Honduras: Weather conditions improve in northern departments Feb. 1 /update 1

Event

Weather conditions in northern Honduras improved on Thursday, February 1, after heavy rains inundated many northern departments, causing flooding and transportation disruptions. As of 12:00 (local time) on Thursday, the Honduran Comisión Permanente de Contingencias (COPECO) had downgraded the weather alert for Cortés department from yellow (second-highest level on a three-tiered scale, indicating that there is an imminent risk to people in affected areas and that evacuation orders may be issued shortly) to green (lowest level on a three-tiered scale, indicating that authorities are monitoring potentially dangerous weather phenomena and their effects in the area). All other weather alerts previously in place in northern Honduras (including in Santa Bárbara department, Yoro department, Atlántida department, Islas de la Bahía department, and Colón department) were no longer in effect as of 12:00 on Thursday. No further rainfall is forecast for northern Honduras in the coming days.

The green alert remains in place for Cortés department specifically due to continued minor flooding, ongoing transportation disruptions due to needed repairs to the bridge over the Tegucigalpita River in Omoa municipality, and the continued displacement of residents in emergency shelters. Lingering transportation disruptions are expected in Cortés department and other areas of northern Honduras in the coming days.

Context

A cold front had brought heavy rain to parts of northern Honduras since January 29, leaving at least three people dead in Omoa municipality (Cortés department) and resulting in evacuations and significant damages to buildings and infrastructure. Significant flooding was reported in Arizona and Tela municipalities (Atlántida department), among other areas.

The rainy season in Honduras generally runs from October to February.

Advice

Individuals in northern Honduras are advised to monitor local weather forecasts, confirm travel reservations, and adhere to all advice issued by the local authorities. Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded.