US weather: Week of destruction looms as Tropical Storm Sara set to unleash ‘catastrophic floods’

Although Sara is weakening despite fears she would gain hurricane status, she retains enough clout to unleash a week of disruption.

Storm trackers show the dying storm sweeping the Gulf of Mexico through the coming days and crossing Florida.

AccuWeather meteorologist Jon Porter said: “Torrential rainfall from Sara is triggering a catastrophic flooding disaster in the mountains of Honduras.

“We expect this storm to be flung toward Florida by the middle of the week with heavy downpours and localised flooding.

“This is a life-threatening storm with the risk of mudslides and road washouts. “Remote communities in steep terrain could be cut off, and we’re concerned about the possibility of a humanitarian crisis.”

Meteorologist Bernie Rayno added: “If this storm was just 50 or 60 miles farther north over warm waters and away from land, we’d likely be dealing with a hurricane.”

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Meanwhile, a separate inland storm is flexing its muscles across New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa.

The US National Weather Service has issued wind warnings around the Florida coast with flood alerts in force further inland.

The deep low-pressure system sweeping east will clash with Sara as she meets the Atlantic coast.

It is feared to become the biggest and most far-reaching storm of the season and will target already flooded regions.

AccuWeather meteorologist Dan DePodwin said: “This could be the most significant and widespread storm of the fall season so far, and Oklahoma City has already picked up almost seven inches of rainfall this month, which is very unusual.

“Hail, flash flooding, damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes are possible, and the severe weather threat could extend well into the night-time and the early morning hours, so make sure you have a way to receive severe weather alerts, so you can get to safety if a tornado warning is issued overnight.”

Meanwhile, Sara is hurtling across the Caribbean and into the Gulf of Mexico putting the US coast on alert for knock-on impacts.

It is the latest tropical storm to hit the region, following Helene and Milton earlier in the autumn.

People in the region are urged to keep up to date with forecasts and brace for tropical wind and rain impacts.

A NOAA spokesman said: “Heavy rainfall is a concern throughout the central and eastern Gulf Coast early this week as an approaching cold front interacts with a surge of tropical moisture associated with Tropical Storm Sara.

“As an unusually deep low-pressure system moves northwards on Tuesday, the chance of rainfall will spread into the Upper Midwest.

“Snow is also likely to develop across parts of North Dakota and could be heavy at times through Wednesday morning.”