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Tropical Storm Sara

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This article is about the 2024 Atlantic tropical storm. For other similarly named storms, see List of storms named Sarah.
Tropical Storm Sara
Tropical Storm Sara off the coast of Honduras on November 15
Meteorological history
Formed14 November 2024
Dissipated18 November 2024
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds50 mph (85 km/h)
Lowest pressure997 mbar (hPa); 29.44 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities12
Missing2
Damage>$97.4 million (2024 USD)
Areas affected
Part of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season

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

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Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

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

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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]

President of Honduras Xiomara Castro declared a state of emergency for the nation.[24] Six departments in Honduras were placed under red warning and four under yellow.[25][26] Golosón and Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airports in Honduras were closed.[27] American and United Airlines waived some fees related to flight rescheduling.[28] Around 4,000 Hondurans moved to shelters as a result of Sara.[29]

The government of Belize's National Emergency Management Office activated its district committees.[30] The Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology canceled classes for November 18.[23] Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport was closed.[31] From Middle Caye, 650 people left for the mainland.[31] Public transportation in San Pedro Town was suspended.[31]

In Mexico, the government rushed to repair buildings that lost their roofs due to strong winds earlier in the week.[32]

Impact

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Deaths by country
Country Deaths
Dominican Republic 2
Haiti 1
Nicaragua 2
Honduras 7
Total 12

Hispanola

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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

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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]

In Belize, Ambergris Caye saw flooding and beach erosion due to Sara.[31] Downtown San Ignacio was inundated.[45] Communities along the Mopan and Macal Rivers were acutely affected by Sara.[46] Dams began to overflow as well.[46] Celebrations related to Garifuna Settlement Day were disrupted by Sara.[47]

