Central America on alert as Tropical Storm Cristina approaches

Central America is bracing for the impact of Tropical Storm Cristina, which is forecast to bring torrential rain and dangerous storm surges to the region. Civil protection agencies in El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Honduras have placed their countries on high alert as the storm intensifies.

In El Salvador, the Ministry of Education announced school closures for Tuesday and Wednesday, anticipating landslides, flooding, and other hazards. Luis Alonso Amaya, director of civil protection, stated that 180 shelters have been established nationwide to accommodate those displaced by the anticipated heavy rainfall over the next three days.

Guatemalan authorities expect the most severe rainfall along the coast, the central highlands, and eastern valleys. Nicaraguan co-president Rosario Murillo has urged residents to avoid coastal areas due to intensifying rains since Sunday. Honduras has issued alerts for nine of its regions.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami reported that Cristina was approaching the Central American coast with sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour. Forecasters predict 10 to 20 centimeters of rain, with up to 30 centimeters possible in coastal areas of Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala through Thursday morning. The NHC warned of life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in steep terrain, and cautioned about possible coastal flooding from storm surge.

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This rainfall may produce life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain. Coastal flooding from storm surge is possible in areas of onshore winds.