Warning of waves of up to 13 feet in the Caribbean of Honduras due to potential tropical cyclone

Honduran authorities are warning that, starting this Thursday, there will be rough waves on the Caribbean coast due to tropical depression number 19, located about 180 kilometers east of Cabo de Gracias a Dios , which could become a tropical storm and later a hurricane.

If the tropical storm forms between this afternoon and evening, it will be named Sara , reported the Secretariat for National Risk Management and Contingencies (Copeco), based on the forecast from the National Center for Atmospheric, Oceanographic and Seismic Studies (Cenaos).

According to Cenaos, Sara is expected to remain semi-stationary for 96 hours, from Thursday to Sunday, in the northeast of the department of Gracias a Dios. The storm could become a hurricane on Saturday , and by Sunday it would be very close to the Bay Islands.

High waves

The winds associated with this phenomenon will cause strong waves on the Caribbean coast. This Thursday, waves will reach a height of between 2 and 4 feet, with maximums of 7 to 8 feet north of Colón and in Gracias a Dios.

By Friday, waves are expected to reach heights of 5 to 7 feet, with maximums of 9 to 12 feet in the Bay Islands, Colon and northern Gracias a Dios.

On Saturday, waves could reach 5 to 7 feet, with highs of 10 to 13 feet north of Colon and in Gracias a Dios.

In the Gulf of Fonseca, waves of between 2 and 4 feet will be recorded during the forecast period, according to Cenaos.

Recommendations

Copeco has recommended that the General Directorate of the Merchant Marine and port authorities implement preventive measures in accordance with their protocols, due to the possible altered waves that will affect all types of vessels on the Caribbean Coast.

Rain forecast

Meanwhile, for this Thursday, Cenaos forecasts rain and showers of varying intensity, accompanied by electrical activity in the northern and island regions and in the department of Gracias a Dios, due to the circulation of winds associated with the tropical disturbance.

In the west, center and east of the country, light to moderate and isolated rains are expected, while in the southern region, the transport of humidity from the Pacific Ocean will cause light to moderate rainfall.

Alerts

Given the forecast of heavy rains, Copeco  raised the  yellow alert  for the departments of Islas de la Bahía, Atlántida, Colón and Gracias a Dios.

 In addition, the departments of  Cortés, Yoro and Olancho remain on  green alert .

These alert levels will be in effect  for 72 hours, starting at 12:00 noon on Thursday, Copeco said.

Possible flooding

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) based in Miami, United States, warned today that due to the development of tropical phenomena, ” potentially life-threatening flash flooding is expected in Honduras during the weekend.”