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

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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]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Henson, Bob; Masters, Jeff (14 November 2024). "Tropical Storm Sara forms in the Western Caribbean, threatens Honduras". New Haven, Connecticut: Yale Climate Connection. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  2. ^ Čejka, Tomáš; Elizondo, Antonio; Hotový, Ondřej; Lörinc, Michal (22 November 2024). "Weekly Cat Report November 22, 2024" (PDF). aonunited.com. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  3. ^ Reinhart, Brad (11 November 2024). Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  4. ^ Kelly, Larry (13 November 2024). Tropical Weather Outlook (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b Kelly, Larry (13 November 2024). Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen Discussion Number 1 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  6. ^ Yablonski, Steven. "Potential Tropical Cyclone 19 forms, forecast to become Tropical Storm Sara and possibly impact Florida". FOX Weather. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  7. ^ Suter, Ashley (14 November 2024). "Tropical Depression Nineteen forms in the Caribbean; expected to become tropical storm today". Tampa Bay, Florida: WFLA. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  8. ^ Czachor, Emily Mae (14 November 2024). "Tropical Storm Sara forms in the Caribbean". CBS News. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  9. ^ Reinhart, Brad (14 November 2024). Tropical Storm Sara Discussion Number 6 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  10. ^ a b Castillo, Moisés (15 November 2024). "Belize issues warnings as Tropical Storm Sara scrapes along Honduran coast, bringing heavy rain". AP News. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  11. ^ Papin, Philippe (15 November 2024). Tropical Storm Sara Discussion Number 8 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Un Muerto Y Más De 47 Mil Personas Afectadas Por Tormenta Sara En Honduras; Seguirán Lluvia Oleaje Alto" [One Dead And More Than 47,000 People Affected By Storm Sara In Honduras; Rains And High Waves Will Continue]. El Universal. EFE. 16 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  13. ^ Filips, Sara (16 November 2024). "Tropical Storm Sara nearly stationary, dumping heavy rainfall over central America". Tampa Bay, Florida: WFLA-TV. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  14. ^ Papin, Philippe (16 November 2024). Tropical Storm Sara Discussion Number 13 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  15. ^ Cangialosi, John (17 November 2024). Tropical Storm Sara Advisory Number 15 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  16. ^ Papin, Philippe (17 November 2024). Tropical Storm Sara Discussion Number 16 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  17. ^ Papin, Philippe (17 November 2024). Tropical Depression Sara Intermediate Advisory Number 16A (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  18. ^ Reinhart, Brad (17 November 2024). Tropical Depression Sara Discussion Number 18 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  19. ^ Cangialosi, John (18 November 2024). Remnants Of Sara Discussion Number 19 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  20. ^ Girod, Brandon (20 November 2024). "Coldest temperatures of the season will follow Tropical Storm Sara remnants in Florida". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  21. ^ Bridges, C. A. "National Hurricane Center tracking Tropical Storm Sara, will Florida be affected?". The DestinLog.com. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  22. ^ Kelly, Larry (15 November 2024). Tropical Storm Sara Advisory Number 9 (Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  23. ^ a b "Belize: All-clear given as TS Sara weakens after making landfall". Loop Caribbean News. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  24. ^ a b c "Tropical Storm Sara Causes Severe Flooding in Honduras and Costa Rica". The Tico Times. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Cortés, en alerta roja por los estragos de la tormenta Sara en Honduras" [Cortés, in red alert for the ravages of Storm Sara in Honduras]. La Prensa (in Spanish). San Pedro Sula. 16 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  26. ^ Benitez, Kevin (16 November 2024). "Elevan a alerta roja un departamento más del norte del país". Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  27. ^ "Cierran dos aeropuertos por fuertes lluvias: ¿Cuáles están operando?". El Heraldo (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  28. ^ "Tropical Storm Sara to cause flooding across Central America". The Yucatan Times. 15 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  29. ^ a b "Tropical Depression Sara drenches Honduras and closes airports, at least one dead". Reuters. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  30. ^ "Tropical Storm Warning Extended to Entire Belize Coast". Love FM Belize. 15 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  31. ^ a b c d "Tropical Storm Sara approaches Belize; heavy rainfall registered on the Cayes". San Pedro Sun. 16 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  32. ^ a b "Extensive bands of Tropical Storm Sara soaks coast". Riviera Maya News. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  33. ^ "Lluvias dejan más de 50 comunidades incomunicadas" [Rains leave more than 50 communities isolated]. El Día (in Spanish). 13 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  34. ^ "Haiti - Floods (UN OCHA, NOAA-CPC) (ECHO Daily Flash of 18 November 2024)". ReliefWeb. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  35. ^ "Tormenta Tropical Sara: Dos muertos y 1,600 familias afectadas en Nicaragua, reporta SINAPRED". 100noticias.com.ni. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  36. ^ "Un desaparecido, un herido y más de 2000 afectados por tormenta Sara en Nicaragua" [One missing, one injured and more than 2000 affected by storm Sara in Nicaragua]. Confidencial (in Spanish). 16 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  37. ^ Buschschlüter, Vanessa (18 November 2024). "Storm Sara: Hundreds of Honduran villages cut off by rain". BBC. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
  38. ^ "Aguaceros Generados Por Sara Colapsan Puente En Honduras" [Sara-Generated Showers Collapse Bridge In Honduras]. Tribuna Campeche (in Spanish). 15 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  39. ^ "Crecida del río Bermejo arrasa con puente peatonal en la Flor de Cuba de SPS" [Cresting of the River Bermejo sweeps with a pedestrian bridge in the Flor de Cuba de SPS]. La Prensa (in Spanish). 16 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  40. ^ "Un muerto y más de 47.000 personas afectadas por la tormenta tropical Sara en Honduras" [One dead and at least 47,000 people affected by Tropical Storm Sara in Honduras]. La Tribuna. 16 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  41. ^ "Accidente de tránsito en Santa Cruz de Yojoa deja un muerto y una herida" [Transit accident in Santa Cruz de Yojoa has one dead and another injured]. La Tribuna (in Spanish). 16 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  42. ^ a b "Los seis hondureños víctimas de la tormenta Sara". La Prensa (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  43. ^ Yablonski, Steven (12 November 2024). "Sara dissipates after producing deadly flooding, mudslides across Central America". FOX Weather. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  44. ^ "Pérdidas 2.468 millones lempiras tormenta Sara - Latinoamerica - Ansa.it". Agenzia ANSA (in Italian). 29 November 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  45. ^ "Cayo District Faces Flooding as Tropical Storm Sara Approaches". Love FM Belize. 15 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  46. ^ a b "Tropical Storm Sara Brings Devastating Floods to Western Belize". Love FM Belize. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  47. ^ Cowo, Janelle (21 November 2024). "Island celebrations for Garifuna Settlement Day dampened by Tropical Storm Sara". The San Pedro Sun. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  48. ^ "Cuba expresses solidarity with Nicaragua, hit by Tropical Storm Sara". Prensa Latina. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  49. ^ "Más de 100,000 afectados en Centroamérica por la tormenta Sara". El Diario NY. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  50. ^ "Flooding in Chetumal due to tropical storm Sara". The Yucatan Times. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  51. ^ "FUERTES LLUVIAS DEJAN SÓLO AFECTACIONES MENORES: Saldo blanco en Chetumal, tras paso de la tormenta tropical "Sara"" [HEAVY RAINS LEAVES ONLY MINOR IMPACT: Chetumal remains untouched after the passage of tropical storm "Sara"]. Noticaribe (in Spanish). 17 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
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