7am Update on Tropical Storm Ida

Satellite images indicate that Ida has strengthened into a hurricane.

A hurricane warning is now in effect for the eastern coast of Nicaragua from Bluefields northward to Puerto Cabezas. Hurricane force winds are expected for parts of this area in the next several hours.

A hurricane watch is in effect for the eastern coast of Nicaragua from north of Puerto Cabezas to the Nicaragua/Honduras border.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the Nicaragua/Costa Rica border northward to Bluefields and from north of Puerto Cabezas to the Honduras/Nicaragua border.

At 700 am est… the center of tropical storm Ida was located near latitude 12.8 north…longitude 83.4 west or about 60 miles north-northeast of Bluefields Nicaragua and about 85 miles south of Puerto Cabezas Nicaragua.

Ida is moving toward the northwest near 7 mph and a gradual turn to the north-northwest with a slight decrease in forward speed is expected during the next day or two.  On the forecast track… Ida should make landfall along the east coast of Nicaragua this morning… and move across portions of eastern Nicaragua and eastern Honduras during the next couple of days.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph with higher gusts.  Ida is a category 1 hurricane on the Saffir/Simpson hurricane scale. Weakening is expected as Ida moves inland over Nicaragua today.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 50 miles from the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 987 mb… 29.15 inches.

Ida is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 5 to 7 inches over the islands off the coast of Nicaragua with maximum amounts of 12 inches possible.  Rainfall accumulations of 15 to 20 inches are expected over eastern Nicaragua and eastern Honduras with maximum amounts of 25 inches possible. These rains could produce life-threatening flash flood and mud slides.

A storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 3 feet above ground level along the east coast of Nicaragua… with large and dangerous battering waves… near and to the north of where the center of Ida makes landfall. Water levels should begin to subside later today.

The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 1000 am est.