ROATÁN, Honduras –The Honduran government Sunday evening discontinued its hurricane warning for Hurricane Richard, which tore past the Bay Islands en route to Belize, which was expected to bear the brunt of the storm late Sunday night.
As Belize prepared to take a direct hit from the Category I hurricane, Honduras breathed a sigh of relief Sunday afternoon as Hurricane Richard – with its 100 mph winds only grazed Roatán Island, rather than hitting the Caribbean tourist island head-on, as many had feared.
Still, the winds and rains pushed by Richard caused a degree of concern and slight damage. Flights from mainland Honduras were canceled Sunday, as the winds blew down trees on the island.
The high seas washed ashore on parts of the island coast, flooding several beach neighborhoods.
Yet by sunset Sunday, the storm had passed and the residual high seas made for good body surfing conditions in normally calm island bays.