Sara dissipates after producing deadly flooding, mudslides across Central America
With atmospheric steering currents in near total collapse, Sara had been essentially adrift while it streamed a constant river of tropical moisture into the vulnerable countrysides with some areas seeing up to 40 inches of rain.
Sara downgraded to tropical depression after lashing Central America
What was once Tropical Storm Sara continues to weaken and was downgraded to a tropical depression on Sunday afternoon after the deadly, late-season storm slammed portions of Central America with torrential rain that led to catastrophic flooding and mudslides.
ROATAN, Honduras – What was once Tropical Storm Sara dissipated over Mexico early Monday morning after the deadly, late-season storm slammed portions of Central America with torrential rain that led to catastrophic flooding and mudslides.
With atmospheric steering currents in near total collapse, Sara had been essentially adrift while it streamed a constant river of tropical moisture into the vulnerable countryside. The National Hurricane Center said the center of the storm moved only 10 miles over a 15-hour period between midday Friday and Saturday morning.
FLORIDA, GULF COAST TO SEE POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM TROPICAL STORM SARA
Multiple water rescues were carried out in Honduras during Tropical Storm Sara
The Honduran fire department said it carried out multiple water rescues and evacuations as Tropical Storm Sara brought severe flooding to several parts of Honduras on Friday. (Video courtesy: Bomberos Honduras via Storyful)
The slow-moving storm combined with the steep terrain of the region is a destructive combination that has led to feet of rain falling in short periods of time.
At least one person has been killed. Honduras' President said a young boy was killed when he was swept away by floodwaters.
The country's emergency management agency said over 1,100 homes have been damaged or destroyed across the nation. More than 71,000 people have suffered some impacts from Sara with more than 2,000 rescues so far, government agencies said.
Over 40 inches of rain have fallen in parts of Honduras since Thursday, and the swollen Cangrajal River swept away part of the Saopin bridge.
People stand on the destroyed Saopin bridge due to the flooding of the Cangrajal river after the passage of tropical storm Sara in La Ceiba, Honduras, on November 15, 2024. (Photo by ESAU OCAMPO/AFP via Getty Images)
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Sara officially briefly made its first landfall Thursday evening, but its center of circulation reemerged in the Gulf of Honduras on Saturday and made another landfall in Belize on Sunday.
This video by Honduras’s national police shows road conditions as officers patrolled the town.
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Families evacuated as Tropical Storm Sara lashes Honduras
Families were evacuated from their homes in La Ceiba, Honduras, early on Friday as Tropical Storm Sara lashed the country with heavy rain that could bring life-threatening flooding and landslides.
Travel around the region was impacted. Airports in Roatan and La Ceiba suspended all operations, and both American Airlines and United Airlines offered to waive some fees associated with changing flights.
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Image 1 of 18A cyclist rides on a flooded street during the passage of tropical storm Sara in La Ceiba, Honduras, on November 15, 2024. Honduras' President Xiomara Castro said emergency services had been activated to deal with "damage already caused by the rains," warning that Sara's impacts "could become a catastrophic event." (Photo by ESAU OCAMPO / AFP) (Photo by ESAU OCAMPO/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 2 of 18Strong winds from tropical storm Sara cause large waves in the municipality of Puerto Cortes, 240 km north of Tegucigalpa, on November 15, 2024. Honduras' President Xiomara Castro said emergency services had been activated to deal with "damage already caused by the rains," warning that Sara's impacts "could become a catastrophic event." (Photo by Orlando SIERRA / AFP) (Photo by ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![People stand next to fallen trees due to strong winds caused by Tropical Storm Sara in Tocoa, Honduras, on November 15, 2024.]()
Image 3 of 18People stand next to fallen trees due to strong winds caused by Tropical Storm Sara in Tocoa, Honduras, on November 15, 2024. (OSCAR LANZA/AFP via Getty Images)
