MIAMI, FL (352today.com) – The National Hurricane Center (NHC) indicates that Tropical Storm Sara is forecast to weaken substantially before reaching Florida, thanks to its interaction with land and an approaching cold front.
While rain chances will climb midweek, officials emphasize that there’s no need to panic.
As of Friday morning, Sara was located 40 miles southeast of Isla Guanaja, Honduras, with sustained winds of 50 mph and a central pressure of 998 mb. The storm is currently moving westward and grazing the northern coast of Honduras, delivering heavy tropical downpours. The NHC warns that these rains could lead to catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides in the region.
By Sunday, Sara is expected to approach Belize’s coast after briefly strengthening. However, as the storm slows and moves northwest through Belize and parts of Mexico, it’s likely to lose its tropical storm status.
Once in the Gulf of Mexico, Sara will take a northern turn before shifting eastward toward Florida. The NHC says that its interaction with the cold front will create unfavorable conditions for further development, reducing Sara to a remnant low or a source of tropical moisture by the time it nears the state.
While Floridians can expect increased rain around Wednesday, the likelihood of severe weather remains extremely low.