The meteorological phenomenon Eta turned into a hurricane early this Monday as it advanced towards the coast of Nicaragua where it is expected to make landfall early Tuesday.
Experts from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) have warned that
the hurricane threatens dangerous storm surge, dangerous winds, flooding and mudslides
from heavy rains in various parts of Central America.
[How and when to prepare for a hurricane or tropical storm]
Eta is the 28th Atlantic named storm this season, and its formation tied the 2005 record for named storms.
However, this is the first time the Greek letter Eta has been used as a storm name.
According to the latest NHC update,
Hurricane Eta has maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour
(120 kilometers per hour).
It is located about 155 miles (250 kilometers) east of the Nicaragua-Honduras border and is heading west at 12 mph (19 kph).
How to prepare for a hurricane?
Aug. 1, 202001: 13
The NHC said that much of Nicaragua and Honduras could reach
15 to 25 inches of rain
, with 35 inches in some isolated areas.
It also expects heavy rains to occur in other parts of the Central American area, including Guatemala, El Salvador and southeastern Mexico.
In this very active Atlantic hurricane season, of the 28 named storms, 11 have become hurricanes.
The last, Zeta, made landfall in Louisiana last Wednesday and was the sixth to hit US soil this year.
Hurricane season still has a month to go as it ends on November 30.