Huge waves threaten Colombian islands as Storm Julia picks up speed

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(Bloomberg) – Tropical Storm Julia threatens Colombia’s San Andres Island with huge waves and up to 12 inches of rain as it strengthens into a hurricane on Saturday.

« Regular to rapid strengthening is expected as Julia moves through the southwestern Caribbean Sea today and tonight, and the system is expected to become a hurricane later today, » the US National Hurricane Center said in a statement. a bulletin at 8 a.m. New York time.

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Heavy rains « could cause flash flooding and life-threatening mudslides in Central America throughout this weekend, » the hurricane center said.

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The center of Julia is likely to pass directly over San Andres, and also be strongly felt in the neighboring Colombian islands of Santa Catalina and Providencia, according to the national weather monitoring agency. The agency warned residents that waves over 4 meters are likely.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro called on local hotels to offer shelter to « the vulnerable population ».

The storm is then on track to then hit Nicaragua on Sunday.

Julia, the 10th Atlantic storm in 2022, had winds above nearly 95 kilometers per hour as it crossed the Caribbean towards Central America.

The storm comes after hurricanes Ian and Fiona battered the United States and Canada in recent weeks. Ian left widespread destruction across Florida, while Puerto Rico, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island suffered damage from Fiona.

Julia could hit Nicaragua as a Category 1 hurricane, the lowest on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale.