Earl unleashes flooding rain in Central America despite weakening

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist

August 4,2016; 11:50PM,EDT

 

 

Earl will threaten lives and property as it moves westward across Central America and southern Mexico during the rest of the week.
Areas from northern Nicaragua and Honduras to Belize, northern Guatemala and the Mexican state of Quintana Roo will experience strong winds, flooding and pounding surf as Earl moves inland on a west-northwest path.
Earl became a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday afternoon, reaching a peak intensity of 80 mph (130 km/h) during Wednesday evening. Earl was downgraded to a tropical storm during Thursday morning.

Earl made landfall near Belize City, Belize, around 1 a.m. local time on Thursday as a Category 1 hurricane.
Despite Earl being downgraded, property damage and downed trees can still occur. Residents and visitors should be prepared for additional travel disruptions and sporadic power outages.
Heavy rainfall will continue to be released as Earl weakens while moving over land into early Friday.
"Through this weekend, the greatest danger from Earl will be from torrential rainfall, which can top 12 inches (300 mm) in some areas," Kottlowski said.

Rainfall rates of 1-2 inches (25-50 mm) per hour can occur. Rainfall of this intensity can lead to catastrophic flooding and mudslides. The worst conditions are expected over mountainous terrain.
In addition to flash flooding, major river flooding can occur along with road washouts and closures.
The Belize Tourism Board canceled all cruise ship calls for the rest of the week in preparation for Earl. They also shut down all archeological reserves and the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport.
The Belize National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) opened several shelters across the country in advance of Earl. They encouraged all residents and tourists in low-lying areas to seek shelter and move to higher ground.
Much of the country was without electricity Thursday morning, according to the Associated Press. In the capital of Belmopan, some roofs were torn off and trees were uprooted, the AP said.
Guatemalan authorities reported the collapse of a bridge in the town of Petén, according to El Salvador newspaper, Diario El Mundo.
A motorcycle lies in the debris of a collapsed bridge brought down by Hurricane Earl in the Arroyito neighborhood, in Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala, on the Peten border with Belize, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Luis Soto)
There is a chance Earl will trek over water once again. Should Earl drift over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico later Friday, the system could strengthen into a weak tropical storm prior to making another landfall.
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"Should Earl slip offshore on Friday, a final landfall near the city of Veracruz, Mexico, is likely to occur Friday night or early Saturday," Kottlowski said.
During Friday, coastal areas in the Mexico states of Campeche, Tabasco and Veracruz may experience building surf, coastal flooding and beach erosion in addition to the potential for flooding rainfall.
How much restrengthening occurs will affect the magnitude of impacts in east-central Mexico this weekend. However, even if remains over land for the duration, pockets of heavy rain and gusty thunderstorms will continue as the system moves westward over Mexico.
The risk of heavy rainfall and flooding will continue over the mountains of central Mexico into early next week.
Power lines collapsed by Hurricane Earl hinder traffic on the road from Flores, in Peten, the northern Guatemalan border state with Belize, Thursday, Aug. 4,2016.
A woman wades through flood waters outside her home in Dolores, in the northern Guatemalan border state Peten, Thursday, Aug. 4,2016.