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Tropical Storm Sarah could bring “life-threatening and potentially catastrophic” flash flooding to parts of Central America, the National Hurricane Center has warned.
A 50 mph storm made landfall in Honduras on Thursday, and is expected to dump up to 30 inches of rain in isolated areas of the region and 15 to 20 inches elsewhere over the next few days. The storm is expected to impact Guatemala, Belize and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula over the weekend.
“This rainfall will cause widespread, potentially life-threatening flash flooding and landslides, particularly along and near the Sierra La Esperanza,” the National Hurricane Center said. Sierra La Esperanza is a mountain in northern Honduras.
Storm surge could also cause water levels to rise up to 3 feet above normal tide levels along the north coast of Honduras, and above ground level near and north of where the center of Sala intersects with the coast of Belize. likely to rise by the same amount.
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After first arriving in Honduras on Thursday, Sarah returned to the Caribbean overnight and was just south of the small tourist island of Roatan by Friday morning. Forecasters say it will continue on a northwesterly track through several countries in Central America over the weekend.
In an update 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 miles (4 kilometers) per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour. (85km/h). .
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Bay Islands of Honduras, the Caribbean coast of Guatemala, and the northern coast of Honduras, from Belize City to the Belize-Guatemala border. Tropical storms are expected to develop in Guatemala and Belize starting Saturday.
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A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.
As long as Sarah remains offshore, the hurricane center said some strengthening is possible. The storm is expected to move northwest and flood Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula late Sunday into Monday morning.
Mexican authorities warned that the storm could bring heavy rain to the Yucatan Peninsula, where resorts are dotted.
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But the U.S. may be spared the storm’s impact. The Hurricane Center and other forecasters had previously warned that Sarah could impact Florida, but now say the weather system will not reenter the Gulf of Mexico after crossing the Yucatan. It is considered.
“What remains of this system when it spills into the Bay of Campeche in the Gulf of Mexico is not very favorable for redevelopment,” the center said.
From an Associated Press report
