Tropical Storm Sara forms, could enter the Gulf as a depression. Florida needs to watch
Tropical Storm Sara — or at least its remnants — could enter the Gulf of Mexico next week.
Forecasters expect significant weakening as Sara crosses over the Yucatan Peninsula, likely reducing the chances it could pose a major threat to Florida later in the week.
As 7 p.m. Thursday, the National Hurricane Center track showed the storm skirting the coast of Honduras for the next few days before shooting over to Belize and crossing the Yucatan Peninsula — a passage over land that may cause the system to dissipate.
That potential track over land could weaken the storm by the time it enters the Gulf, but experts cautioned earlier in the day that does not completely reduce any threat to Gulf coast states — including Florida.
“While I’ve already heard a sigh of relief in Florida, history would say ‘Don’t stop watching this system yet’,” posted Craig Setzer, chief meteorologist for Royal Caribbean, on X. “I’m not saying it’s coming to Florida, I’m simply saying to not dismiss it and potentially be surprised later. I always say we never want to be surprised in hurricane season.”
The storm’s slow expected movement near or inland of Honduras’ coast could spell intense flooding for the Central American country, and the hurricane center warned of “life-threatening flooding” over the weekend.
The region is expected to see 10 to 20 inches of rain, and potentially up to 30 inches in some spots.
The western shift in recent long-range computer models “is bad news for Central America but good news for Florida,” NBC6 Hurricane Specialist John Morales posted on X.
“Tropical Depression Nineteen (#Sara) would spend days interacting with land, starving the storm from the fuel needed to rapidly strengthen,” he noted.
Long-range computer models suggest Sara could cross over the Yucatan and head toward Florida’s west coast, but the recent westward shift in models has inched the projected track north on Florida’s peninsula.
Miami Herald reporter Devoun Cetoute contributed to this report.
This story was originally published November 14, 2024 at 9:00 AM.
