Hurricanes in Nicaragua
Hurricanes occurfrequently in Nicaragua. On average, they happen about 6 times a year. The hardest hit regions are Atlántico Norte (RAAN), Atlántico Sur and Chinandega.The hurricane season usually lasts from early June to late November.
The most severe hurricane to make landfall in Nicaragua in the past 12 months was »Julia«. It reached a wind speed of up to 139 km/h on October 9, 2022 at 12:00 am local time near Corn Island and was 77 kilometers in diameter at the time. According to the internationally accepted Saffir-Simpson classification, this corresponded to a category 1 hurricane.
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27.05.2023 © CIMSS University of Wisconsin-Madison
Most violent hurricanes in Nicaragua since 2018
Lisa: October 30 to November 5, 2022
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 148 km/h
Diameter:
max. 259 km
Air pressure:
below 985 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in Nicaragua. On November 1st, 2022 at 6:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 125 km north of Waspam in Atlántico Norte (RAAN).
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Barra Patuca in Honduras on November 1st at 6:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Barra Patuca in Honduras on November 1st at 6:00 pm.
Lisa: October 27 to November 5, 2022
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 130 km/h
Diameter:
max. 370 km
Air pressure:
below 988 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in Nicaragua. On November 1st, 2022 at 6:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 190 km north of Waspam in Atlántico Norte (RAAN).
Julia: October 6-10, 2022
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 139 km/h
Diameter:
max. 307 km
Air pressure:
below 982 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
Atlántico Sur
Chontales
Managua
León
Chinandega
Atlántico Sur
Chontales
Managua
León
Chinandega
Julia: October 2-10, 2022
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 139 km/h
on land:
max. 130 km/h
Diameter:
max. 333 km
Air pressure:
below 982 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
Atlántico Sur
León
Chinandega
Atlántico Sur
León
Chinandega
Ian: September 22 to October 1, 2022
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 259 km/h
Diameter:
max. 845 km
Air pressure:
below 937 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 5
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in Nicaragua. On September 26th, 2022 at 12:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 298 km northwest of Waspam in Atlántico Norte (RAAN).
Instead, the first landfall occurred near George Town on the Cayman Islands on September 26th at 3:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near George Town on the Cayman Islands on September 26th at 3:00 am.
Ian: September 19 to October 2, 2022
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 250 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1482 km
Air pressure:
below 937 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in Nicaragua. On September 25th, 2022 at 3:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 349 km northwest of Puerto Cabezas in Atlántico Norte (RAAN).
Bonnie: June 27 to July 11, 2022
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 185 km/h
on land:
max. 93 km/h
Diameter:
max. 444 km
Air pressure:
below 964 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
Atlántico Sur
Río San Juan
Rivas
Managua
Atlántico Sur
Río San Juan
Rivas
Managua
Bonnie: June 22 to July 9, 2022
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 185 km/h
on land:
max. 74 km/h
Diameter:
max. 370 km
Air pressure:
below 964 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
Atlántico Sur
Rivas
Atlántico Sur
Rivas
Terry: November 2-10, 2021
Wind speed:
max. 65 km/h
on land:
max. 56 km/h
Diameter:
max. 778 km
Air pressure:
below 1006 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Río San Juan
Rivas
Río San Juan
Rivas
Ida: August 26 to September 4, 2021
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 241 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1778 km
Air pressure:
below 929 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in Nicaragua. On August 26th, 2021 at 6:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 277 km northwest of Puerto Cabezas in Atlántico Norte (RAAN).
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Southfield in Jamaica on August 26th at 6:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Southfield in Jamaica on August 26th at 6:00 am.
Grace: August 13-21, 2021
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 194 km/h
Diameter:
max. 556 km
Air pressure:
below 967 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in Nicaragua. On August 18th, 2021 at 3:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 356 km northwest of Waspam in Atlántico Norte (RAAN).
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Negril in Jamaica on August 17th at 6:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Negril in Jamaica on August 17th at 6:00 pm.
Iota: November 12-18, 2020
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 250 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1000 km
Air pressure:
below 917 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
Affected regions
Atlántico Sur
Atlántico Norte (RAAN)
Jinotega
Nueva Segovia
Madriz
Chinandega
Atlántico Sur
Atlántico Norte (RAAN)
Jinotega
Nueva Segovia
Madriz
Chinandega
Eta: October 31 to November 14, 2020
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 241 km/h
Diameter:
max. 815 km
Eye:
max. 37 km
Air pressure:
below 922 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
Affected regions
Atlántico Norte (RAAN)
Jinotega
Nueva Segovia
Atlántico Norte (RAAN)
Jinotega
Nueva Segovia
Zeta: October 24-30, 2020
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 185 km/h
on land:
max. 96 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1667 km
Air pressure:
below 970 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 3
Affected regions
Atlántico Norte (RAAN)
Atlántico Norte (RAAN)
Delta: October 4-11, 2020
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 222 km/h
Diameter:
max. 852 km
Air pressure:
below 953 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 4
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in Nicaragua. On October 6th, 2020 at 6:00 am it had the shortest distance at about 265 km northwest of Waspam in Atlántico Norte (RAAN).
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Southfield in Jamaica on October 5th at 3:00 am.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Southfield in Jamaica on October 5th at 3:00 am.
Gamma: October 2-6, 2020
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 120 km/h
on land:
max. 59 km/h
Diameter:
max. 593 km
Air pressure:
below 978 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
Atlántico Norte (RAAN)
Atlántico Norte (RAAN)
Nana: September 1-4, 2020
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 120 km/h
on land:
max. 93 km/h
Diameter:
max. 444 km
Air pressure:
below 994 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
Atlántico Norte (RAAN)
Atlántico Norte (RAAN)
Marco: August 20-25, 2020
Region:
Caribbean Sea
Wind speed:
max. 120 km/h
on land:
max. 74 km/h
Diameter:
max. 667 km
Air pressure:
below 991 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
category 1
Affected regions
Atlántico Norte (RAAN)
Atlántico Norte (RAAN)
Cristobal: June 1-12, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 93 km/h
Diameter:
max. 815 km
Air pressure:
below 982 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
The hurricane did not make direct landfall in Nicaragua. On June 4th, 2020 at 3:00 pm it had the shortest distance at about 261 km northeast of Ocotal in Nueva Segovia.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Balancán de Domínguez in Mexico on June 3rd at 9:00 pm.
Instead, the first landfall occurred near Balancán de Domínguez in Mexico on June 3rd at 9:00 pm.
Amanda: May 30-31, 2020
Wind speed:
max. 65 km/h
Diameter:
max. 1111 km
Air pressure:
below 1003 mbar
Saffir-Simpson scale:
tropical storm
Affected regions
Chinandega
Chinandega
These evaluations are based on data from the National Centers for Environmental Information of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Individual data have been summarized or translated.
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