Weather Warning

Variable rains this Tuesday in the national territory

August 6, 2024

10.30 a.m.

Discussion: The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is positioned south of Central America, in addition an easterly flow at low levels favors the entry of humidity from the Caribbean Sea into the country. These factors generate this morning mostly cloudy skies over the national territory, occasional gusts in the Central Valley and Guanacaste (35-55 km/h) and scattered rains in the Caribbean and North Zone (5-40 mm).

Forecast: During the rest of the morning, rains will continue with variable intensity in the North Zone and Caribbean. Estimated amounts between 1 mm and 10 mm, with maximums between 15 mm and 50 mm.

During the afternoon and early evening, partly to mostly cloudy skies will predominate over the country. In the Central Valley, scattered rains are expected in mountainous areas with the possibility of localized showers with thunderstorms in the southern and western sectors (5-30 mm). For the Central and Southern Pacific, as well as the surroundings of the Gulf and the Nicoya Peninsula, isolated heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected, with greater probability for the late afternoon and early evening (40-80 mm). In the rest of the North Pacific, possible showers are anticipated around the mountain ranges and border area.

Occasional rains (5-20 mm) are expected in the coastal parts of the Caribbean and low parts of the Northern Zone. Stronger showers with localized thunderstorms are possible for the mountainous areas and surroundings in both regions (20-50 mm).

In addition, Tropical Wave (OT) #23 is positioned this Tuesday morning east of Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela and continues to advance towards the region. It is expected to reach southern Central America on Wednesday. According to current analyses, the interaction of this OT with the ITCZ would favor a very rainy outlook in the country between Wednesday and Thursday, especially for the Pacific side. Afterwards, this system would continue its transit through the western Caribbean Sea and the southern Gulf of Mexico with a low possibility (30% in 7 days according to the NHC) of cyclogenizing by the end of the week. However, by then this system would not affect the country.

Warning: Saturation of extremely high soils in the Northern Zone, Caribbean, South Pacific and Nicoya Peninsula, increasing vulnerability in these sectors. In addition, in urban areas, sewage saturation could cause flash floods.

Due to the above, the IMN recommends:

• Be careful due to sewer saturation in places prone to this type of flooding.
• Prevention against electrical storms and seek shelter in a safe place in case of strong gusts of wind near storm clouds, due to the possible fall of tree branches, power lines, among others. These gusts can reach 80 km/h in some isolated cases.
• Stay informed through social networks, Twitter: @IMNCR, Facebook: Instituto Meteorológico Nacional CR and the WEB Page: www.imn.ac.cr

Roberto Vindas
Meteorologist
DMSA-IMN