Tropical Storm Cristina Approaches Central America, Alerts Issued

Tropical Storm Cristina is approaching Central America, with alerts issued across multiple countries. The Civil Protection Agency of El Salvador announced the closure of schools on Tuesday and Wednesday due to the risk of landslides and flooding.

Lui Alonso Amaya, the director of the agency, stated that 180 shelters have been established nationwide in anticipation of heavy rainfall over the next three days. In Guatemala, authorities expect the heaviest rainfall to occur along the coast and in the central altiplano valleys.

Nicaraguan co-president Rosario Murillo urged residents to stay away from the coast as heavy rains are expected to intensify by Sunday. Honduras' emergency management authorities have issued alerts for nine regions.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami reported that Tropical Storm Cristina is approaching the Central American coast with sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (40 miles per hour) and is expected to bring 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters) of rain, with up to 12 inches possible in coastal areas of Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala by Thursday morning. This rainfall may produce life-threatening floods and mudslides, especially in steep terrain.