Heavy rain lashes Central America after tropical storm Sara makes landfall in northern Honduras

Tropical Storm Sara hit the northern coast of Honduras late Thursday, bringing with it the threat of heavy rain and potential flooding across Central America and southern Mexico.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami reported that Sara made landfall approximately 105 miles west-northwest of Cabo Gracias a Dios, near the village of Brus Laguna. The storm packed winds of 45 miles per hour and was moving west at 10 miles per hour.

Mexican authorities have issued warnings about the potential for "intense rains" over the Yucatan Peninsula. The Hurricane Center forecasts Sara will produce 10 to 20 inches of rain, with some isolated areas potentially seeing up to 30 inches. This amount of rainfall significantly increases the risk of dangerous flooding and landslides.

Sara's projected path shows it moving westward before re-entering the sea and potentially impacting the Belize coastline. The storm is expected to pass near the Honduran island of Roatan on Sunday before turning northwest toward Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula.