Aviso Meteorológico (Actualización)

Tropical wave #12

June 25, 2024

4.30 p.m.

Diagnosis: The axis of tropical wave #12 (OT 12) is currently at 84°W, over the country. This system will continue to move west. In the last 5 hours, showers with thunderstorms have been recorded throughout the Pacific slope, the Northern Zone and the west of the Central Valley.

The meteorological stations with the highest accumulations are the following: Pérez Zeledón and Puerto Jimenez 75 mm, Juan Castro Blanco National Park 71 mm, Ciudad Neily 55 mm, Naranjo and Golfito 38 mm, Cañas 33 mm among others.

Satellite images show at this time that the highest concentration of deep convection is located between the Northern Zone and the North Pacific, with a high density of electrical discharges generated by cumulonimbus clouds in Puntarenas and Guanacaste. In the rest of the country, cloud cover is medium to low, with no significant rain events.

Reports from the meteorological stations at the airports of Alajuela and Pavas record the entry of fog and mist moving from west to east.

Forecast: For the afternoon, the rest of the afternoon and early evening, tropical wave #12 will be leaving for the Pacific Ocean. Its interaction with the Intertropical Convergence Zone will keep the showers with thunderstorms of strong intensity in the North Pacific in the next three hours while it continues to advance west. The amplitude of the storm clouds extends towards the mountains and surrounding areas of the North Zone, as well as to the west of the Central Valley. Accumulations of 40 to 60 mm are expected for the next 3 to 6 hours. Possible higher amounts at certain times. In the South Pacific, the persistence of precipitation is expected to increase during the night period, with amounts in this region estimated between 40-70 mm in 6-hour periods. The Central Valley will have intermittent rain and fog banks as remnants of the passage of the tropical wave in the early hours of the night, moderate rains are possible in the mountain ranges and surrounding areas. Amounts between 10-40 mm. The Caribbean remains with variable cloudiness, mostly stratified, without generating significant precipitation.

Warning: The rains that may occur in urban areas can cause flash floods and sewer saturation due to the high saturation of the soils. Saturated soils are present in the mountains of the South Pacific, low areas near the coasts of the Central Pacific and South Pacific, the mountains of the Northern Zone bordering the Central Valley, as well as both peninsulas. All regions are vulnerable to landslides and possible floods.

Due to the above, the IMN recommends: • Caution 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

Gabriela Chinchilla Meteorologist DMSA-IMN