Tropical Storm Sara made landfall on Sunday in Belize, and heavy rainfall is forecasted to potentially cause flash floods and landslides in the region. Meteorologists warn of conditions that could result in significant flash flooding and landslide risks.
"A storm surge could elevate water levels by 1 to 3 feet above ground level north of where the center of Sara crosses the coast of Belize," announced the Hurricane Center. Additionally, near the coast, the surge is expected to be accompanied by large and destructive waves. Meanwhile, northern Honduras is still not out of danger.
The storm moved toward Belize after affecting the northern coast of Honduras, where it lingered since Friday, causing river levels to rise and resulting in people trapped in their homes. The tropical storm warning issued by the U.S. National Hurricane Center covered the Caribbean coast of Guatemala, Belize, as well as the coast of Quintana Roo state in Mexico, from Chetumal to Puerto Costa Maya.
These areas, along with portions of El Salvador and western Nicaragua, could receive up to 13 centimeters (5 inches) of rain, with local accumulations reaching 38 cm (15 inches). Although Sara is expected to drop up to 8 centimeters (3 inches) of rain in these areas, it is warned that some regions could record precipitation of up to 1 meter (40 inches), which could trigger catastrophic and potentially deadly flooding.
