Tropical Storm Ida 1pm Update

At 1:00 pm est the center of Ida was located near latitude 13.1 north…longitude 83.7 west or about 75 miles north of Bluefields, Nicaragua and about 65 miles south-southwest of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua.

Ida has been nearly stationary during the past few hours.  A motion toward the north-northwest is expected to begin later today.  A turn toward the north is forecast late Friday or Friday night. On the forecast track…the center of Ida will move across eastern Nicaragua and eastern Honduras during the next couple of days.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 65 mph…100 km/hr…with higher gusts.  Additional weakening is expected as Ida moves inland over eastern Nicaragua today and tonight.  Ida is forecast to weaken to a tropical depression on Friday.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center.

Estimated minimum central pressure is 990 mb…29.23 inches of mercury.

At 1:00 pm est the government of Nicaragua had replaced the hurricane warning with a tropical storm warning.  A tropical storm warning is now in effect from Bluefields northward to the Honduras/Nicaragua border.

At 1:00 pm est the government of Nicaragua had discontinued the hurricane watch.

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.

Higher-than-normal water levels along portions of the east coast of Nicaragua should begin to decrease later today.

The next advisory will be issued by the National Hurricane Center at 4:00 pm est.

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