Tropical Storm Sara now threatens to wreak havoc over Central America with days of heavy rain, flooding and mudslides. Where is it going next?

The National Hurricane Center began advisories Wednesday on a system it forecasts to become the season’s next tropical depression or storm. Long-range forecast models predict it will intensify into a hurricane and threaten Florida by the middle of next week.

Forecasters tell residents of eastern Gulf Coast and Florida to monitor the forecast closely for potential impacts next week.