MIAMI — Tropical Storm Julia formed off the Guajira Peninsula of Colombia on Friday and is forecast to turn into a hurricane this weekend, while it moves across the Caribbean Sea toward Nicaragua.
The National Hurricane Center announced the formation of Julia in its 11 a.m. Eastern time advisory. Julia is not a threat to Florida and is the 10th named storm of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season.
“The risk of flash flooding continues today over portions of the Guajira Peninsula. The potential for life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides is expected to spread to portions of Central America this weekend,” according to the hurricane center.
The system is about 150 miles north-northeast of Barranquilla, Colombia, and some 505 miles east of Isla de Providencia, according to the hurricane center’s 2 p.m. advisory. It has maximum sustained winds near 40 mph with gusts at higher speeds.
Forecasters expect Julia will strengthen as it quickly moves west across the southwest Caribbean Sea, enough to become a “hurricane by Saturday evening before it reaches San Andres and Providencia Islands, and the coast of Nicaragua,” the hurricane center said. The forecast projects it to become a Category 1 hurricane.
“Hurricane-force winds and a dangerous storm surge are expected in areas where the core of the system crosses the islands and moves onshore,” the hurricane center said.
Julia’s tropical storm-force winds now extend up to 80 miles from the center.
After making landfall in Nicaragua, the system is expected to weaken to a tropical storm, then a depression as it moves over Central America.
Tropical Storm Julia Watches/Warnings
—Hurricane watch upgraded to hurricane warning for Colombian islands of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina.
—A hurricane watch is in effect for Nicaragua from Bluefields to the Nicaragua/Honduras border. A tropical storm watch is now in effect from the Nicaragua/Honduras border west to Punta Patuca in Honduras.
—The tropical storm warning for Colombia from Riohacha to the Colombia/Venezuela border has been discontinued.
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