Weather

Hurricane Iota was the most powerful hurricane ever recorded this late in the Atlantic hurricane season. This year has already broken the record for the most named storms, and the season isn't over.

Iota diminished to a Category 1 hurricane within hours of its landfall in Nicaragua. Still, as the second strong storm to hit the region in as many weeks, Iota bears grave dangers for residents.

Just two weeks after Hurricane Eta dumped heavy rainfall in the region, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and southern Belize are facing an even stronger storm fueled by climate change.

It's the busiest Atlantic hurricane season on record. When it makes landfall early next week, Iota could drop up more than 2 feet of rain in an area still recovering from Hurricane Eta.

Forecasters say some slight strengthening is possible during the next 12 to 24 hours followed by little change in strength through Thursday. Theta is not expected to make landfall in the U.S.

Multiple school districts have already canceled classes for Monday, in anticipation of a hurricane that could bring storm surges of up to four feet. The governor has declared a state of emergency.

Forecasters say Hurricane Eta is rapidly gaining strength as it churns towards the coast of Nicaragua. The storm is expected to bring life-threatening storm surge, flash flooding and landslides.

A local community leader says the water in one area is so intense that only the rooftops of the houses are visible. Forecasters warn that another typhoon, Atsani, is forming behind Goni.

Goni is the most powerful storm so far this year. Evacuations were issued as the typhoon was set make landfall on the country's largest island.

Most of the power outages are in Georgia, where 677,842 customers lost electricity. But Louisiana, Alabama and North Carolina each saw more than 400,000 accounts go dark.

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Joe Valiente, emergency management director for Jefferson Parish in Louisiana, about damage caused by Hurricane Zeta to the area.