Hurricane Otto was a strong late-season tropical cyclone that impacted parts of Central America in November 2016.

The hurricane's unusually southern formation in the Caribbean Sea led to impacts in countries rarely affected by tropical cyclones.

[1] The low moved slowly and erratically, with a disorganized structure and light winds,[4] disrupted by unfavorable upper-level conditions.

[9] After the convection organized into a central dense overcast, Otto became a strong tropical storm with 70 mph (110 km/h) winds, and maintained that intensity for about a day.

[1][10] At 17:30 UTC, Otto made landfall over the Indio Maíz Biological Reserve in southeastern Nicaragua, roughly 12 miles (19 km) northwest of the Nicaragua–Costa Rica border at peak intensity.

[1] After landfall, Otto's structure remained well-organized as it moved roughly parallel to the Costa Rica-Nicaraguan border, although cloud tops warmed, indicating diminishing convection.

[1] Otto was the first Atlantic hurricane on record to have its eye cross over Costa Rica,[10] and the first hurricane-force system to traverse the nation.

After it became likely that Otto would survive its trek across Central America, authorities issued a tropical storm warning for along the Pacific coast from Puntarenas, Costa Rica to Puerto Sandino, Nicaragua.

[1] As far south as Panama in Bocas del Toro, preparations were made for the storm, even though Otto was not expected to make landfall in the region.

[13] In Costa Rica, the government declared a red alert for the northern portion of the national territory and the southern Pacific region.

[14] Costa Rica president Luis Guillermo Solís also issued a state of emergency and advised all vehicles to stay off the roads, and that hospitals in the most at-risk areas were having their patients transferred somewhere else.

[15] In Nicaragua, a yellow alert was issued for the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region, and the departments of Zeyala Central, Chontales, and Río San Juan.

[15] The outer bands of Otto caused extensive damage in Panama; at least nine people died in various incidents related to the storm.

[1] The National Meteorological Institute of Costa Rica reported that Otto killed at least ten people in the country, mostly from flash flooding and landslides,[1] including six in Upala, three in Bagaces, and one in Guayabo.

[21] Costa Rican president Luis Guillermo Solis described the situation as "chaotic and unprecedented," with the worst effects in Upala canton.

Local Red Cross volunteers, police officers, and firefighters brought food and other supplies to the 42 communities left isolated due to Otto.