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FLORIDA - Tropical Storm Sara is on a projected path toward Central Florida next week, but forecasters emphasize there’s no cause for alarm as the storm is expected to weaken significantly before reaching the state.
According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Sara’s interaction with land and an approaching cold front will likely diminish its strength. While Florida could see increased rain midweek, the system is expected to arrive as little more than a remnant low or tropical moisture.
Currently located 30 miles south-southwest of Isla Guanaja, Honduras, Sara has sustained winds of 50 mph and a central pressure of 997 mb. The storm is lashing parts of Honduras with heavy rains, prompting warnings of "life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides," according to the NHC.
Sara is forecast to graze the northern coast of Honduras before shifting toward Belize by Sunday, where it may briefly strengthen. However, after crossing Belize and portions of Mexico, the storm is expected to lose its tropical storm designation as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico.
The system’s northward movement through the Gulf will eventually shift eastward toward Florida, steered by a cold front impacting states like Texas. This same front is expected to create conditions unfavorable for further development, ensuring Sara weakens before reaching Florida’s coastline.
By the time Sara arrives midweek, its impact is forecast to be limited to higher rain chances on Wednesday, with little to no significant storm activity.
The NHC has issued tropical storm warnings for the northern coast of Honduras, the Bay Islands of Honduras, the Caribbean coast of Guatemala, and portions of Belize.