Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Tropical Depression Sara has formed into a tropical storm and is on a new trajectory that will still affect a majority of Quintana Roo. While no longer expected to rapidly intensify into a major hurricane, at least not while over the Caribbean, it is expected to affect a majority of the Peninsula.
Local Civil Protection says Tropical Storm Sara is approximately 330 kilometers east-southeast of Guanaja Island, Honduras and 610 kilometers east-southeast of Puerto Costa Maya, Quintana Roo.
At the moment, Sara is packing maximum winds of 65 kms/h with gusts up to 85 kms/h while traveling westbound at 19 kms/h. According to Coordinación Estatal de Protección Civil QRoo, a Blue Alert has been issued for the south of Quintana Roo ahead of Sara’s inevitable arrival.
The municipalities of Bacalar, Othón P. Blanco, José María Morelos and Felipe Carrillo Puerto will be the hardest hit by the storm’s passing. At least on its current forecast trajectory. According to AccuWeather, wind and rain from Sarah will have an impact on the entire state of Quintana Roo.
On Wednesday, AccuWeather had forecast Sarah to intensify into a major hurricane as it passed by Cancun and Riviera Maya into the Gulf of Mexico. On Thursday, that trajectory changed and now has Sara heading into the Gulf by crossing the bottom of the Yucatan Peninsula instead.
According to the National Hurricane Centre (NOAA), Sara is forecast to approach Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula early next week where there is a risk of strong winds. The NOAA says it is too soon to determine Sara’s full impacts.
However, the NOAA reports the likeliness of heavy rains for a majority of Quintana Roo and says residents in these areas should continue to monitor Sara’s progress.
