The risk posed by a low pressure system over the Caribbean Sea prompted the issuance of a Hurricane Watch for Honduras and a Tropical Storm Watch for Nicaragua. The designation of the low pressure system has been changed from Invest 99L to Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen was located at latitude 16.2°N and longitude 79.0°E which put the center about 290 miles (430 km) east-northeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios. Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen was moving toward the west at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1007 mb.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Castilla, Honduras to the border with Nicaragua.
A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua to the border with Honduras.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center changed the designation of former Invest 99L to Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen on Wednesday afternoon. The circulation around Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen exhibited more organization on Wednesday afternoon. Thunderstorms began to form near the center of circulation. The thunderstorms near the center of circulation also started to generate some upper level divergence.
Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen will move through an environment favorable for the formation of a tropical cyclone during the next 24 hours. It will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C. It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge over the Caribbean Sea. The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the upper level ridge. Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen is likely to develop into a tropical depression or a tropical storm on Thursday.
Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen will move around the southern part of a high pressure system over the western Atlantic Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen slowly toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen will approach Nicaragua and Honduras on Thursday.
Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen will bring strong winds and very heavy rain to Honduras and northern Nicaragua. Heavy rain will very likely cause floods and mudslides.