Central America and Caribbean braced for heavy rains and flood alerts

Meteorological agencies across the region are warning of widespread heavy rainfall this week.

In El Salvador, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) reported a 90% chance that a low‑pressure area off the Gulf of Fonseca will develop into a tropical depression, bringing strong showers and thunderstorms to the volcanic chain, the San Salvador metropolitan area, Santa Ana and northern districts, with temperatures ranging from 24 °C to 36 °C.

The Dominican Republic’s Instituto Dominicano de Meteorología (Indomet) issued flood alerts for more than a dozen provinces, citing strong afternoon showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds, while high temperatures are expected nationwide.

Honduras faces a surface trough and the EP92 disturbance, which the National Hurricane Center rates at 90% probability of cyclogenesis. The system is expected to produce electrical storms across most of the country, especially the southwest, south, east, centre and north, with rain totals up to 60 mm and ocean swells of up to eight feet in the Gulf of Fonseca.

A broader low‑pressure system in the Pacific is projected to evolve into a tropical storm that could affect El Salvador, Guatemala and the Yucatán Peninsula, bringing further moisture and flooding risk.

Peru’s National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (Senamhi) placed 52 jungle provinces under a light‑to‑moderate rain alert, urging local authorities to clear evacuation routes and strengthen housing roofs.

Overall, the second week of June is expected to see an increased risk of flooding and the possible emergence of the Atlantic season’s first tropical cyclone, prompting continuous monitoring by civil protection agencies throughout the region.