ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Iota grew to become the thirteenth hurricane of the Atlantic season early Sunday, threatening to convey one other harmful system to Nicaragua and Honduras — nations lately clobbered by a Class four Hurricane Eta.

Iota was already a record-breaking system, being the 30th named storm of this yr’s terribly busy Atlantic hurricane season. Such exercise has targeted consideration on local weather change, which scientists say is inflicting wetter, stronger and extra harmful storms.

The U.S. Nationwide Hurricane Middle mentioned early Sunday that Iota had most sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph). It was centered about 295 miles (475 kilometers) east of Isla de Providencia, Colombia, and was shifting west at 5 mph (7 kph).

Providencia and components of Nicaragua and Honduras had been below hurricane warnings, forecasters mentioned.

Iota threatened to wreak extra havoc in a area the place persons are nonetheless grappling with the aftermath of Eta. That system hit Nicaragua simply over every week in the past as a Class four hurricane, killing not less than 120 individuals as torrential rains introduced flash floods and landslides to components of Central America and Mexico. Then it meandered throughout Cuba, the Florida Keys and across the Gulf of Mexico earlier than slogging ashore once more close to Cedar Key, Florida, and dashing throughout Florida and the Carolinas.

Eta was the 28th named storm of this yr’s hurricane season, tying the 2005 file for named storms. Theta, the 29th, was weakening over the far japanese Atlantic Ocean. It was anticipated to turn into a remnant low by Sunday morning, forecasters mentioned.

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Frisaro reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.