Nana Becomes a Hurricane Just Before Making Landfall Overnight

SUMMARY OF 1000 PM CDT…0300 UTC…INFORMATION

LOCATION…17.0N 87.5W
ABOUT 60 MI…95 KM SE OF BELIZE CITY
ABOUT 80 MI…130 KM NE OF MONKEY RIVER TOWN BELIZE
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…75 MPH…120 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…W OR 265 DEGREES AT 16 MPH…26 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…994 MB…29.36 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…
* The coast of Belize from Belize City southward to the Belize-Guatemala border.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* The coast of Belize north of Belize city to the Belize-Mexico border

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Yucatan Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya to Chetumal
* The coast of Belize north of Belize city to the Belize-Mexico border
* Caribbean Sea coast of Guatemala
* Isla Roatan and the Bay Islands of Honduras

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
* Northern coast of Honduras from Punta Patuca westward to the Guatemala border

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

At 1000 PM CDT (0300 UTC), the center of Hurricane Nana was located near latitude 17.0 North, longitude 87.5 West. Nana is moving toward the west near 16 mph (26 km/h), and a westward or west-southwestward motion is expected tonight and Thursday. On the forecast track, Nana will make landfall along the coast of Belize within the Hurricane Warning area overnight, and move inland over Belize and Guatemala on Thursday.

Data from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Little additional change in strength is expected before Nana makes landfall. Rapid weakening is expected on Thursday as Nana moves farther inland.

Nana is a small hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 10 miles (20 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km).

The latest minimum central pressure estimated from reconnaissance aircraft data is 994 MB (29.36 inches).

HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND

WIND: Hurricane conditions and tropical storm conditions are expected in the Hurricane Warning area in Belize through early Thursday. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the Tropical Storm Warning area in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico through early Thursday, with hurricane conditions possible in the Hurricane Watch area overnight. Tropical storm conditions are expected in Isla Roatan and the Bay Islands for a few more hours. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area in Honduras.

STORM SURGE: A dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels along the immediate coast near and to the north of where the center makes landfall. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

RAINFALL: Nana is expected to produce the following rainfall accumulations through Friday:

The northern coast of Honduras: 2 to 4 inches

Belize: 4 to 8 inches, isolated totals of 10 inches

Guatemala and the Mexican states of Chiapas and Tabasco: 3 to 6 inches, isolated totals of 8 inches

The southeast portion of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo: 2 to 4 inches

The eastern portions of the Mexican states of Veracruz and Oaxaca: 6 to 8 inches, isolated totals of 12 inches

These rainfall amounts may produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

SURF: Swells generated by Nana are affecting the coasts of Honduras and Belize, and the east coast of the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Category: ALL POSTS, Severe Weather, Tropical