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Tropical Storm Iota Discussion Number   2
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL312020
400 PM EST Fri Nov 13 2020
 
Banding features over the eastern and southeastern portions of the
cyclone's circulation have increased since this morning, and the
overall organization of the system continues to quickly improve.
Earlier ASCAT data indicated that there was a fairly large area of
light winds near the center, and that the low-level center was
displaced to the northwest of the mid-level center seen in visible
satellite imagery.  Since the system is still in its formative
stage, the low-level center may reform closer to the mid-level
feature, and the advisory position is a compromise between the
low- and mid-level circulations.  The earlier ASCAT data indicated
peak winds of around 30 kt with several higher rain-inflated
vectors.  Based on the continued increase in organization,
and Dvorak T-numbers of T2.5 from both TAFB and SAB, the initial
intensity is raised to 35 kt.  Iota becomes the 30th named storm of
the recording-breaking 2020 hurricane season.
 
The environment ahead of Iota appears to be quite conducive
for intensification.  The system will be moving over warm waters,
in a moist atmosphere, and within an area of very low vertical
wind shear.  As a result, steady to rapid strengthening appears
likely over the next few days.  The NHC intensity forecast calls
for Iota to reach hurricane status within 36 h, and now calls for 
the system to be a major hurricane when it approaches the coast of 
Central America.  The NHC intensity foreast is in good agreement 
with the HFIP corrected consensus model, and the 70-kt increase in 
intensity over the next 72 hours is supported by the SHIPS Rapid 
Intensification Index that shows a nearly 60 percent chance of a 65 
kt increase in intensity during that time period. 

The tropical storm has not moved very much today, and the initial 
motion estimate is a somewhat uncertain 255/3 kt.  A strong 
mid-level ridge that extends across Florida and the western 
Atlantic is forecast to slide eastward over the next few days 
causing the cyclone to move faster toward the west or 
west-northwestward. The track guidance has come into a bit better 
agreement this afternoon, with only the HWRF showing a track 
farther north over the northwestern Caribbean Sea.  The latest 
consensus aids were very close to the previous official forecast, 
and no significant adjustments to the earlier track forecast were 
required.  

 
Key Messages:
 
1. Iota is expected to strengthen and be a major hurricane when it 
approaches the coast of Central America.  There is a risk of
dangerous wind, storm surge, and rainfall impacts across portions of
Nicaragua and Honduras beginning Sunday night or early Monday. 
Hurricane Watches will likely be issued for a portion of this area 
tonight or early Saturday.
 
2. Through Wednesday morning, heavy rainfall from Iota may lead to 
life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding across portions 
of Haiti, Jamaica and Central America.  Flooding and landslides 
from heavy rainfall could be significant across Central America 
given recovery efforts underway after Hurricane Eta.
 
 
FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS
 
INIT  13/2100Z 13.8N  74.3W   35 KT  40 MPH
 12H  14/0600Z 13.7N  75.1W   45 KT  50 MPH
 24H  14/1800Z 13.7N  76.2W   55 KT  65 MPH
 36H  15/0600Z 13.9N  77.5W   70 KT  80 MPH
 48H  15/1800Z 14.2N  79.3W   85 KT 100 MPH
 60H  16/0600Z 14.6N  81.2W   95 KT 110 MPH
 72H  16/1800Z 15.0N  82.8W  105 KT 120 MPH
 96H  17/1800Z 15.2N  85.5W   50 KT  60 MPH...INLAND
120H  18/1800Z 14.7N  88.5W   25 KT  30 MPH...POST-TROP/REMNT LOW
 
$$
Forecaster Brown
 
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