Tropical Storm Cristina Triggers High Alert Across Central America
Tropical Storm Cristina formed Monday in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Nicaragua, bringing heavy rainfall, rough seas, and evacuation warnings to Central America. The storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, is forecast to approach El Salvador's southern Gulf of Fonseca before potentially weakening into a tropical depression by Wednesday. The storm poses significant risks of flooding and landslides across the region's mountainous terrain, with five people already reported missing after boats capsized in Costa Rica.
Tropical Storm Cristina strengthened Monday from a tropical depression into the third named storm of the eastern Pacific season, centered approximately 105 miles west-northwest of Managua, Nicaragua, and about 125 miles southeast of San Salvador, El Salvador. The U.S. National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning from Puerto Sandino to the Guatemala/El Salvador border, with El Salvador placed under an orange alert ahead of the storm's expected arrival near the southern Gulf of Fonseca. Forecasters project rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches across coastal Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala through Thursday, with isolated amounts potentially reaching 12 inches — levels that significantly elevate the risk of deadly landslides and road closures in mountainous areas. In Costa Rica, five people remain missing after two small boats capsized in rough seas generated by the storm, and authorities ordered temporary school closures in Guanacaste province due to flood risks. Nicaragua has already reported property damage, coastal flooding, and the suspension of maritime activities, with fishing vessels stranded or damaged by high waves. Cristina is expected to weaken back into a tropical depression by Wednesday and dissipate by Thursday, though heavy rainfall will continue to threaten the region through that period. Separately, Tropical Storm Boris was also active Monday off the coast of Mexico, underscoring an active early eastern Pacific hurricane season.
What's missing
Neither source specifies the current evacuation numbers or shelter capacity in affected areas.
How coverage differed
Both outlets reported the core facts neutrally, though UPI provided substantially more on-the-ground detail — including government statements, school closures, and the five missing persons in Costa Rica — while ABC News focused on the storm's meteorological parameters and briefly noted the concurrent Tropical Storm Boris.
What different sources said
- UPICenter
Central America on high alert for tropical storm Cristina
- ABC News InternationalCenter
Tropical Storm Cristina forms off coast of Nicaragua, forecasters say
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