Tropical Storm Sara formed this afternoon and threatens to bring "life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides" to Honduras throughout the weekend, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. A turn toward Florida is still possible, forecasters said.

Storms so late in the season are rare. But Sara follows Hurricane Rafael, which pounded through the Caribbean last week and later fell apart in the Gulf of Mexico. Sara is the 18th named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

Tropical Depression Nineteen has formed in the Caribbean Sea and is forecast to continue strengthening, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Depression 19 has formed and is expected to soon become Tropical Storm Sara, but the National Hurricane Center says there's a chance it won't reach hurricane strength.

Though the impacts are unknown at this time, residents near the Gulf of Mexico are encouraged to monitor Tropical Depression 19.

A newly formed depression in the Caribbean could enter the Gulf of Mexico as Tropical Sara next week, potentially reducing the chances it could pose a threat to Florida later in the week.

The National Hurricane Center forecasts Tropical Storm Sara could get into the Gulf of Mexico after swamping Central America and crossing over Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center has designated an area of low pressure in the Caribbean as “Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen,” and forecasts it will strengthen into a tropical storm within the next 24 hours.