Severe flooding hits Nicaragua, life-threatening flash floods expected across Central America into the next week
Heavy rains caused major flooding in several sectors of Esteli, Nicaragua, on Tuesday afternoon, May 26, 2020. Rivers and streams overflowed, damaging streets and submerging buildings.
Heavy rain and life-threatening flash floods are expected across Central America over the weekend and into the new week. Be ready — check forecast models at the end of the article.
Rains poured for an hour and thirty minutes and were heavy enough to flood sectors including Paula Ubeda, Ronaldo Arauz, Camilo Segundo, Hermanos Carcamo, Oscar Turcios, Belen, and Santa Rita.
In the Paula Ubeda neighborhood, inundations hit 20 houses, forcing many families to evacuate on their own. A resident blamed the flooding on the deburring of the channel that runs through the suburb.
In Belen, several houses and a bridge were hit by floodwaters after the El Zapote channel burst.
#AlDía Alcaldia municipal realiza la limpieza de el río #Estelí, con el fin de prevenir accidentes y evitar inundaciones.
— Radio Sandino (@LaSandino) May 28, 2020
Viviendas resultan afectadas por las fuertes lluvias que caen sobre la ciudad de #Estelí este martes
Más información, en breve por https://t.co/F3i3VstoYl pic.twitter.com/JqITD3jr0M
— TN8 Nicaragua (@canaltn8) May 26, 2020
Las lluvias siguen dejando inundaciones en #Esteli #Nicaragua pic.twitter.com/Ga9dDHA1kd
— Usa Vandalico (@UsaVandalico) May 27, 2020
A stream that passes through the Leyra de Compostela sector overflowed, washing away some vehicles, including a minibus from the Puertas de la Esperanza Penitentiary System.
The Los Cedros riverbed overflowed, affecting several homes as streets also lacked drainage. In Santa Rita, one of the streets that had just been repaired was damaged by waters from the swollen riverbed.
Residents living in houses located near the banks reported numerous cracks and collapsed walls.
"A Central American Gyre will develop in the eastern North Pacific Ocean by the end of the week," NWS NHC meteorologists warned.
The gyre will move northward, toward Central America and southern Mexico, during the upcoming weekend and push abundant moisture into parts of Central America by the end of the week, during the entire weekend, and into the next week.
Heavy rainfall is possible in parts of Central America, especially from northern Costa Rica northward, into southern Mexico.
This will bring the potential for life-threatening flash floods and mudslides for the areas that receive the greatest amounts of rainfall.
Forecast models
Featured image credit: Radio Sandino
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