Cristina to Hammer Central America with Heavy Rain; May Also Fuel Development in the Atlantic

Tropical Depression Cristina is continuing to dump heavy rain across portions of Central America and is expected to dissipate by Friday. But the system may not be done after menacing this part of the Eastern Pacific. Read on for a look at how Cristina 's remnants may also fuel the development of a tropical weather maker in the Bay of Campeche in the southwestern Gulf.

Tropical Storm Cristina Targets Central America with Torrential Rain

Tropical Storm Boris has dissipated over southern Mexico, but Tropical Storm Cristina has taken up the mantle, bringing dangerous conditions to Central America. What eventually became Cristina ignited over the weekend as a tropical rainstorm, intensifying into a tropical depression on Monday morning before strengthening into a tropical storm a few hours later.

Cristina has since been downgraded to a tropical depression, with the National Hurricane Center reporting maximum sustained winds of 35 mph with higher gusts. The system was nearing El Salvador late Wednesday and is expected to make landfall overnight before tracking inland through Thursday, with the NHC forecasting dissipation over Guatemala.