On Friday, September 24th, tropical storm Matthew strengthened off Nicaragua and is expected to hit Nicaragua and Honduras latter in the day. Matthew is forecast to gain more strength during the next 48 hours and could become a hurricane late today. Tropical storm Matthew is expected to affect Belize and the Yucatan peninsula in southern Mexico in the coming days. Heavy downpours, flash floods and strong winds are expected in affected areas.
Each year, hurricanes cause serious damages to Central America. The hurricane season, currently ongoing, runs from June to November. A tropical storm has maximum sustained winds between 39 miles per hour (63 km/h) and 73 miles per hour (117 km/h), while a hurricane is a system with sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour (119 km/h).
If a hurricane is likely to occur in your area, you should stay informed through the radio or TV and follow the authorities' recommendations. If you are told to evacuate, do so and follow specified routes.
