Otto has weakened slightly and was downgraded to a tropical storm Wednesday morning.

  • Otto back down to tropical storm
  • Storm moving west-northwest at 5 mph
  • Expected to make landfall Thursday in Central America
  • RELATED: Track the tropics

As of 10 a.m., Otto is at at 11.1 north, 80.7 west. It is maintaining its strength with 70 mph winds.

A little bit of dry air has moved into the storm, so not much change in strength is expected over the next few hours.

It may be able to reach hurricane strength just before it makes landfall near the northern parts of Costa Rica.

It is moving west-northwest at 5 mph. That would bring Otto on land just after sunrise Thursday morning.

It will bring gusty winds and heavy rain to Central America through Friday. It will move into the Pacific later Friday and into the weekend. Strong wind shear should cause it to diminish into a remnant low by the beginning of next week.

If Otto survives the pass over land and crosses over into the Pacific Ocean, it will keep the same name.

The Atlantic hurricane season ends Nov. 30.