The remnants of Tropical Storm Matthew drenched parts of Central America and southern Mexico on Sunday, a day after it weakened to a tropical depression.
The storm’s forward movement was slowing as its top winds fell, meaning it could become nearly stationary somewhere over Mexico by later in the day. Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said the slow pace would allow the storm to produce rainfall totals of 6 to 10 (15 to 25 centimeters) inches over parts of Guatemala and southern Mexico. The rain threatened to cause flash floods and mudslides.
The Hurricane Center issued its last advisory on Matthew as the storm continued to lose strength. It had maximum sustained winds of about 25 mph (35 kph) Sunday morning, and its center was located about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southeast of Villahermosa, Mexico.
Meanwhile, far from land in the open Atlantic, Lisa weakened to a tropical depression early Sunday with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph). Further weakening is expected.
Guatemalan authorities on Saturday urged people to stay off the roads as floods hit several towns in eastern and northern Guatemala.
Civil Defense operations commander Sergio Cabanas said flooding was reported in Izabal and Peten provinces, and there were concerns about people staying in their homes.
“The problem is that people have refused to be taken to shelters, because they want to keep watch on their possessions” out of fear of looting, Cabanas said.
In recent months, Guatemala has been hit by heavy rains that have resulted in about 274 deaths and about $1.1 billion in damage, according to government estimates.
In neighboring Belize, officials began evacuating people in three towns near the border with Guatemala after flood waters rose, said Peter Eden Martinez, the Cabinet representative in charge of emergency precautions for the flood-prone southern region.
In Mexico, the country’s National Water Commission said it was preparing for rains with efforts to widen and deepen channels below dams as needed. Southern Mexico has also been hit by severe flooding in recent months.
Matthew made landfall as a tropical storm Friday on Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast and quickly crossed into Honduras. It toppled power lines and left thousands without power for hours in Honduras.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
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