Tropical Storm Julia set to become a hurricane soon, forecast to make Nicaragua landfall
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Tropical Storm Julia is forecast to turn into a hurricane soon as it rushes through the Caribbean Sea toward a Nicaragua landfall this weekend.
The system, which is not a threat to Florida, was about 55 miles south of the Colombian island of Providencia and 175 east-northeast of Bluefields, Nicaragua, according to the National Hurricane Center’s advisory at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Its maximum sustained winds had increased to 70 mph with higher gusts, putting it just shy of hurricane-level strength. In order to be a Category 1 hurricane, Julia needs to have maximum sustained winds of at least 74 mph.
The hurricane center expects Julia will bring heavy rain to Central America and Southern Mexico, enough for life-threatening flash floods and mudslides to be possible through early next week. Julia formed off the Guajira Peninsula of Colombia Friday morning and is the 10th named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season.
Several watches and warnings are in effect for parts of Central America. Here’s what to know:
Where is Julia going?
On the forecast track, Tropical Storm Julia could become a Category 1 hurricane while passing near the Colombian islands of San Andres and Providencia Saturday night, according to the hurricane center. The forecast showed it being a hurricane by the time it reaches the coast of Nicaragua late Saturday or early Sunday.
“Hurricane-force winds and a dangerous storm surge are expected in areas where the core of the system crosses the islands later today and moves onshore in Nicaragua early Sunday morning,” the hurricane center said.
Julia’s tropical storm winds were already being felt on the Colombian islands of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, with hurricane conditions expected to begin Saturday night. Forecasters said parts of Nicaragua would feel tropical storm conditions Saturday night, with hurricane conditions expected overnight and into Sunday. Other parts of Central America, such as Honduras and El Salvador may start to feel tropical storm conditions Sunday. Evacuations have begun in parts of Nicaragua.
“Weakening is expected once Julia moves inland, but it is forecast to still be a tropical storm when it moves off the Pacific coast of Nicaragua late Sunday,” the hurricane center said.
Forecasters expect Julia, or its remnants, will then move west, parallel to the coasts of El Salvador and Guatemala Sunday night and Monday. The hurricane center says it should weaken into a tropical depression on Monday and dissipate by Monday night.
Tropical Storm Julia Watches/Warnings
▪ Hurricane warning in effect for Colombian islands of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, and also for Nicaragua from Bluefields to Puerto Cabezas.
▪ A hurricane watch is in effect for Nicaragua north of Puerto Cabezas to the Honduras/Nicaragua border.
▪ A tropical storm warning is now in effect for the entire coast of El Salvador. A warning also remains in effect for Nicaragua south of Bluefields to the Nicaragua/Costa Rica border. Also, Nicaragua north of Puerto Cabezas to the Honduras/Nicaragua border.
▪ A tropical storm watch is in effect for Honduras from the Nicaragua/Honduras border to Punta Patuca.
“As for the rest of the tropical Atlantic, skies are mostly clear, and it looks like we’ll head into next week without any significant disturbances behind Julia,” wrote WPLG meteorologist Michael Lowry on his Eye on the Tropics blog.
