Ida gaining strength

The east coast of Nicaragua from Bluefields to the Honduras border is now under a hurricane watch (hurricane conditions possible within 36 hours).

In its 7 p.m. update, the National Hurricane Center said Ida's sustained winds were up a bit to 65 mph.

The storm was still moving west-northwest at 6 mph. Tropical storm-force winds extended 45 from the center of circulation, which was 65 miles east of Bluefields. Landfall somewhere on the Nicaraguan coast was expected early Thursday, quite possibly as a Cat. 1 hurricane.

A major concern with this slow-moving system is the potential for massive amounts of rainfall. As many as 25 inches of rain is possible in areas of eastern Nicaragua and eastern Honduras, raising the spectre of flash floods and mudslides.