Tropical Storm Sara was a slow-moving tropical cyclone that caused severe flooding in northern Central America in November 2024. The eighteenth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season,[1] Sara developed from a disturbance over the central Caribbean Sea associated with a tropical wave. It consolidated into a tropical depression early on November 14, and strengthened into Tropical Storm Sara later that same day. The next day, the storm grazed and slowly moved parallel to the northern coast of Honduras. Later, on the morning of November 17, Sara made landfall near Dangriga, Belize. Inland, the storm weakened into a tropical depression, then degenerated into a remnant low while over Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. AON has placed preliminary damage estimates in the millions of dollars.[2]
Meteorological history
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
On November 11, an area of low-pressure associated with a tropical wave formed south of Hispaniola over the central Caribbean Sea.[3] The system moved generally westward toward Central America into the next day, and the National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted the high possibility of further organization due to favorable environmental conditions.[4] Though its low-level circulation remained broad and elongated on the afternoon of November 13, the disturbance was deemed likely by the NHC to soon be bringing tropical storm or hurricane conditions to parts of Central America, and so was designated Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen.[5][6] Early during the morning of November 14, the system completed tropical cyclogenesis about 280 mi (450 km) east of Guanaja, Honduras, and was upgraded to Tropical Depression Nineteen.[7] That afternoon, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Sara.[8] On the evening of November 14, data from an Air Force Hurricane Hunter pass over Sara's the northern semicircle indicated that the storm had moved just inland or very near the northeastern coast of Honduras,[9] striking about 105 mi (165 km) west-northwest of Cabo Gracias a Dios.[10]
On November 15, Sara continued to slowly parallel the northern coast of Honduras, its center having reformed just offshore, between the Bay Islands and the mainland.[11] Then, later that day, the storm became stationary, and remained so into the next morning.[12][13] During the afternoon, the system began to move westward away from the Bay Islands into the Gulf of Honduras. Despite having stayed offshore, Sara remained a weak tropical storm with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) due to the interaction between its broader circulation and the mountainous terrain of northern Honduras, and was struggling to produce deep convection.[14] Overnight, the system moved slowly west-northwestward at 5 mph (7 km/h).[15] Sara made landfall in Belize at around 14:00 UTC on November 17, near Dangriga, with sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). Just before landfall, the storm underwent a burst of convection near the center, with bursting deep convection and lightning flashes.[16] About four hours after landfall, Sara weakened to a tropical depression inland over Belize.[17] The deteriorating system moved west-northwestward. Satellite imagery that evening showed a small area of convection persisting near and to the west of the estimated low-level center.[18] Sara soon lost its closed circulation and degenerated into a trough of low pressure southwest of Campeche. Its remnants later emerged over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico,[19] where they merged with a cold front moving over the Southeastern United States.[20]
Preparations
On November 13, the governments of Honduras and Nicaragua issued hurricane watches and tropical storm warnings for the northeastern coast of Honduras from Punta Castilla to the Honduras–Nicaragua border and the northeastern coast of Nicaragua from the Honduras–Nicaragua border to Puerto Cabezas, respectively.[5]Guatemala's Caribbean and Belize's entire coast was placed under a tropical storm warning on November 15.[10][21] Additionally, the government of Mexico issued a tropical storm warning for the Quintana Roo coast from Puerto Costa Maya southward to Chetumal.[22] The Eastern Slopes of the Maya Mountains were placed under landslide warning.[23]
In Mexico, the government rushed to repair buildings that lost their roofs due to strong winds earlier in the week.[32]
Impact
Deaths by country
Country
Deaths
Dominican Republic
2
Haiti
1
Nicaragua
2
Honduras
7
Total
12
Hispanola
The nascent disturbance caused flooding in the Dominican Republic, resulting in the evacuation of 1,767 people, isolating 54 communities, destroying two homes and damaging 487 more. Two fishermen were left missing and were later found dead near Sabana de la Mar.[33] Floods also affected southern Haiti, killing one person, leaving two missing and damaging 3,554 houses in Sud Department.[34]
Central America
Two people were killed in Nicaragua; one in San Francisco de Cuapa and another in Estelí. Over 1,800 houses and six schools were flooded, of which three were destroyed, affecting 5,000 people.[35][36]
Over 251 communities were isolated in Honduras.[29] Some areas in the nation saw 19.7 in (500 mm) of rain. Nine bridges were destroyed due to Sara, and many more were damaged.[37] Saopin bridge in La Ceiba collapsed due to flooding in the Cangrejal River.[38] A pedestrian bridge on the Bermejo River collapsed in San Pedro Sula.[39] The Ulúa and Chamelecón Rivers swelled up, approaching populated areas.[40] Three people were rescued in Gracias a Dios Department.[24] A man drowned in the department of Yoro.[12] A traffic accident occurred in Santa Cruz de Yojoa, killing another person.[41] Across the country, 427 houses were destroyed and 4,440 others were damaged.[42] Over 2,000 rescues were made in the nation.[43] In total, six people were killed as a result of drowning, and one person were declared missing.[42] In Honduras, damage is estimated to be at 2.468 billion lempiras (USD$97.4 million).[44]
Over 1,000 homes were flooded in Guatemala as a result of 25 rivers overflowing.[48] Access to potable water was disrupted across the country as well.[24] Flooding also caused agricultural damage in El Salvador.[49]
Mexico
In Chetumal, Sara caused major flooding and damage.[50] Strong winds tore roofs off of houses, some of which had been reinstalled by trucks prior to the storm's arrival.[32] Garbage along the streets of Chetumal was piled up due to flooding as the sewers overflowed.[51]
^Cangialosi, John (17 November 2024). Tropical Storm Sara Advisory Number 15 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
^Cangialosi, John (18 November 2024). Remnants Of Sara Discussion Number 19 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
^Kelly, Larry (15 November 2024). Tropical Storm Sara Advisory Number 9 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
