Hurricane Felix Making Landfall In Nicaragua

Update 7:59am ET - Felix 2^nd Category 5 Hurricane To Make Landfall In 2007

The Nicaragua coast is experiencing powerful winds and surge at this time, as the wrath of a catastrophic monster category 5 hurricane Felix with winds of 160mph and gusts close to 190mph moves inland over Nicaragua very close to Punta Gorda and Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. Felix is the second category 5 hurricane to make landfall this year, and before Hurricane Dean a week or so ago, there were no land falling hurricanes at category 5 status for 15 years. Now here in 2007, two back-to-back category 5 hurricanes making landfall, and both hurricanes Dean and Felix were intensifying at the time of landfall. Impressive indeed. ( Impressive Satellite Loop Felix Nicaragua )

Continuing to monitor any updates from the Nicaragua coast and surroundings area’s. Hurricane Felix will weaken fairly rapidly as the hurricane is a compact storm with a small inner core, and the high Nicaragua and Honduras mountains will tear into his circulation. Expect life threatening flash flooding to begin now as the hurricane moves inland over Central America. Stay tuned.

Update 6:44am ET - Felix Upgraded To Category 5 at Landfall

The Nicaragua coast is about to experience the wrath of a catastrophic monster category 5 hurricane with winds of 160mph and gusts close to 190mph. The National Hurricane Center just upgraded Hurricane Felix as he is making landfall now in Nicaragua. Very bad news for Central America and their residents. Wishing everyone the best down there this morning.

HURRICANE FELIX TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL062007
640 AM AST TUE SEP 04 2007

SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES THAT HURRICANE FELIX HAS CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN…AND HAS BECOME A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 160 MPH…260 KM/HR…JUST OFF THE COAST OF NORTHEASTERN NICARAGUA.

Major Hurricane Felix Landfall In Nicaragua

Landfall Satellite Felix Image Nicaragua

Hurricane Felix had a short-lived weakening period, but now has re-strengthened into a strong category 4 hurricane and is about to slam into the Nicaragua Caribbean coastline. Hurricane Felix currently has winds of 155mph with much higher gusts, but there is a small chance that he could increase in strength just prior to landfall in the next few hours and once again become a intense category 5 hurricane.

Northern Nicaragua Mosquito Coast About To Experience Felix

Felix is going to make landfall on the Nicaragua Mosquito Coast just north of Puerto Cabezas, and about 50 miles south of the Honduras border. Hurricane Felix is currently moving over a offshore island of Cayos Miskitos and will soon strike the Nicaragua coast in a area that I’m not sure of the population. From the Nicaragua maps that I have researched this morning, it’s hard to know what’s along the coast where the eye will make landfall. To the north or right of the eye landfall point, will encounter the worst of the strongest winds and impressive storm surge and waves along the coast. This area is likely entering into the worst conditions at this time as Felix approaches from the east at sunrise.

Deadly Flash Flooding / Tropical Rains

One things for sure, there is going to be major flash flooding in the mountains with likely mud slides like with Hurricane Mitch back in 1998. After the hurricane makes landfall, it will move into over Nicaragua and into southern Honduras bring very strong winds and possible 10-20 inches of rains.

Dangerous Chasing Terrain & Location

The Chase Intercept of Hurricane Felix was called off by Jim Edds as the location where the storm was going to make landfall changed yesterday. It was going to be in a remote hard to get in and out of area of Central America. We first thought of a Belize City landfall, but this quickly shifted south into a Honduras / Nicaragua storm.

I’m sure word will be slow to come out of the hardest hit area’s later this morning and throughout the day, but I will monitor for any news from Nicaragua. Hard to believe yet another very dangerous hurricane making landfall in the Caribbean only weeks after Hurricane Dean. Stay tuned!