Tropical Storm Sara Emerges in the Caribbean, Poses Threat to Central America

Tropical Storm Sara has developed in the Caribbean and is expected to bring heavy rainfall to areas of Central America, particularly Honduras, which faces a high risk of flash floods and mudslides. On Thursday, the storm was located about 85 km (50 miles) from the eastern coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras, with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h (40 mph), just below the threshold for tropical storm strength.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued warnings, predicting significant rainfall and possible storm surges as the storm progresses westward toward Honduras. Over the weekend, Sara is expected to cross Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula before shifting eastward, with the potential for heavy rain in northern Honduras, as well as coastal flooding in the low-lying Mosquitia region.

While it is still unclear where the storm will go next, experts have raised concerns that Sara may eventually impact Florida, although the storm’s time over land could reduce the likelihood of it strengthening further into a hurricane. As the storm’s path is uncertain, meteorologists caution that Florida could face a threat as early as next week, with the state still recovering from the effects of two major hurricanes earlier this year.

This late-season storm is unusual given that the official hurricane season ends on November 30, and major storms after mid-November are rare. The warm sea temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean have provided enough energy to sustain the storm, even this late in the season, while October has been recorded as one of the hottest months globally.