Unusually late Hurricane Otto takes aim at Central America

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the westward-moving storm had regained hurricane strength late Wednesday, with winds of 85 mph (140 kph), after fluctuating between tropical storm and hurricane status earlier this week.

Panamanian authorities canceled school and began to release water from the locks and lakes feeding the Panama Canal.

Otto "could seriously jeopardize food security for small-holder farmers who rely on maize, beans, cocoa, honey, coffee and livestock for their livelihoods," said Jennifer Zapata, a regional director for Heifer International, a U.S.-based anti-poverty group.