Miami, FL (352today.com) – Tropical Storm Sara, the 18th named storm of the 2024 hurricane season, has officially formed in the Caribbean. Currently located about 165 miles east-southeast of Isla Guanaja, Honduras, the storm is moving west at 10 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.
Over the weekend, Sara is expected to move into the Caribbean, gaining strength as it impacts Honduras and Belize. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warns of life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides in northern Honduras, with isolated rainfall totals reaching 30 inches.
By next week, the NHC says that Sara is projected to lift northward into the Gulf of Mexico. While models suggest a potential landfall in Florida, the exact path and intensity remain uncertain. The NHC notes that the storm’s interaction with a front moving across the Gulf Coast could limit its development.
For now, North Central Florida is just anticipating increased rain chances next week.