Watch Out, Central America: Storm Sara is Coming

Get ready, Central America! Tropical Storm Sara is on its way, and it's packing a punch. This storm is expected to hit the Caribbean soon and could bring serious problems to parts of Central America. Scientists are warning that the storm might reach the US next week, so people living on the eastern Gulf Coast, including Florida, should keep an eye on the forecast. You might be thinking, "It's November, aren't hurricanes supposed to be winding down? " Well, this season has been anything but normal. The Atlantic hurricane season should be slowing down, but instead, we're seeing a third named storm this month. All thanks to unusually warm water caused by climate change. Right now, the storm is a Tropical Depression known as Nineteen. It's in the Caribbean Sea, near the border of Honduras and Nicaragua, with winds up to 35 mph. As it moves over the warm water of the western Caribbean, it's expected to strengthen and become a tropical storm by this weekend. Alerts have been issued for parts of Honduras and Nicaragua. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain and flooding, with some areas potentially getting up to 30 inches of rain. That could lead to dangerous flash flooding and mudslides. After hitting Central America, the storm could move towards Belize and the Yucatán Peninsula, bringing strong winds and storm surges. But what about the US? Well, it's still too early to tell for sure. The forecast is uncertain, and a lot depends on how close the storm gets to the coast of Honduras. There are a few scenarios. If the storm hits land in Honduras, it could weaken. But if it stays over the warm water, it could get stronger. Sea surface temperatures in the Caribbean are the second-warmest on record, so this could fuel the storm's growth. We've already seen five hurricanes hit the US Gulf Coast this year. If Sara hits, it could challenge the record for the latest landfalling hurricane. Remember, the hurricane season ends on November 30, but named storms can form even in December.