Tropical Storm Sara could bring “life-threatening and potentially catastrophic” flash flooding to parts of Central America, the National Hurricane Center has warned.
The 50mph storm made landfall in Honduras on Thursday, with up to 30 inches of rain forecast in isolated parts of the region over the coming days, and between 15-20 inches elsewhere. The storm is also expected to impact Guatemala, Belize and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula over the weekend.
“This rainfall will lead to widespread areas of life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides, especially along and near the Sierra La Esperanza,” the National Hurricane Center said. Sierra La Esperanza is a mountain along the northern part of Honduras.
Storm surge could also raise water levels by as much as three feet above normal tide levels along the northern coast of Honduras and the same amount above ground level near and to the north of where Sara’s center crosses the coast of Belize.
After initially reaching Honduras on Thursday, Sara moved back out into the Caribbean overnight and by Friday morning was located just south of the island of Roatan, a small-scale tourism destination. Forecasters say it will continue its path across multiple Central American countries in a north-westerly direction over the weekend.
In its latest update on Friday afternoon, the hurricane center said the storm was located about 170 miles (270 kilometers) southeast of Belize City and was moving west at 2 mph (4 kph), with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph).
A tropical storm warning is in effect from Belize City to the Belize-Guatemala border, as well as for the Bay Islands of Honduras, the Caribbean Sea coast of Guatemala, and the north coast of Honduras. Guatemala and Belize will see tropical storm conditions starting on Saturday.
A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
As long as Sara stays offshore, the hurricane center said slight strengthening was possible. The storm is expected to shift northwesterly and drench Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula by late Sunday into Monday morning.
Mexican authorities have warned that the storm could cause intense rains over the resort-studded Yucatan Peninsula.
However, the United States may be spared the impact of the storm. While the hurricane center and other forecasters had previously warned Sara could potentially impact Florida, now it is believed the weather system won’t reemerge into the Gulf of Mexico after crossing the Yucatan.
“What remains of the system when it emerges into the Bay of Campeche in the Gulf of Mexico is not very favorable for redevelopment,” the center said.
With reporting from The Associated Press
