Tropical Storm Iota formed in the Caribbean on Friday afternoon, becoming the 30th storm of a record-breaking hurricane season, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Iota, which was a tropical depression earlier Friday, is expected to become a major Category 3 hurricane and bring dangerous storm surge, strong winds and heavy rainfall to Central America this weekend and early next week, the NHC said.
The storm, which was moving south-southwest at three miles per hour as of 10 p.m. Friday, was about 610 miles east of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua/Honduras border. It was expected to strengthen steadily and gain speed over the next few days, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm could become a major hurricane — Category 3 or above — as it approaches Central America, Dennis Feltgen, a spokesman and meteorologist with the National Hurricane Center in Miami, said on Friday night. It is expected to reach the coasts of Honduras and Nicaragua on Monday. Rainfall could total 16 to 20 inches in some areas.
After exhausting the 21-name list that was established by the World Meteorological Organization for the hurricane season, meteorologists have resorted to using names from the Greek alphabet.
