Tropical Storm Sara has her sights set on Belize and Mexico, and could hit both countries as a full-fledged hurricane next week.
The National Hurricane Center in the U.S. said the storm could be at hurricane strength when it moves near the eastern coast of Honduras on 15NOV and 16NOV, with hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings in effect. Newsweek reports the system is also forecast to approach Belize and the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico "at or near hurricane strength by early next week," prompting the risk of "dangerous storm surge and damaging winds."
Accuweather says the storm could give Florida’s west coast another battering.
“Should the feature survive its passage over Central America and southeastern Mexico, Floridians may have to brace for yet another strike this season as the strengthening tropical depression could track into the Gulf of Mexico and turn toward the Sunshine State next week.”
USA Today reports that, as of the morning of 14NOV, the system was located about 250 miles east of Guanaja, one of the Bay Islands of Honduras in the Caribbean Sea. The hurricane center said the depression is moving toward the west, and this motion should continue through the day, taking it across the western Caribbean Sea.
The storm could impact cruise ships operating in the Caribbean over the next few days and on into next week.
CNN said Sara is another example of an Atlantic/Caribbean hurricane season that hasn’t played by traditional rules.
“Tropical activity should be winding down in November, but this will be the third named storm this month instead thanks to exceptionally warm water wrought by climate change,” the network said.
