CNN iReport

Torrential Rains triggering life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides will be the main threat for Nicaragua and Honduras.

Southwestern Caribbean – Nicaragua and Honduras: Hurricane Ida grew into a hurricane over the last 24 hours and the center of the storm is nearing eastern Nicaragua.

At 700 am EST, 1200 GMT, the center of Hurricane Ida was located 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 will make landfall along the eastern coast of Nicaragua this morning and move across portions of eastern Nicaragua and eastern Honduras during the next couple of days.

Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph with higher gusts – this is just at the hurricane threshold. Ida is a category one 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 the center. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 55 miles from the center. So this is fairly a small hurricane with regards to it destructive wind footprint.

Long Range Forecast:

The center of Ida will make landfall in the next couple of hours and will begin to weaken. Over the next 24 hours, she will then track across eastern Nicaragua and Honduras and enter the Caribbean Sea if she survives the land crossing. If Ida does make it back into open water, she will then re-intensify awhile tracking northwestward. Thus interests in Belize and Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula should monitor and prepare for this storm is warranted.

Threats & Damages:

The main threat from Ida is life-threatening widespread flash flooding and mudslides as 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.

Coastal flooding will also be a threat as 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.

There will be some minor to moderate structural damage to poorly made structures. Expect the infrastructure of water, power, sewer, roads and communications to be disrupted. Travel within the eastern Nicaragua and Honduras will be hampered.

Watches & Warnings:

At 700 am, 1200 UTC, the government of Nicaragua has issued a Hurricane Warningfor the East Coast of Nicaragua from Bluefields northward to Puerto Cabezas. Hurricane force winds are expected somewhere within the warning area during the next several hours.

A Hurricane Watchremains in effect for the eastern coast of Nicaragua from north of Puerto Cabezas to the Honduras/Nicaragua border.

A Tropical Storm Warningremains in effect for the Nicaragua/Costa Rica border northward to Bluefields and from north of Puerto Cabezas to the Honduras/Nicaragua border.

Severe Weather Advisories is a subscription based service provided by the Swinden Group to corporations and business travelers so that they are prepared for severe weather that may negatively impact business operations and travel.

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