Tropical Storm Sara nears landfall along Belize as storm brings torrential

Weeks before the Atlantic hurricane season ends, Tropical Storm Sara neared landfall along the Belize Coast. This weekend, the storm has brought torrential rain to Honduras.

The latest storm in the Atlantic hurricane season caused heavy rains as it moved inland over portions of the Yucatan Peninsula, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Experts there warned of torrential rainfall with life-threatening flooding and mudslides for portions of Central America.

At 7 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, Tropical Storm Sara was 60 miles south-southeast of Belize City with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. The storm was moving west-northwest at 5 mph.

Hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 30 every year, with the busiest part of the season from August to October. After Sara, the next named storm would be Tony (see below).

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Where is Tropical Storm Sara?

A tropical storm warning was in effect for:

The Northern coast of Honduras from Punta Castilla westward to theHonduras-Guatemala border
The Bay Islands of Honduras
The Caribbean Sea coast of Guatemala
The coast of Belize
The coast of Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya southward to Chetumal

A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

Interests elsewhere in the Yucatan Peninsula should monitor the progress of this system.

At 7 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, the center of Tropical Storm Sara was moving toward the west-northwest near 5 mph and this general motion with some increase in forward speed was expected through tonight. On the forecast track, the center of Sara will make landfall in Belize later this morning or around midday.

Maximum sustained winds were near 40 mph with higher gusts. Only small fluctuations in strength are anticipated until landfall. Weakening was forecast after the storm moves inland, and dissipation was expected over the southern portion of the Yucatan Peninsula tonight or on Monday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center.

Hazards affecting land

Rainfall: Through early next week, rainfall amounts of 15 to 25 inches with isolated storm totals around 40 inches area expected over northern Honduras. This rainfall will lead to widespread areas of life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides, especially along and near the Sierra La Esperanza.

Elsewhere across the rest of Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, eastern Guatemala, western Nicaragua, and the Mexican State of Quintana Roo, Tropical Storm Sara is expected to produce 5 to 10 inches of rain with localized totals around 15 inches through early next week. This will result in areas of flash flooding, perhaps significant, along with the potential of mudslides.

Wind: Tropical storm conditions, especially in gusts, are expected in the warning area in portions of Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico during the next several hours.

Storm surge: A storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 1 to 3 feet above ground level near and to the north of where the center of Sara crosses the coast of Belize. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

Weather radar: Will we get showers, thunderstorms, rain in Florida today?

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According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, these are the list of names for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season:

When is 2024 hurricane season over, in Florida and beyond?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, 2024.

The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico.

Contributing: Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network-Florida

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Tropical Storm Sara landfall: Track path of system in Central America

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