Tropical Storm Sara Threatens Central America and Potentially Florida with Catastrophic Flooding

Tropical Storm Sara, the 18th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season, has formed in the Caribbean and is posing a significant threat to Central America and potentially Florida. As of Thursday, the storm was located more than 200 miles east of Honduras, with maximum sustained winds of around 40 mph and moving westward at about 15 mph.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warns that Tropical Storm Sara will continue to move westward, taking it across the western Caribbean Sea. The storm is expected to stall and meander near the coast of Honduras on Friday and through the weekend, which could lead to catastrophic impacts for portions of Central America. Heavy rainfall, with totals of 10-20 inches and locally higher amounts of up to 30 inches, is forecasted for northern Honduras, leading to widespread areas of life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides, especially in the mountainous areas along and near Sierra La Esperanza.

Other regions, including Belize, El Salvador, eastern Guatemala, and western Nicaragua, are also expected to receive significant rainfall, with totals ranging from 5-10 inches and up to 15 inches in some areas. This rainfall could result in significant flash flooding and mudslides in these regions as well.

There is a possibility that Tropical Storm Sara could strengthen into a hurricane by the time it approaches the eastern coast of Honduras on Friday or Saturday, although it remains uncertain. A storm becomes a hurricane when its sustained winds reach at least 74 mph.

Looking ahead, forecast models suggest that after lingering in the Caribbean through the weekend, Tropical Storm Sara could slowly move into the Gulf of Mexico early next week and potentially make its way toward Florida by the end of next week. However, forecasters caution that a lot can change between now and then, and residents in Florida are advised to closely monitor the forecast updates).

Governments across Central America have issued various watches and warnings as people prepare for the storm’s impacts. Vast sections of Nicaragua and Honduras, including the Bay Islands, are under either a hurricane watch or a tropical storm warning).