Tropical Storm Julia intensified into a hurricane on Saturday and is expected to move toward Central America. As of Sunday morning, the system was 60 miles west-northwest of Bluefields, Nicaragua. Julia had winds of 75 mph and the system was moving west at 16 mph. Heavy rains in Central America and southern Mexico could trigger life-threatening flash floods and mudslides through Tuesday. “On the predicted track, Julia Center is expected to continue through Nicaragua today and over the eastern Pacific Ocean tonight. Julia is expected to move close to or along the Pacific coasts of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala on Monday and Monday night,” The National Hurricane Center wrote. “Further weakening is expected today as Julia moves over Nicaragua, but is expected to remain a tropical storm tonight as it develops along Nicaragua’s Pacific coast. Julia is expected to weaken into a tropical depression by Monday night and dissipate by Tuesday.” Julia is expected to weaken as it moves inland before dissipating on Monday or Tuesday. The storm is not expected to affect Florida. Summary of observations and warnings in effect: Hurricane warning in effect for *Nicaragua Hurricane Watch from Bluefields to Puerto Cabezas is in effect for… *Nicaragua north of Puerto Cabezas to The Honduras/Nicaragua border tropical storm warning applies to… *Nicaragua south of Bluefields to the Nicaragua/Costa Rica border *Nicaragua north of Puerto Cabezas to the Honduras/Nicaragua border *Nicaragua Pacific coast* Honduras Pacific coast *The El Salvador Coast Tropical Storm Watch is valid for… * Honduras from the Nicaragua/Honduras border to Punta Patuca* Guatemala Pacific Coast Hurricane Warning means that a hurricane condition is expected somewhere within the warning area. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the observation area. A tropical storm warning means that a tropical storm is expected to occur somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours. A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are likely within the observation area. Know what to do when a hurricane watch is released Stay tuned to WESH 2 News, WESH.COM or the NOAA Weather Radio for storm updates. Be prepared to bring in any lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or decorations, trash cans, hanging plants, and anything that can be picked up by the wind. Learn about hurricane forecast models and cones. Get ready to cover all the windows of your home. If shutters are not installed, use pre-cut plywood. Check batteries and stock up on canned food, first aid supplies, drinking water and medication. The WESH 2 First Warning Weather Team recommends that you have these items on hand before a storm hits. Bottled water: one gallon of water per person per day Canned foods and soups such as beans and chili can openers, cans without easy-open lids Assembled first aid kit Two weeks of prescription medications Baby/child needs such as formula and diapers Flashlights and batteries What to do when a battery-powered weather radio issues a hurricane warning Get advice from local officials. If you are advised to evacuate, please leave. Complete the preparation activities. If you are not advised to evacuate, stay indoors and away from windows. Watch out for tornadoes. Tornadoes can occur during and after a hurricane. Stay indoors, in the middle of your home, in a closet, or in a windowless bathroom. Smartphones help during hurricanes Smartphones can be a hurricane’s best friend—with the right website and app, you can turn it into a powerful tool for guiding you through the storm’s approach, arrival, and consequences. Download the WESH 2 News app for iOS | Android to enable emergency alerts – if you have an iPhone, select Settings, then go to Notifications. From there, look for government alerts and enable emergency alerts. If you have an Android phone, from the app’s home page, scroll right along the bottom and click Settings. On the Settings menu, click Severe Weather Alerts. Select from the menu Most Severe, Moderate Severe or All Alerts Pet and Animal Safety Your pet should be part of your family plan. If you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do is to protect your pets and evacuate them too. Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe space for them, can result in injury or death. Contact hotels and motels outside your area to see if they are taking pets. Ask friends, relatives and others outside the affected area if they can shelter your animal.
Tropical Storm Julia intensified into a hurricane on Saturday and is expected to move toward Central America.
As of Sunday morning, the system was 60 miles west-northwest of Bluefields, Nicaragua.
Julia had winds of 75 mph and the system was moving west at 16 mph.
Heavy rains in Central America and southern Mexico could trigger life-threatening flash floods and mudslides through Tuesday.
“On the forecast track, Julia Center is expected to continue across Nicaragua today and over the eastern Pacific Ocean tonight. Julia is then expected to move either Monday or along the Pacific coast of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, and Monday night, ” wrote the National Hurricane Center. “Further weakening is expected today as Julia moves over Nicaragua, but is expected to remain a tropical storm tonight as it develops along Nicaragua’s Pacific coast. Julia is expected to weaken into a tropical depression by Monday night and dissipate by Tuesday. “
Julia is expected to weaken as it moves inland before dissipating on Monday or Tuesday.
The storm is not expected to affect Florida.
Summary of valid watches and warnings:
Hurricane warning in effect for…
* Nicaragua from Bluefields to Puerto Cabezas
Hurricane watches are valid for
* North of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua to the Honduras/Nicaragua border
Tropical storm warning in effect for…
*Nicaragua south of Bluefields to the Nicaragua/Costa Rica border
* North of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua to the Honduras/Nicaragua border
* Nicaragua’s Pacific coast
* Honduras Pacific Coast
* El Salvador Coast
Tropical Storm Watch Valid for…
* Honduras from Nicaragua/Honduras border to Punta Patuca
* Guatemala Pacific Coast
A hurricane warning means that a hurricane is expected somewhere within the warning area.
A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the observation area.
A tropical storm warning means that a tropical storm is expected to occur somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are likely within the watch area.
Know what to do when the Hurricane watch is released
- Stay tuned to WESH 2 News, WESH.COM or the NOAA Weather Radio for storm updates.
- Be prepared to bring any lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants, and anything that can be blown indoors by the wind.
- Learn about hurricane forecast models and cones.
- Be prepared to cover all the windows in your home. If blinds are not already installed, use pre-cut plywood.
- Check batteries and stock up on canned food, first aid supplies, drinking water and medication.
The WESH 2 First Warning Weather Team recommends that you have these items on hand before the storm hits.
- Bottled water: One gallon of water per person per day
- Canned foods and soups, such as beans and peppers
- Can openers without easy-open lids
- Assemble the first aid kit
- two-week prescription medication
- Baby/child’s needs such as formula and diapers
- Flashlight and Batteries
- battery powered weather radio
What to do when a hurricane warning is issued
- Take advice from local officials. If you are advised to evacuate, please leave.
- Complete the preparation activities.
- If evacuation is not advised, stay indoors and away from windows.
- Watch out for tornadoes. Tornadoes can occur during and after a hurricane. Stay indoors, in the middle of your home, in a windowless closet or bathroom.
How your smartphone can help during a hurricane
Your smartphone can be your best friend in a hurricane—with the right website and app, you can turn it into a powerful tool to guide you through the storm’s arrival, arrival, and consequences.
Download the WESH 2 News app iOS | android
Enable emergency alerts – if you have an iPhone, select Settings, then go to Notifications. From there, look for government alerts and enable emergency alerts.
If you have an Android phone, from the app’s home page, scroll right along the bottom and click Settings. On the Settings menu, click Severe Weather Alerts. From the menu, select from Most Severe, Moderate Severity, or All Alerts.
Pet and Animal Safety
Your pet should be part of your family plan. If you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do is to protect your pets and evacuate them too. Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe space for them, can result in injury or death.
- Contact hotels and motels outside your area to see if they have pets.
- Ask friends, relatives and others outside the affected area if they can provide shelter for your animals.