Formation of Tropical Storm Iota adds to record 2020 storm tally

Tropical Storm Iota developed Friday afternoon in the central Caribbean just hours after the system had become Tropical Depression 31. It could become the next hurricane —the 13th of the season — and just two shy of the record number of hurricanes to churn in the Atlantic in one season held by 2005.

Forecasters are warning that Iota may strengthen enough to become a hurricane before it takes aim at the nations of Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala that are still reeling from Hurricane Eta's disastrous strike last week. In fact, the storm took shape in nearly the same exact place that Eta formed less than two weeks ago.

Central America is facing a humanitarian crisis following Eta's deadly blow. Millions are enduring dangerous conditions in the storm's wake -- with concerns over waterborne diseases and COVID-19 complicating recovery. And the situation could become even more dire. 

"I am greatly concerned we may soon have another major disaster on our hands in Central America if this Caribbean tropical system pans out like we suspect," AccuWeather's top hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski said.

Maximum sustained winds of Iota were 70 mph at 10 p.m. EST on Saturday, the system crawling westward at 5 mph. This is the first time the NHC has ever gotten this far into the Greek alphabet during a tropical season.

Conditions will be conducive for further strengthening as waters remain very warm -- around 84 degrees Fahrenheit -- in the area where the storm is churning. The weak wind pattern over the Caribbean will also likely factor into intensification of the system over the next several days.

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In the early stages of development, the system tended to be rather spread out in nature with showers and thunderstorms extending from the northern shores of South America to the large islands of the northern Caribbean.

But as the system continues to organize and strengthen, showers and thunderstorms have become more compact over the western Caribbean this weekend. The disturbed weather could once again expand in areal coverage and intensity as the system nears Central America early this week.

It could take a run at Nicaragua or Honduras as a major hurricane with winds of 111 mph (178 km/h) or greater, but even a weaker, drenching tropical storm could unleash life-threatening impacts and catastrophic damage in Eta's aftermath. Eta struck Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane, ranking among the top five strongest storms to ever hit the nation. The dangerous storm carved a path of destruction through Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala, unleashing feet of rain, tremendous flooding and killing more than 100 in early November.

"There is also the potential for this system to take a more northwesterly path over the western Caribbean, which could bring a strong hurricane close to Belize or possibly part of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. We will have a better grasp of where this system is likely to track once the feature reaches a solid tropical storm intensity," Kottlowski said.

The greatest threat to lives and property from the new cyclone is expected to be dealt by serious flooding caused by feet of rainfall. Major river flooding and flash flooding could occur. The exact track it takes and its strength and forward speed as it plows onshore in Central America will determine how grim the situation will become.

"I do not recall ever seeing back-to-back hurricane strikes in the same general area of Central America, but with the craziness of this hurricane season, we cannot rule that out at this early stage," Kottlowski said.

It is possible the system's path may become erratic as it approaches and moves over Central America, since the winds expected to guide the system along are likely to weaken -- a similar scenario to what unfolded as Eta neared the region in early November.

Weak steering winds caused a similar effect back when Hurricane Mitch slammed the area in late October and early November of 1998. Mitch peaked as a Category 5 hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (290 km/h), over the western Caribbean, but it weakened to a Category 1 hurricane with 80-mph (130-km/h) winds prior to landfall in Honduras. Mitch unloaded up to 50 inches (1250 mm) of rain and caused disastrous flooding that took the lives of more than 11,000 people in Central America.

2020 set the record for the most tropical storms to be named in one Atlantic hurricane season as Theta became the 29th tropical storm of the season earlier this week.

And the Caribbean threat wasn't the only feature keeping forecasters busy.

After striking Florida twice in less than a week, Eta moved out to sea on Thursday afternoon. Early Friday morning, Eta became a non-tropical low as it merged with a cold front over the western Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center issued its last advisory on the system.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Theta continued to swirl south of the Azores on Saturday. The storm may dip southeastward toward the Canary Islands before it takes a northeastward turn. It is likely to fluctuate in strength but with an overall weakening trend forecast early this week.

Some of Theta‘s wind and rain could remain intact, eventually affecting part of western Europe later this month.

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