Tropical Storm Sara tracker: Map and projected storm path
Tropical Storm Sara made landfall late Thursday near the Honduras-Nicaragua border bringing “catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides,” the National Hurricane Center reports.
Sara is meandering west along the coast and is expected to produce a large amount of rainfall for portions of Nicaragua, El Salvador, Belize and Guatemala. The storm is anticipated to turn north reaching the Mexican state of Quintana Roo by Monday.
It’s unlikely that Sara will reach the United States nor will there’s likely be additional tropical developments over the next week. The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends on Nov. 30.
How a hurricane forms and strengthens
Only when tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean encounter the right ingredients for long enough do they strengthen to the point of designation.
Meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center pay close attention to a cyclone’s wind speed, which determines its class. Once it reaches 39 mph for at least one minute, it’s classified as a tropical storm and given a name; at 74 mph, the storm becomes a Category 1 hurricane. If a hurricane strengthens sufficiently, it can reach up to Category 5.
These classifications help officials predict the possible risks and damage and send warnings of what to expect from the strong winds, waves, rains and floods when they hit land.
It’s dangerous to be caught in tropical-storm-force winds. Stronger hurricane-force winds can destroy homes and buildings and send debris flying.
The winds can also push seawater inland for miles, causing an abnormal rise in seawater levels, known as storm surge — the leading cause of death during hurricanes in the United States, according to the National Weather Service. Large waves are also a risk to people and property.
As a storm moves farther inland, flooding becomes a major risk. Cyclones often produce more than 6 inches of heavy rain, which can overwhelm drainage systems and the ability of the ground to absorb the water, causing flash floods. Flooding may persist for days after a storm.
Hurricane season historically peaks around mid-September, and this season could be the worst in decades, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says. Government meteorologists have predicted 17 to 25 tropical storms this year, including four to seven that could become major hurricanes.
