Tropical Storm Sara forms in western Caribbean

ORLANDO, Fla. — Tropical Storm Sara formed Thursday afternoon in the western Caribbean.

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1:00 p.m. update:

Tropical Storm Sara has formed in the western Caribbean, with significant impacts becoming likely for Honduras.

The 1 pm advisory from the National Hurricane Center upgraded Tropical Depression Nineteen to a tropical storm, with winds of 40 mph.

The system is forecast to bring life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides expected in Honduras through the weekend.

Sara is now expected to move across the Yucatan late Sunday into Monday as a tropical depression, then lift north into the Gulf of Mexico.

Some long-range computer models continue to indicate the system may not survive the trip across the Yucatan.

If Sara does make it into the Gulf, the trend is for it to move northeastward, potentially towards Florida by the middle of next week.

Florida residents should continue to monitor this system, but the threat for impacts has lessened in the past 24 hours.

Stay with Channel 9 for the latest on the tropics.

11 a.m. update:

The National Hurricane Center said TD 19 currently has winds around 35 mph.

The depression formed early Thursday morning and is expected to become a tropical storm later today.

The system will graze Honduras Friday into the weekend, which could severely disrupt the organization of the depression.

How far inland the complex heads into Honduras will be critical to its long-term development.

The system is now expected to move across the Yucatan late Sunday into Monday as a tropical depression, then lift north into the Gulf of Mexico.

Some long-range computer models continue to indicate the system may not survive the trip across the Yucatan.

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If the complex does make it into the Gulf, the trend is for it to move northeastward, potentially toward Florida, by the middle of next week.

Florida residents should continue to monitor this system, but the threat for impacts has lessened in the past 24 hours.

Original report:

The Nation Hurricane Center confirmed Tropical Depression 19 formed early Thursday morning.

TD 19 is expected to become Tropical Storm Sara.

The system will continue to develop as it moves closer to Central America over the rest of the week.

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TD 19 will bring life-threatening flash flooding to parts of Central America this week.

It’s still too soon to know where the system will go, but some models predict the storm will reach Florida by the middle of next week.

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Channel 9 will continue to monitor all activity in the tropics and provide updates on Eyewitness News.

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• Brian Shields
• Kassandra Crimi
• David Heckard

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