Sara continues to pose a threat to Florida as hurricane trackers reveal the system’s latest path
The once powerful Tropical Storm Sara may have dissipated in the Gulf of Mexico, but forecasters have warned that its remnants still threaten Florida.
Meteorologists revealed Monday that the system, now a tropical rainstorm, could reach the Sunshine State by 9 a.m. ET Wednesday, bringing winds of up to 60 miles per hour and up to 12 inches of rain.
AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSalvia said, “It is important to note that there will be a dangerous risk of rip currents along the Gulf Coast Monday through Wednesday as a result of the tropical rainstorm.”
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Sara officially disappeared at 3 a.m. ET on Monday, saying it was no longer a threat as it moved into the Gulf.
AccuWeather, which has been monitoring Sara for more than a week, explained that there is a chance of isolated tornadoes forming and a coastal flooding advisory is in effect until 6 a.m. ET Tuesday in the coastal counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa.
Sara was upgraded to a tropical storm last week when it caused life-threatening flooding and mudslides in parts of Honduras, with up to 4 feet of rain falling in some areas.
The storm weakened as it passed over Belize and Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula on Sunday, losing some of its wind intensity and being downgraded to a tropical depression: a tropical cyclone with winds of 60 kilometers per hour or less.
The storm is expected to reach Florida early Wednesday, bringing at least two to four inches of rain to the area. Pictured: A satellite image of the approaching storm as it approaches the Florida Panhandle
Sara developed into a tropical storm in the Caribbean Sea last week, bringing 40 inches of rain to Honduras. The storm weakened as it crossed Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula and was downgraded to a tropical depression
The NHC reported that “satellite images and surface observations indicate that Sara no longer has a well-organized circulatory system and has therefore degenerated into a trough of low pressure.”
Still, AccuWeather has labeled Sara a tropical rainstorm and said at least two to four inches of rain will fall from eastern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle.
“Some of Sara’s tropical moisture will be lifted northeastward over the Gulf,” Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist told USA today.
“That additional moisture could be enough to lead to flooding and perhaps even severe thunderstorms in Florida by mid-week.”
Sara will merge with the cold front in the Gulf of Mexico before moving east toward Florida on Wednesday.
“All that associated moisture that is very rich and tropical is expected to move north and interact with this front that should move across the lower Mississippi Valley,” National Weather Service meteorologist Israel Gonzalez told reporters. Service in Tallahassee. Tallahassee Democrat.
“So the combination of these two features will really increase our rain chances for the Tallahassee area.”
The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Sara had dissipated by 3 a.m. Monday, but AccuWeather warned that Florida could see heavy rain and flooding from the storm’s remnants.
AccuWeather meteorologists warned that areas along the Gulf Coast could see heavy rainfall of up to 12 inches
Wind speeds could reach 40 to 60 miles per hour, causing tornadoes to develop in Florida and creating dangerous currents along the Gulf Coast
The Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean have been a hotspot for tropical storm and hurricane development this season due to warmer-than-average temperatures extending 300 to 400 feet below the ocean surface.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an average hurricane season produces fourteen named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.
However, the agency predicted earlier this year that there would be an “above average” number of storms.
Sara is the 18th named storm of the 2024 hurricane season and is the third this month due to record-breaking warm waters in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
While there is always the possibility that a tropical or subtropical storm could form in the Atlantic Ocean in early December, DaSilva said it is unlikely to impact the U.S. for the rest of the year.