Central America braces for Tropical Storm Sara’s ‘life-threatening’ downpour

SAN JOSE — Central American countries scrambled on Thursday night to make preparations for the impact of Tropical Storm Sara, with Honduras likely to be the first in the storm’s path as it slowly churns from the Caribbean.

Sara is moving west toward the northern coast of Honduras at a speed of 10 mph (16 kph), and is expected to weaken over the next few days, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The NHC expects Sara to provoke “life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides” across Honduras before moving on to Belize on Sunday. The center forecasts accumulated rainfall of 10-20 inches (25-51 cm) over the next few days, with some areas seeing as much as 30 inches.

Through early next week, the tropical storm is expected to hit El Salvador, eastern Guatemala, western Nicaragua, and the southern Mexican state of Quintana Roo, the Miami-based forecaster added, areas that are home to significant coffee production.