Selma threatens to flood Central America this weekend

Selma will threaten a part of Central America with flooding rain and dangerous surf this weekend.

Selma formed south of El Salvador during the early morning hours of Friday and made landfall to the southeast of San Salvador on Saturday morning.

Flooding rain and mudslides will still threaten lives and property across a part of Central America even as Selma rapidly weakens as it moves inland.

The heaviest rain may focus on El Salvador and eastern Guatemala, where AccuWeather Meteorologist Evan Duffey anticipates a total of 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) of rain to pour down into Saturday night.

There can be locally higher amounts, especially in the mountains.

Roads and bridges may become damaged or impassable. Airline passengers should prepare for possible flight delays and cancellations, including in San Salvador.

Locally flooding downpours will also spread across the rest of Guatemala, Honduras and western Nicaragua during the first half of this weekend. A few of these downpours may reach the northern coast of Honduras on Saturday night.

The compact nature of Selma is expected to limit the number of communities that face the strong winds.

Seas will also build and become dangerous for swimmers and boaters along and off the coast of Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua into Saturday.

Selma is expected to dissipate over the mountains of Central America by Sunday.

There are indications that another tropical system may attempt to take shape in the eastern Pacific Ocean next week. If it forms close enough to land, it may graze the same areas being affected by Selma or a part of Mexico's southern coast.

Another scenario is that it remains over the open water and only a threat to shipping interests.

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