Tropical Storm Cristina approaches Central America, prompting authorities in several countries to put emergency measures in place ahead of anticipated heavy rainfall and possible storm surge. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports that Cristina is moving toward the Central American coast with sustained winds around 65 km/h, and is expected to bring 10–20 cm of rain, with locally higher totals possible along coastal areas of Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala through Thursday morning. The NHC warns that the rainfall may cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in steep terrain, and that onshore winds could lead to coastal flooding.
In El Salvador, the education ministry suspends classes at schools and universities for Tuesday and Wednesday due to landslide and flooding risks. Civil protection authorities have set up 180 shelters nationwide and have ordered fishermen in parts of the coast to remain in port as waves lash shore areas. In Guatemala, officials expect the heaviest rainfall along the coast, the central Altiplano and eastern valleys. In Nicaragua, co-president Rosario Murillo urges residents to stay away from the coast, while Honduras issues alerts for nine regions.
