Hurricane forecasters tracking Lisa – and now Martin
Tropical Storm Lisa got stronger on Tuesday morning as it continued to track across the Caribbean toward Central America.
The National Hurricane Center said Lisa could strengthen to a hurricane overnight. Landfall is expected on Wednesday in Belize.
The hurricane center was also tracking another storm — the newly named Tropical Storm Martin — on Tuesday, but Martin was in the central Atlantic. Martin could also become a hurricane on Wednesday.
Neither storm is a threat to the U.S.
Martin is not expected to threaten land at all. As of 10 a.m. CDT Tuesday, Tropical Storm Martin was located about 550 miles east-northeast of Bermuda and was moving eastward at 12 mph.
Tropical Storm Martin got its name on Tuesday morning and could become a hurricane on Wednesday.
Martin had 50 mph winds. The hurricane center said Martin could strengthen to a hurricane Wednesday night before transitioning to an extratropical storm on Thursday.
Martin is the 13th named storm of 2022 in the Atlantic.
To the south and west is Tropical Storm Lisa, which has strengthened as it heads in the direction of Central America.
As of 10 a.m. CDT Tuesday, Tropical Storm Lisa was located about 430 miles east of Belize City and was moving west at 14 mph.
Tropical Storm Lisa could become a hurricane overnight.
Lisa had 60 mph winds on Tuesday. It could become a hurricane overnight, the hurricane center said.
A hurricane warning is now in effect for the Bay Islands of Honduras.
A hurricane watch continues for the coasts of Belize and Mexico from north of Puerto Barrios to Puerto Costa Maya.
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the entire north coast of Honduras, the entire north coast of Guatemala and in Mexico from Chetumal to Punta Herrero.
The hurricane center said on the forecast track the center of Lisa will pass south of the Cayman Islands today, move near or over the Bay Islands of Honduras early Wednesday, and approach Belize later on Wednesday.
Forecasters said hurricane conditions are possible in the Bay Islands beginning early Wednesday and are possible along the coast of Belize Wednesday afternoon.
Rainfall and storm surge projections have increased this morning for Lisa.
Lisa could bring 4 to 6 inches of rain with local amounts to 10 inches to parts of Belize and the Bay Islands of Honduras.
A storm surge of 4 to 6 feet will also be possible along the coast of Belize. One to 3 feet of surge will be possible for the Bay Islands.