MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Earl has been upgraded to a hurricane as the system bears down on Belize, threatening flash floods and mudslides.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says Earl had top sustained winds Wednesday of 75 mph (120 kph). It was moving west at 14 mph (22 kph) toward Belize and was about 150 miles (240 kilometers) east of Belize City.
A hurricane warning has been issued for the coast of Belize. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Honduran coast.
The government of Belize has opened emergency shelters and urged residents of the Central American nation to head to higher grounds ahead of tonight’s arrival of Hurricane Earl. It brushed by Honduras, leaving behind flooding and power outages. The National Hurricane Center says Earl will bring heavy rains, flooding and high winds to Belize and Mexico
Forecasters said Earl was threatening to bring heavy rains, flooding and high winds to Mexico, Belize and Honduras, and was likely to blow past Honduras’ Roatan Island, a popular tourist destination, on Wednesday afternoon.
On Sunday, Earl was a weaker tropical wave but knocked down power lines and started a fire that killed six passengers on a bus in the Dominican Republic.
According to Storm Team 8, the storm will likely have little if any impact on Tampa Bay area.
