Sara downgraded to tropical depression after making landfall in Belize, expected to weaken further

Tropical Storm Sara was downgraded to a tropical depression after it made landfall in Belize on Sunday as forecasters expect heavy rain to continue and cause life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides.

The storm made landfall near Dangriga, about 55 miles southeast of the capital Belmopan, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said. In its 1 p.m. Eastern alert, the center said the storm had weakened to a tropical depression and canceled all tropical storm warnings.

It is expected to further weaken as it moves inland over the Yucatan Peninsula.