Flooding and Mudslides have left at least a dozen people dead in Guatemalaand El Salvador. Tropical storm Agatha made landfall in southern GuatemalaSaturday night.Agatha will continue to dump heavy rain across Guatemala, as well asneighboring El Salvador even though it has dissipated.
To make matters worse, the Pacaya Volcano erupted late last week, coatingGuatemala City in ash. When the rain mixes with ash, it creates a cementlikemud. Ash accumulated up to 3 inches in parts of the city of 3 million.
Guatemala's main airport has been closed since Thursday.
According to the Guatemalan government, eruptive activity has diminished.
The volcano is producing two lava flows Sunday, but little if any ash.
As much as 20 inches of rain will inundate parts of Guatemala, El Salvadorand Honduras through Monday, with rainfall totals expected to top 30 inches inspots.
A man carries a child under heavy rains of Tropical Storm Agatha inPatulul, Guatemala, Saturday, May 29, 2010. (AP Photo/MoisesCastillo)Additional rainfall will lead to more potentially deadly mudslides andwidespread flooding.
Agatha could also affect the region's coffee crop, which already may havebeen left in jeopardy by the eruption of Pacaya.
Story by Accuweather.com Senior Meteorologist Dave Samuhel
