BELMOPAN – Tropical Storm Sara Sunday made landfall in Belize, where forecasters expect heavy rain to cause potentially deadly flash flooding and mudslides.

The storm moved inland from Belize after flood the northern coast of Honduraswhere it has been stagnating since Friday, causing rivers to swell and trapping some people in their homes.

The tropical storm warning issued Sunday by the U.S. National Hurricane Center included the Caribbean coast of Guatemala; the coast of Belize; and northward on the coast of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, from Chetumal to Puerto Costa Maya.

These areas, along with parts of El Salvador and western Nicaragua, could see up to 5 inches (13 cm), with localized totals reaching 15 inches (38 cm). The conditions “will result in areas of flash flooding, possibly significant flooding, as well as potential landslides,” according to the Hurricane Center.

“A storm surge could raise water levels to 1 to 3 feet above ground level near and north of where the center of Sara crosses the coast of Belize,” a indicated Sunday the center. “Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.”

Meanwhile, northern Honduras is not yet safe. The center expects Sara to drop up to 3 inches of rain there, but in some areas the total could reach 40 inches (1 meter), with “catastrophic and life-threatening flooding” still possible.