Before it was predicted to reappear over the Pacific, Hurricane Julia made landfall on Nicaragua’s central Caribbean coast on Sunday and rained severe rain throughout Central America.
Although Julia made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, by the time it crossed Nicaragua in the evening, its winds had decreased to tropical storm intensity, at 50 mph.
Julia was situated approximately 45 miles west-northwest of Managua, the country’s capital, and was heading west at 16 mph as of 5 p.m. ET, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
According to the forecast, Central America and southern Mexico may see life-threatening flash floods and mudslides through Tuesday. In some places, the storm could drop as much as 15 inches of rain.
According to a report published on Sunday by Colombia’s national disaster office, Julia tore off the roofs of numerous homes and uprooted trees when it passed San Andres Island, which is located east of Nicaragua. There were no reports of deaths as of yet.
No fatalities have been reported in Nicaragua as of yet, but vice president Rosario Murillo told TN8 television that certain districts were without power and communications. 9,500 individuals, according to her, have been relocated to shelters.
Images of fallen trees blocking highways and local floods were featured in the local news media.
Additionally, Panama, Honduras, and Costa Rica experienced heavy rains and evacuations, and parts of their roadways were shut down as a result.
According to Guillermo González, head of Nicaragua’s disaster response system, residents in coastal districts at high danger had already been evacuated by Saturday midday. According to the army, it sent assistance to Bluefields and Laguna de Perlas to be distributed to 118 makeshift shelters.
El Salvador and Guatemala’s coastlines, which have already been soaked by weeks of torrential rain, were predicted to be skirted by the storm as it developed over the Pacific.
Since early May, storms in Guatemala have been responsible for at least 49 verified fatalities and six unaccounted-for individuals. Numerous houses and roads have been destroyed, according to Guatemalan authorities.
The greatest rainfall was anticipated for El Salvador, where 19 people have perished this rainy season, on Monday and Tuesday, according to Fernando López, the minister of environmental and natural resources. More than 3,000 people may stay in the 61 shelters that have been established, according to officials.