Otto

[Tropical Inspector]

Monday Night Update

Otto continues to organize

The Weather Situation
A disturbance in the southwest Caribbean finally began organizing late Sunday. It was classified as a tropical storm early this afternoon as deep convection built around the circulation center. IR satellite imagery this evening show increasing convection with the first rainbands approaching Nicaragua from the east.

Current Tropical Weather
As of 4 PM EDT Tropical Storm Otto was centered at 11.3 N / 79.2 W or 315 miles east of Bluefields, Nicaragua. It was stationary. Top sustained winds are estimated at 50 mph. Pressure was estimated at 1000 mb.

Tropical Weather Forecast:
Otto is expected to track west and make landfall on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. It may become a hurricane before landfall, then weaken over land. There is a possibility of regeneration in the Pacific Ocean.

Tropicast: Visible Satellite - Monday Afternoon


Tropicast: IR Satellite

[Tropical Inspector]

Tuesday Evening Update

Otto now a minimal hurricane

The Weather Situation
Otto became the latest forming hurricane in the Caribbean Sea on record according to the national hurricane center. The previous record was held by hurricane Martha in 1969, forming about one day earlier. Otto will also likely be a rare hurricane that crosses from the Atlantic basin (Caribbean Sea) into the Pacific basin.

The heaviest rainfall and strongest winds are centered just north of the coast of Panama. Outer rainbands remain east of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Hurricane Otto is very small with hurricane force winds only extending about 10 miles NE of the center and tropical storm (gale) force winds extending only 50-60 miles from the center of circulation.

Current Tropical Weather
As of 4 PM EDT Hurricane Otto was centered at 10.5 N / 79.6 W or 305 miles ESE of Bluefields, Nicaragua / 235 miles east of Limon, Costa Rica. It was moving west at 2 mph Top sustained winds are estimated at 75 mph. Pressure was estimated at 984 mb.

Tropical Weather Forecast:
Otto is expected to track west and make landfall around midday Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. It will make landfall near the border of Nicaragua and Costa Rica then move into the Pacific Ocean.

Tropicast: Visible Satellite

[Tropical Inspector]

Wednesday Evening Update

Otto approaching landfall

The Weather Situation
Otto en-trained some dry air and weakened Tuesday night and the first part of Wednesday. Late today deep convection has blossomed near the circulation center. This has allowed Otto to become a hurricane again after being downgraded to tropical storm strength the first half of today.


Current Tropical Weather
As of 10 PM EDT Hurricane Otto was centered at 11.2 N / 82.2 W or 120 miles ESE of Bluefields, Nicaragua / 100 miles NNE of Limon, Costa Rica. It was moving west at 9 mph Top sustained winds are estimated at 85 mph. Pressure was estimated at 981 mb.

Tropical Weather Forecast:
Otto is expected to track west and make landfall Thursday morning. It will make landfall near the border of Nicaragua and Costa Rica then move into the Pacific Ocean.

Tropicast: IR Satellite

[Tropical Inspector]

Thanksgiving Day Midday Update

Otto making landfall soon

The Weather Situation
Strong winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge is already being felt in southeastern Nicaragua and northeastern Costa Rica. Otto has significantly intensified and is just shy of being classified a major hurricane. Power outages, and the threat of flooding rainfall / mudslides will continue over southern Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica today. Additional heavy rainfall will be seen over eastern Honduras with an associated cluster of storms. Rainfall totals may exceed 10 inches. Storm tides are up to 6 feet above normal according to NHC.


Current Tropical Weather
As of 10 AM EDT Hurricane Otto was centered at 11.0 N / 83.4 W or 75 miles SSE of Bluefields, Nicaragua / 75 miles NNW of Limon, Costa Rica. It was moving west at 9 mph Top sustained winds are estimated at 110 mph. Pressure was estimated at 975 mb.

Tropical Weather Forecast:
Otto will make landfall during the next few hours in southern Nicaragua then move into the Pacific Ocean. The eye wall has already moved inland into SE Nicaragua and NE Costa Rica.

Tropicast: Visible Satellite


Tropicast: IR Satellite