Hurricane Eta is making landfall in Nicaragua, but will continue to produce flooding rain that may lead to catastrophic flooding well inland over Central America the next several days.

Eta's center is moving ashore about 15 miles south-southwest of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, just before 4 p.m. EST Tuesday. At that time, maximum sustained winds were estimated at 140 mph, a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Eta was only the fourth Category 4 or stronger hurricane on record to landfall in Nicaragua, the first since Category 5 Hurricane Felix in 2007.

Eta was expected to produce catastrophic storm surge and destructive winds to the northeast Nicaraguan coast near the storm's eyewall. Eta's slow movement through the rest of the week is likely to bring catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides from heavy rain well inland over Central America.

You can see our full forecast briefing on Eta .