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Image 4 of 18A person takes photos at the boardwalk during the passage of tropical storm Sara in La Ceiba, Honduras, on November 15, 2024. Honduras' President Xiomara Castro said emergency services had been activated to deal with "damage already caused by the rains," warning that Sara's impacts "could become a catastrophic event." (Photo by ESAU OCAMPO / AFP) (Photo by ESAU OCAMPO/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 5 of 18The Saopin bridge, destroyed by the rising flow of the Cangrajal river after the passage of tropical storm Sara, is pictured in La Ceiba, Honduras, on November 15, 2024. Honduras' President Xiomara Castro said emergency services had been activated to deal with "damage already caused by the rains," warning that Sara's impacts "could become a catastrophic event." (Photo by Esau OCAMPO / AFP) (Photo by ESAU OCAMPO/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 6 of 18A truck drives through a flooded street during the passage of tropical storm Sara in La Ceiba, Honduras, on November 15, 2024. Honduras' President Xiomara Castro said emergency services had been activated to deal with "damage already caused by the rains," warning that Sara's impacts "could become a catastrophic event." (Photo by ESAU OCAMPO / AFP) (Photo by ESAU OCAMPO/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
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Image 7 of 18People stand on the destroyed Saopin bridge due to the flooding of the Cangrajal river after the passage of tropical storm Sara in La Ceiba, Honduras, on November 15, 2024. Honduras' President Xiomara Castro said emergency services had been activated to deal with "damage already caused by the rains," warning that Sara's impacts "could become a catastrophic event." (Photo by ESAU OCAMPO / AFP) (Photo by ESAU OCAMPO/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![Strong winds from Tropical Storm Sara cause large waves in the municipality of Puerto Cortes, 240 km north of Tegucigalpa, on November 15, 2024.]()
Image 8 of 18Strong winds from Tropical Storm Sara cause large waves in the municipality of Puerto Cortes, 240 km north of Tegucigalpa, on November 15, 2024. (ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP via Getty Images)
![Strong winds from Tropical Storm Sara cause large waves in the municipality of Puerto Cortes, 240 km north of Tegucigalpa, on November 15, 2024.]()
Image 9 of 18Strong winds from Tropical Storm Sara cause large waves in the municipality of Puerto Cortes, 240 km north of Tegucigalpa, on November 15, 2024. (ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP via Getty Images)
![Members of the National Police monitor the level of rivers that have risen due to the rains in Choloma, Honduras, on November 15, 2024.]()
Image 10 of 18Members of the National Police monitor the level of rivers that have risen due to the rains in Choloma, Honduras, on November 15, 2024. (ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP via Getty Images)
![A man walks on a wharf ahead of the arrival of Tropical Storm Sara in West Bay, Roatan, Honduras on November 14, 2024.]()
Image 11 of 18A man walks on a wharf ahead of the arrival of Tropical Storm Sara in West Bay, Roatan, Honduras on November 14, 2024. (DAMIAN SCALFARO/AFP via Getty Images)
![A car drives through heavy fog ahead of the arrival of Tropical Storm Sara in Siguatepeque, Honduras on November 14, 2024.]()
Image 12 of 18A car drives through heavy fog ahead of the arrival of Tropical Storm Sara in Siguatepeque, Honduras on November 14, 2024. (ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP via Getty Images)
![Police officers in Islas de la Bahía are carrying out constant monitoring in the areas affected by the rain.]()
Image 13 of 18Police officers in Islas de la Bahía are carrying out constant monitoring in the areas affected by the rain. (@PoliciaHonduras)
![A car drives through heavy fog ahead of the arrival of tropical storm Sara in Siguatepeque, Honduras on November 14, 2024.]()
Image 14 of 18A car drives through heavy fog ahead of the arrival of tropical storm Sara in Siguatepeque, Honduras on November 14, 2024. (ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP via Getty Images)
![Flooding in Limon and Tocoa and along the Miel River in Honduras.]()
Image 15 of 18Flooding in Limon and Tocoa and along the Miel River in Honduras. (@PoliciaHonduras)
![Flooding in Limon and Tocoa and along the Miel River in Honduras.]()
Image 16 of 18Flooding in Limon and Tocoa and along the Miel River in Honduras. (@PoliciaHonduras)
![Flooding in Limon and Tocoa and along the Miel River in Honduras]()
Image 17 of 18Flooding in Limon and Tocoa and along the Miel River in Honduras (@PoliciaHonduras)
![Flooding in Limon and Tocoa and along the Miel River in Honduras]()
Image 18 of 18Flooding in Limon and Tocoa and along the Miel River in Honduras (@PoliciaHonduras)
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