On Friday, the National Hurricane Center reported that Tropical Storm Sara is currently situated off the northern coast of Honduras, with intense rainfall expected to lead to flash flooding and mudslides in parts of Central America through the beginning of next week.

As of Friday morning, Sara was approximately 40 miles southeast of Isla Guanaja, Honduras, featuring maximum sustained winds of around 50 mph, with stronger gusts reported.

The storm is moving in a western direction, and meteorologists expect it to continue moving west, albeit at a slower speed over the upcoming day. The center of Sara is projected to remain close to the northern Honduran coast into early Saturday, and will begin to approach Belize by early Sunday, according to the forecast updated Friday morning.

As it nears Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico this weekend, residents should be aware of the potential for strong winds, and stay updated with the latest forecasts, the hurricane center advised.

The NHC noted in a Friday morning advisory that “some minor strengthening is possible in the next few days” if Sara’s center remains over warm water to the north of Honduras, although dissipation is anticipated after the weekend.

According to AccuWeather, minimal wind shear and the presence of warm ocean waters may facilitate strengthening.

Should Sara maintain its strength while crossing Central America and southeastern Mexico, there is a possibility it could move into the Gulf of Mexico with a trajectory toward Florida next week. Nevertheless, the NHC clarified on Friday that “no tropical redevelopment is expected over the Gulf of Mexico.”

Central America to get slammed with rain

From now until early next week, northern Honduras is anticipated to receive rainfall totals between 10 to 20 inches, with isolated areas potentially seeing around 30 inches, according to the NHC.

The hurricane center warned that “this rainfall will result in extensive life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides, particularly near the Sierra La Esperanza.”

In other regions such as the remainder of Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, eastern Guatemala, western Nicaragua, and Mexico’s Quintana Roo state, rainfall of 5 to 10 inches is expected, with some local areas receiving up to 15 inches through early next week.

Storm surges could elevate water levels by 1 to 3 feet above normal tide levels along the immediate coastline due to onshore winds in parts of northern Honduras and Guatemala, the NHC indicated on Friday.