MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Nana will likely be a hurricane before it strikes the coast of Central America, the United States National Hurricane Center said Tuesday.
Forecasters said people in Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula should closely monitor Nana’s progress.
Strong winds, a dangerous storm surge, and very heavy rainfall causing flash flooding are likely.
An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft crew flew into the storm as it took shape south of Jamaica, recording maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour with higher gusts.
Nana is the earliest 14th named storm on record, beating Nate, which formed on September 6 in 2005.
That’s according to Colorado State University professor Phil Klotzbach.
The hurricane centre says Nana was moving west at 18 miles per hour on a path that could damage Central America on Wednesday and Thursday.