Tropical Storm Pilar Threatens Central America, Could Become Pacific's Next Hurricane

Tropical Storm Pilar is threatening Central America with strong winds, heavy rain, and other life-threatening weather hazards as it moved further toward the region in recent days. According to US meteorologists, Pilar could become the next East Pacific Ocean's next hurricane for the current Eastern Pacific Hurricane season.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Pilar will produce hazards like flash floods and urban flooding due to heavy rain, alongside dangerous mudslides in high-altitude terrain, near the Pacific coast of Central America, ranging from the countries of El Salvador southward to Costa Rica through Wednesday, November 2.

Tropical Storm Pillar Threat

Based on the latest NHC forecast as of 10:00 a.m. CDT (local time) on Monday, October 30, Tropical Storm Pillar will cause inclement weather conditions starting early Tuesday, October 31, along parts of the Pacific coast of El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The mentioned countries have a Tropical Storm Watch in place until further notice.

Meanwhile, the hurricane center stated that the Pacific coast of Guatemala and Nicaragua should monitor the development of the Pacific weather system, as additional tropical storm watches or warnings may be needed in the later hours of Monday.

Furthermore, ocean swells generated by Pilar will continue to affect the region's Pacific coast in the next few days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening rip current conditions and dangerous surf conditions. As the week progresses, coastal erosion or flooding is possible along the central American coastline. Torrential rain and strong winds may also cause regional travel disruption.

Tropical Storm Pilar Forecast

The NHC tropical weather outlook shows that Tropical Storm Pilar is located around 225 miles (360 kilometers) southwest off the coast of El Salvador. With a maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour, the storm is moving in an east-northeast pattern at a speed of 6 miles per hour.

Amid the current forecast for Pilar, weather conditions could lead to the storm's rapid intensification, similar to Hurricanes Otis and Norma, which made landfall in Mexico and left trails of destruction earlier in October, according to meteorologists.

In the case of Pilar, it is not expected to make landfall since its said trajectory will be maintained for the next day or two before turning around again in the open ocean, according to the center. However, updated forecasts this week may suggest changes in the storm's movement and intensity.

Hurricane Otis

The potential arrival of Tropical Storm Pilar in Central America follows the devastation caused by Hurricane Otis, when it slammed Mexico's Pacific Coast as a Category 5 storm, killing dozens of people. Its maximum sustained winds reached 165 miles per hour when it made landfall near Acapulco, Mexico, last week on October 25.

Although there are no clear indications at this time that would suggest Pilar will intensify as a hurricane with a strength level like Otis, the current Pacific storm can still bring dangerous conditions in marine and coastal terrestrial areas in Central America.