ZCZC MIATCPAT1 ALL TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM BULLETIN HURRICANE OTTO INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY NUMBER 15A NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL162016 100 PM EST THU NOV 24 2016 ...EYE OF DANGEROUS HURRICANE OTTO MADE LANDFALL ON THE SOUTHERN NICARAGUAN COAST NEAR THE TOWN OF SAN JUAN DE NICARAGUA... SUMMARY OF 100 PM EST...1800 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...11.0N 83.9W ABOUT 90 MI...140 KM NW OF LIMON COSTA RICA ABOUT 70 MI...110 KM S OF BLUEFIELDS NICARAGUA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...110 MPH...175 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 270 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...975 MB...28.80 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: None. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * Limon Costa Rica to Bluefields Nicaragua A Hurricane Watch is in effect for... * North of Bluefields to Sandy Bay Sirpi Nicaragua * South of Limon to the Costa Rica/Panama border A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * North of Bluefields to Sandy Bay Sirpi Nicaragua * Puntarenas Costa Rica to Puerto Sandino Nicaragua Interests elsewhere in Nicaragua and Costa Rica should monitor the progress of Otto. For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service. DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK ------------------------------ At 100 PM EST (1800 UTC), Hurricane Otto made landfall on the coast of southern Nicaragua near latitude 11.0 North, longitude 83.9 West, just to the north of the town of San Juan de Nicaragua. Otto is the southernmost landfalling hurricane in Central America on record. The hurricane is moving toward the west near 9 mph (15 km/h), but a faster motion toward the west or west-southwest is forecast to begin tonight and continue through early Saturday. On this track, the center of Otto will continue to move across southern Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica through this evening, and then is expected to reach the Pacific coast of southern Nicaragua or northern Costa Rica tonight or early Friday. Otto made landfall with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) with higher gusts. Weakening should begin soon while the hurricane moves farther inland, and Otto is forecast to become a tropical storm by tonight. Additional weakening is anticipated thereafter. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles (30 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 975 mb (28.80 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- RAINFALL: Total rainfall of 6 to 12 inches, with isolated amounts of 15 to 20 inches, can be expected across northern Costa Rica and southern Nicaragua through today. These rains will likely result in life-threatening flash floods and mudslides. Outer rain bands from Otto are expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 3 to 6 inches with total rainfall amounts of up to 10 inches over the higher terrain of far western Panama and southern Costa Rica through Friday. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches can be expected today over San Andres and Providencia Islands. WIND: Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are occurring in the warning area. Hurricane conditions are possible in the hurricane watch area later today. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area along the Pacific coasts of Costa Rica and Nicaragua by this evening. STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and large and destructive waves could raise water levels by as much 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore flow within the hurricane warning area. SURF: Swells generated by Otto are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions over the next several days along the coasts of Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. Please consult products from your local weather office. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next complete advisory at 400 PM EST. $$ Forecaster Avila NNNN