Former Tropical Storm Julia strengthened to a hurricane over the Southwest Caribbean Sea east of Nicaragua on Saturday night. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Julia was located at latitude 12.5°N and longitude 82.7°W which put it about 80 miles (130 km) east-northeast of Bluefields, Nicaragua. Julia was moving toward the west at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 988 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina Islands. A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Bluefields to Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua to the border with Honduras. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the portion of the coast from Bluefields, Nicaragua to the border with Costa Rica and from Puerto Cabezas to the border with Honduras. Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, the Pacific coast of Honduras and the entire coast of El Salvador. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Patuca, Honduras to the border with Nicaragua.

A circular eye with a diameter of 40 miles (65 km) formed at the center of Hurricane Julia on Saturday night. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Julia. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane. Winds to hurricane force extended out 35 miles (55 km) from the center of Julia’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of circulation.

Hurricane Julia will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next few hours. Julia will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move under the axis of an upper level ridge over the Caribbean Sea. The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Hurricane Julia could intensify during the next few hours. Julia will being to weaken when it makes landfall in Nicaragua.

Hurricane Julia will move south of a high pressure system over the Caribbean Sea. The high pressure system will steer Julia toward the west during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track Hurricane Julia will make landfall on the east coast of Nicaragua in a few hours. Julia will bring strong gusty winds and locally heavy rain to Nicaragua on Sunday. Heavy rain will cause flash floods in some locations. Julia could also cause a storm surge of up to 7 feet (2 meters) along the east coast of Nicaragua. Hurricane Julia will also bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to southern Honduras and to El Salvador.