Parts of Central America could still see life-threatening flash flooding as Tropical Depression Eta continues to pummel the region with unrelenting rain before heading toward the US coast.
Eta might have weakened to 35 mph winds, but the lingering tropical depression is still forecast to dump another 5 to 10 inches of rain in some areas of Central America. That means parts of eastern Honduras and eastern Nicaragua — which have already been inundated by heavy rain — could see up to 40 inches of rainfall total over the course of the storm.
As of Thursday afternoon, the storm was about 60 miles west of the city of La Ceiba along Honduras’ northern coast, and it was moving at just 8 mph.
“Because of the slow-moving nature of this storm, it has resulted in catastrophic rainfall and sets up the potential for deadly landslides and flash flooding,” said CNN meteorologist Jennifer Gray.
The NHC warned this could produce “catastrophic, life-threatening flash flooding and river flooding,” and landslides in parts of Central America with higher terrain.
“The mountainous terrain across Central America makes it even more vulnerable when it comes to flash flooding and landslides,” Gray said.
The threat of flooding extended to the Cayman Islands and Cuba, which could see another 10 to 20 inches of rain, the NHC said, while areas of southeastern Mexico and Jamaica could see another 2 to 5 inches of rain.
The Cayman Islands were under a tropical storm watch, per the NHC.
Eta made landfall along the coast of Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane Tuesday afternoon, devastating the region.
At least four people have died in Guatemala, including two children, according to the Guatemala Civil Protection Authorities. Those deaths are linked to two landslides, according to Dave de León, spokesman for the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED).
More than 1,800 people have been evacuated and 400 are in shelters, according to the latest government count. Additionally, more than 33,000 people have been impacted by landslides and floods, leaving several communities isolated.
In Honduras, President Juan Orlando Hernández said Thursday the rainfall from Eta posed a risk to the country. Honduras’ Permanent Contingency Commission said on Wednesday that more than 2,000 people were evacuated and that Eta destroyed five bridges, 14 roads and 339 homes.
After making landfall, the storm’s intensity weakened quickly, dropping to a tropical depression by Wednesday evening.
But Eta is expected to strengthen back into a tropical storm as it moves over the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Friday, the NHC said, before approaching the Cayman Islands on Saturday.
The storm’s future track remains uncertain, but the NHC warned that the effects of Eta’s wind and rain could be felt in southern Florida and the Florida Keys this weekend and early next week.
There is still a lot of uncertainty about the strength with which Eta will reach the US coast, but it is likely to continue to bring heavy rain, life-threatening flash flooding, river flooding and landslides, CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam said.
But rainfall totals depend on Eta’s track, the NHC cautioned.
“Many computer forecast models agree this storm will regenerate over the northwestern Caribbean Sea on Friday and track toward Cuba,” said CNN meteorologist Judson Jones. “Once the cyclone moves over Cuba, the models are consistent in showing the impacts to southern Florida, but not exactly where those impacts will be — leaving low confidence in precisely where this storm could go at the beginning of next week.”
“It could mean one landfall or even two landfalls in Florida,” he added. “Anywhere from Miami, all the way around to Pensacola.”
Southern Florida is already saturated from an active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, which has tied with 2005 for the record number of named storms in a single season.
CNN’s Madeline Holcombe, Juan Paz, Jaide Timm-Garcia, Brandon Miller, Jason Hanna, Theresa Waldrop and Michael Guy contributed to this report.
Regulators authorized AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for use in adults throughout the European Union on Friday, amid criticism the bloc is not moving fast enough to vaccinate its population.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former FBI lawyer was sentenced to probation for altering an email that the Justice Department relied on during its surveillance of an aide to President Donald Trump during the Russia investigation.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers lashed out Friday at rival Republicans who tried to repeal his statewide mask mandate, saying killing the order would be a ridiculous move comparable to abolishing speed limits.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — As some conservatives in South Carolina celebrated getting a bill that would ban almost all abortions in the state past a legislative barrier and likely becoming law, they said they are not finished trying to end all abortions.
A Moscow court on Friday put the brother and several allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny under house arrest for two months as authorities sought to stymie more protests over the jailing of the top Kremlin foe.