading to flash flooding and mudslides. Tropical cyclone watches and warnings were first issued on November 14 in parts of Colombia, Nicaragua, and Honduras, with the latter two countries still recovering from Eta. Iota's precursor disturbance generated flash flooding on several Caribbean islands. Iota then rapidly weakened as it moved inland, dissipating on November 18. After weakening slightly, Iota made landfall in northeastern Nicaragua as a mid-range Category 4 hurricane, becoming the strongest recorded hurricane to make landfall in Nicaragua in November. 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 underwent explosive intensification, peaking as a high-end Category 4 storm, with wind speeds of 155 mph (249 km/h). The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Iota six hours later. Over the next few days, the wave began to become better organized and by November 13, it developed into a tropical depression north of Colombia. The 31st and final tropical cyclone, 30th named storm, 14th hurricane, and record-tying seventh major hurricane of the record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Iota originated as a tropical wave that moved into the Eastern Caribbean on November 10. Hurricane Iota was a devastating late-season Category 4 Atlantic hurricane which caused severe damage to areas of Central America already devastated by Hurricane Eta just less than two weeks prior. Part of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season
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