Tropical Storm Alma slams into Nicaragua by Kirsty McCabe
The first tropical storm of the Eastern Pacific season approached Central America and made landfall in Nicaragua this morning.
Alma hit land near the city of Leon with sustained winds of 55mph (90km/h) and gusts of 65mph (105km/h). There was widespread damage to property and many trees were blown over blocking roads and knocking down power lines. Over 150,000 people are without electricity and telephone services.
Tropical storm Alma intensified from a tropical depression while it was off the coast of Central America in the east Pacific. The storm took forecasters by surprise when it intensified quickly just before making landfall. Fortunately for Nicaragua, tropical storm Alma hit land before it could become a hurricane. Alma will now continue to weaken over land, but could still bring torrential rain and flash flooding to Honduras as it moves further into Central America. Authorities have been warning the Honduran public to evacuate from low-lying areas due to fears of flash flooding and mudslides.
Central America is particularly at risk from tropical storms which can strike from both the eastern Pacific side, or from the Atlantic side. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch, which deeply intensified over the warm Gulf of Mexico, devastated large parts of Central America killing over 10,000 people.