Nicaragua issues a warning, tropical storm Julia enters the Caribbean

Tropical Storm Julia is moving away from Colombia and will cross the southwestern Caribbean Sea, where it is expected to strengthen to hurricane strength on Saturday, heading for the Colombian islands of San Andres and Providencia, and to make landfall in Nicaragua on Sunday, reported the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Julia is moving at about 30 kilometers per hour in a westerly direction, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and higher gusts. It is located about 240 kilometers northeast of Barranquilla, Colombia, and about 815 kilometers east of the Colombian island of Providencia.

In its 5:00 pm bulletin, the Center shared information from the Nicaraguan government, which changed its forecast to a hurricane warning for the entire eastern coast of the country, from Laguna de Perlas to Puerto Cabezas.

There is now a Tropical Storm Warning for north of Puerto Cabezas and
the border of Honduras and Nicaragua.

Julia would make landfall in Nicaragua on Sunday at hurricane strength, the NHC reported, with the remnants moving west-northwestward and crossing much of Central America on Monday.

A hurricane warning remains in place for the islands of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are expected in the area. A warning is generally issued 36 hours before the arrival of tropical storm force winds. Preparations must be made quickly to protect life and property.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are expected in the area and is generally issued 48 hours before tropical storm winds begin to be felt.

The Honduran government issued a tropical storm watch from the Nicaraguan border to Punta Patuca.

Tropical storm conditions are expected this Friday in parts of the La Guajira peninsula, Colombia, where authorities have reported heavy rain and there is a risk of flash flooding.

Heavy rains could cause flash flooding also in northern Venezuela and the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, the NHC warned.

Nicaragua is preparing to evacuate people in the most vulnerable places before the arrival of Julia. For now, families living on the country’s Caribbean islands and keys will be evacuated, said Vice President Rosario Murillo this Friday, after hearing a report from the Nicaraguan Army on the risk points.

Likewise, he highlighted that the National System for Attention, Prevention and Mitigation against Disasters (SINAPRED) has made visits to families in the North and South Caribbean of the country to be attentive to the phenomenon and direct people to a shelter when necessary.

Marcio Baca, director of Meteorology of the Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies (Ineter), indicated that until Friday afternoon, the impact zone of Julia in Nicaragua is expected to be between Bluefields and the mouth of the Coco River, in Cabo Gracias a Dios. , that is, between the North and South Caribbean of the country, although he added that they are working to more accurately specify the impact area.

Since Thursday, the Nicaraguan Army has suspended the departure of smaller vessels in the ports of Bluefields, El Bluff, Corn Island, and Puerto Cabezas, as well as at vessel checkpoints and naval troop posts.

The rains caused flooding, landslides, the collapse of dozens of homes and power failures in at least eight states of Venezuela.

The most affected states, according to the authorities, were Carabobo, Falcón, Miranda, Aragua, Mérida, Trujillo, Táchira and Guárico, and the Capital District.

Carlos Pérez Ampueda, Vice Minister of Risk Management and Civil Protection, said that at least 24 more hours of rainfall are expected, and urged people to avoid going to beaches, rivers or swimming pools and driving on affected roads.

The National Institute of Aquatic Spaces (INEA) has suspended the departure of smaller vessels since Thursday.

Julia is the 10th named tropical cyclone in the 2022 hurricane season, and if it becomes a hurricane, it would be the fifth to reach that strength.

a little over a week ago Hurricane Ian It left devastation and more than 100 dead as it passed through the Caribbean islands and Florida.

Karen Sánchez contributed from Colombia and Carolina Alcalde from Venezuela

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