The National Hurricane Center is also asking residents of the eastern Gulf Coast, including Florida, to monitor the storm closely since it has the potential to reach the US.

The 18th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane was likely to flood parts of Central America and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula over the coming days.

The National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Sara formed in the Caribbean on Thursday, and long-term forecast models show it could enter the Gulf of Mexico and turn toward Florida’s Gulf Coast. As of the NHC’s 10 a.