Weather Warning

Tropical wave #13 approaching the country tonight and possible Central American Gyre

June 26, 2024

10.15 a.m.

Diagnosis: The prevailing conditions in southern Central America are very unstable, that is, suitable for the occurrence of heavy rain events in the country tonight and tomorrow Thursday. On the one hand, we have the transit of tropical wave #13, which is located in Panama this morning and will be rapidly moving westward during the course of this afternoon. On the other hand, this disturbance will be interacting with the Intertropical Convergence Zone at low and medium levels of the atmosphere to generate an eventual Central American Gyre (CAG), which would be promoting a predominant flow of moisture-laden westerly/southwesterly winds from the maritime sector towards the Pacific slope of Costa Rica starting tonight and during Thursday/Friday.

Forecast: Given this scenario, showers accompanied by thunderstorms are expected to occur in the Pacific, Central Valley and Northern Zone this afternoon, amounts between 30-70 mm in periods of 3 to 6 hours.

During the night, the environment becomes much more unstable for the Central and South Pacific, where the presence of heavy showers with thunderstorms is expected with amounts that could vary between 40-80 mm with maximums between 80-120 mm in the following 6 to 12 hours. Heavy rainfall in these regions would extend throughout Thursday according to current analyses.

The IMN is closely monitoring the evolution of these disturbances in the atmosphere and will be updating the information if necessary.

Warning: Saturated soils are monitored in the South Pacific and North Pacific, Northern Zone bordering the Central Valley and Guanacaste, in addition to both peninsulas. All regions are vulnerable to landslides and possible flooding.

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

MSc.Gabriela Chinchilla

Meteorologist

DMSA-IMN