Tropical Storm Cristina Threatens Central America: Heavy Rain and Flooding Risk Raise Alerts

Tropical Storm Cristina Threatens

Risk of Flash Flooding

Alert in Central America

Tropical Storm Cristina is moving off the Central American coast, advancing parallel to El Salvador while increasing rainfall in several countries across the region.

The system is located about 160 kilometers south-southeast of San Salvador, with sustained winds of 64 km/h and a slow westward movement of approximately 5 km/h.

Current conditions have led to the issuance of a tropical storm warning from Puerto Sandino, Nicaragua, to the border between Guatemala and El Salvador.

If it makes landfall as a tropical storm, Cristina would mark only the third phenomenon of this type in El Salvador’s history, a fact that reflects the unusual nature of the event.

Heavy Rain Raises the Risk of Flash Flooding

Tropical Storm Cristina Threatens Central America-Photo: Shutterstock

The National Hurricane Center, or NHC, warned that the greatest danger does not come only from the wind, but from persistent rainfall already affecting wide areas.

Widespread rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are expected, with localized amounts that could reach up to 12 inches in specific areas.

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These conditions increase the likelihood of potentially life-threatening flash floods in Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala through midweek.

Experts expect the system could weaken Thursday after moving inland, although its moisture bands will continue generating significant rainfall.

Moisture Could Extend Toward Mexico

As Cristina advances and eventually turns northwest, moisture associated with the system could move toward southern Mexico.

The forecast indicates that some areas near the Bay of Campeche could receive tropical rainfall by the weekend.

This behavior is occurring in a context of sea surface temperatures notably above the seasonal average in the eastern Pacific.

The sustained increase in these temperatures over the coming weeks could favor more suitable conditions for the development of new tropical systems.

Cyclone Season Follows the Expected Pattern

While Cristina keeps Central America on alert, another recent system has already weakened in the region.

On Tuesday, the dissipation of Boris over southern Mexico was confirmed, after it had briefly strengthened into a tropical storm in the eastern Pacific with winds of 64 km/h.

Boris made landfall the same night it reached tropical storm status, weakening rapidly after entering Mexican territory.

The development of these phenomena coincides with the usual eastern Pacific calendar, where the first named storm typically forms around June 10, in line with the expected behavior of the season, Fox Weather reported.