Residents remain on high alert as Hurricane Nana moves through Belize

Tropical Storm Nana has been upgraded to a hurricane as it brushed past Honduras and barrelled towards Belize.

On Wednesday thousands of people stocked up on food, water and construction materials in preparation fas forecasters had advised that Nana would make landfall early on Thursday.

Long lines stretched through supermarkets and hardware store shelves were nearly bare as residents of Belize bought materials to board up windows and doors.

The U.S. National Hurricane Centre reported Wednesday night that Nana was located about 60 miles (95 kilometres) southeast of Belize City with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph).

Belize issued a hurricane warning for its coastline.

Heavy rains were expected in Belize, as well as in northern Honduras.

Forecasters said Nana would weaken rapidly as it moved inland Thursday, drenching Belize and Guatemala.

According to a statement issued by the National Hurricane Centre around 4 am,  Nana is now inland over Belize and continues to move west southwest at 15 miles per hour.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the coast of Belize from Belize City southward to the Belize-Guatemala border. Hurricane-force winds and other accompanying conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

Meanwhile, a hurricane watch is in effect for the Belize coast which is north of Belize City to the Belize-Mexico border.

Residents within the watch area have been advised put on high alert for hurricane conditions.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

·       Yucatan Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya to Chetumal

·       The coast of Belize north of Belize city to the  Belize-Mexico border

·       Caribbean Sea coast of Guatemala

·       Isla Roatan and the Bay Islands of Honduras

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the Northern coast of Honduras from Punta Patuca westward to the Guatemalan border

Early on Thursday, the centre of Hurricane Nana was located near latitude 16.7 degrees north, longitude 88.8 west.

The NHC said Nana will continue to move west southwest but a decrease in speed is expected as it moves through Belize on Thursday.

On the forecast track, Nana will continue to move inland over Guatemala and extreme southeastern Mexico today and tonight.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 70 mph (110 km/h) with higher gusts.  Rapid weakening is forecast today and tonight, and Nana will likely become a remnant low on Friday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 70 miles (110 km) from the centre.

Tropical storm conditions will continue in the warning areas in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico through early this morning.

Tropical storm conditions are possible on Isla Roatan and the Bay Islands and along the Honduras coast within the watch area for a

few more hours.

Water levels along the Belize coast will gradually subside through the morning as Nana moves farther inland.

Hurricane Nana is expected to produce the following rainfall accumulations through Friday :

Northwest coast of Honduras: 2 to 4 inches

Belize: 4 to 8 inches, isolated totals of 10 inches

Guatemala and the Mexican states of Chiapas and Tabasco: 3 to 6 inches, isolated totals of 8 inches

The eastern portions of the Mexican states of Veracruz and Oaxaca: 6 to 8 inches, isolated totals of 12 inches

The National Hurricane Centre has warned that these rainfall amounts could produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

Swells generated by Nana are affecting the coasts of Honduras and Belize, and the east coast of the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico.

These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.