Iota Weakens to a Tropical Storm over Central America, new area to watch

Hurricane Iota made landfall near Haulover, Nicaragua on Monday as an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph only about 15 miles south of where Eta made landfall two weeks ago.

Right now, the storm is weakening over land. As of Tuesday evening, Iota has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph as a Tropical Storm. More lowering in intensity is expected as the storm moves inland.

It continues to batter Central America with life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds, flash flooding, and landslides.

Elsewhere, a new area of low pressure is expected to form in the Caribbean Sea over the next few days. Conditions are favorable for development and a tropical depression could form by the end of the week.

After that, it is forecast to slowly move westward. Right now, the National Hurricane Center is giving it a 30% chance of development.

Back in Southwest Florida, we are starting off the day cooler, drier, and breezy behind a cold front! This increase in wind will bump up our wave heights near the immediate coastline.

If you’re enjoying our change in weather today, get ready for an even BETTER morning tomorrow! Lows will plunge into the 50s and 60s and highs will struggle to get to 80° in the afternoon. Enjoy!