Central America weather hazards and benefits assessment for 02 - 08 Oct 2008
Hazards Assessment Text Explanation:
A tropical wave passage during the last observation period produced copious amounts of precipitation across the western Caribbean, affecting many local areas of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. According to satellite rain estimates, the highest totals were observed near the Gulf of Fonseca region (> 200mm), with increased totals ranging between 100 to 200 mm over many of the flood affected regions in Guatemala. In the Huhuetenango department of Guatemala, heavy rains this past week resulted in a landslide in the San Miguel municipality, damaging infrastructure and killing at least 4 people.
In southeastern Guatemala, above-average September rainfall (between 125 and 175 percent) has also impacted many municipalities in the Escuintla, Santa Rosa, Jutiapa, and El Progresso departments. Infrastructure damage, landslides, and losses in maize crop have been reported over the past two weeks due to the heavy rains. Along the Ulua and Chamelecon River Basins in western Honduras, above-average rainfall continues to cause localized flooding in the Copan, Ocotepeque, Santa Barbara and Cortes departments. Local authorities have issued alerts for the Ocotepeque and Copan departments due to the rising river levels.
Precipitation forecasts for the October 2nd to October 8th observation period indicate another week of abundant rainfall in the western Caribbean. Rainfall amounts in excess of 100 mm are expected across many of the flood affected regions of Guatemala and Honduras. Heavy totals the Gulf of Honduras may lead to localized flooding in the Izabal department of Guatemala, as well as worsen ground conditions in western Honduras. Further south, another week of heavy rains is expected to impact the Gulf of Nicoya region of Costa Rica.