Tropical Storm “Sara” triggers life-threatening floods in Honduras
Tropical Storm “Sara” made landfall near Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Honduras-Nicaragua border on Thursday, November 14, 2024, causing severe flooding and displacement across northern Honduras. Over 20 500 people have been affected, 570 evacuated, and three remain missing. Torrential rainfall, measuring up to 762 mm (30 inches), has triggered life-threatening flash floods and landslides. Forecasts warn of worsening conditions as the storm moves westward toward Belize.
Streets submerged by floodwaters after heavy rains triggered by Tropical Storm "Sara". Image credit: Weathernation
- Tropical Storm “Sara” passed along northern Honduras’ Caribbean coast on Friday, November 15 after making landfall near Cabo Gracias a Dios late Thursday, November 14.
- Sara has already brought heavy rainfall to northern Honduras, with totals reaching up to 437 mm (17.2 inches) at Goloson International Airport. Forecasts predict rainfall of up to 889 mm (35 inches) in isolated areas.
- An estimated 20 500 people have been affected by the storm, with 212 housed in shelters across Atlántida and Colón.
- As of 15:00 UTC on Friday, the storm was located 48 km (30 miles) south-southwest of Isla Guanaja, Honduras, and 282 km (175 miles) east-southeast of Belize City.
Tropical Storm “Sara” passed along northern Honduras’ Caribbean coast early on Friday, November 15 bringing heavy rains to parts of Central America and Mexico after its initial landfall overnight on Thursday.
The system hit land roughly 169 km (105 miles) north of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Honduras-Nicaragua border. By dawn on Friday, the center of the system was located roughly 330 km (205 miles) east-southeast of Belize City and was moving west at 16 km/h (10 mph), with maximum sustained winds of 72 km/h (45 mph).
The system brought heavy rains to the region, with forecasts of up to 762 mm (30 inches) of rain in some parts of northern Honduras.
The heavy rains have already caused severe floods, with reports suggesting that Goloson International Airport has recorded more than 437 mm (17.2 inches) of rainfall. These rains pose a threat of life-threatening flash floods and landslides.
According to officials, roughly 20 500 people have been affected by the storm. At least 570 people have been evacuated, and three remain missing. The storm has cut off at least 37 communities, while some 212 people have been placed in three shelters across the departments of Atlántida and Colón.
As of 15:00 UTC, the system was located roughly 48 km (30 miles) south-southwest of Isla Guanaja, Honduras, and 282 km (175 miles) east-southeast of Belize City, with a minimum central pressure of 997 hPa.
The system was moving westward at 8 km/h (5 mph), with maximum sustained winds of roughly 80 km/h (50 mph). The storm is expected to continue moving westward, with a west-northwestward motion forecast to start on Saturday, November 16.
The center of Sara will continue to move close to the northern coast of Honduras through early Saturday before approaching Belize and ultimately moving onshore in Belize during the day on Sunday, November 17.
The government of Belize has issued a Tropical Storm Warning from Belize City southward to the Belize-Guatemala border.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), heavy rains of up to 380 – 635 mm (15 – 25 inches) are forecast over northern Honduras, with isolated totals of up to 889 mm (35 inches). The Sierra La Esperanza will be especially vulnerable to life-threatening floods and mudslides.
Belize, El Salvador, eastern Guatemala, western Nicaragua, and the Mexican state of Quintana Roo could expect 127 – 254 mm (5 – 10 inches) of rain, with localized totals around 381 mm (15 inches) through early next week, increasing the risk of floods and mudslides in these regions.
References:
1 Central America: Tropical Storm Sara – Flash Update No. 1 – Reliefweb – November 15, 2024
2 Tropical Storm Sara Advisory Number 8 – NHC – November 15, 2024
3 Tropical Storm Sara pounds Central America with torrential rains as forecasters warn of life-threatening flash flooding – CBS – November 15, 2024
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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