By Alric Lindsay
According to a National Hurricane Center update this morning, November 15, 2024, Tropical Storm Sara is expected to produce large amounts of rainfall in Central America, particularly Honduras and Belize, as it moves slowly, lingering in the area.
Regarding Tropical Storm Sara’s location, it is about 40 miles southeast of Isla Guanaja, Honduras, and 205 miles east-southeast of Belize City, Belize.
It has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph; however, it is moving slowly westward at 9 mph.
The forecast is expected to change by Saturday when the storm may start to move west-northwestward near the coast of northern coast of Honduras and Belize.
Heavy rainfall is forecasted through early next week somewhere in the range of 10 to 20 inches. This may lead to life threatening flash flooding and mudslides in Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, eastern Guatemala, western Nicaragua, and the Mexican State of Quintana Roo.
Ran impact on Central America (source: The Weather Channel)
A storm surge of up to 3 feet above normal tide levels along coast of Honduras and Guatemala are also expected.
(Source: The Weather Channel)
As a result of the foregoing, several watches and warnings are in effect.
A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the northern coast of Honduras, the Bay Islands of Honduras, and the northern coast of Guatemala from the Honduras/Guatemala border westward to Puerto Barrios.
The government of Belize has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for its coastline from Placencia northward to Belize City.
Interests in Central America and the Caribbean should monitor the developments of Tropical Storm Sara, as forecasts may change at any time. They are also encouraged to pay attention to local weather stations and official government announcements in their areas for information on specific precautions to take and relevant impacts.
