Miami, Fl.(Florida News Network)At 400 PM EST, the eye of Hurricane Eta was located near along the coast of Nicaragua near latitude 13.8 North, longitude 83.5 West. About about 15 miles, south-southwest of Puerto Cabezas Nicaragua.
Eta is moving toward the west near 5 mph, A faster westward or west-northwestward motion is expected through early Thursday. A turn toward the north, and then north-northeast is forecast Thursday night and Friday. On the forecast track, the center of Eta is expected to move inland over northern Nicaragua through Wednesday morning, and then move across the central portions of Honduras through Thursday morning. The system is forecast to emerge over the northwestern Caribbean Sea Thursday night or Friday. Eta expected to bring tropical moisture to south Florida Sunday
Maximum sustained winds are near 140 mph with higher gusts. Eta is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Rapid weakening should occur as the center moves inland tonight and Wednesday. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 940 mb (27.76 inches).
Data and graphic credit: National Hurricane Center