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

The center of the storm is expected to make landfall in Belize late morning or around noon, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center. This comes after Sara flooded 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 by the Hurricane Center on Sunday included the Bay Islands of Honduras as well as the country’s northern coast from Punta Castilla to its border with Guatemala; the Caribbean coast of Guatemala; The coast of Belize and northward to the coast of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, from Chetumal to Puerto Costa Maya.

The storm could drop up to 10 inches (25 cm) of rain in the region, with localized totals reaching 15 inches (38 cm), through early next week. 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.”