Weather Warning (Update)

Heavy showers and thunderstorms this afternoon

September 3, 2024

3.50 pm

Diagnosis: The proximity of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, together with local factors such as high temperatures and the entry of sea breezes, will favor variable rain activity for this Tuesday over the country.

In the last few hours, showers with thunderstorms have been recorded in the Central Valley, Central and South Pacific, as well as in Guanacaste, the amounts vary between 30 and 50 mm.

Forecast: For the rest of the afternoon, isolated showers with strong thunderstorms are expected, particularly for the mountainous areas in the Central Pacific, around the border with Panama in the South Pacific and around the Gulf of Nicoya, Tempisque Valley and mountain ranges in the North Pacific. Estimated amounts between 20-50 mm with possible higher amounts at certain times. For the Central Valley and North Zone, scattered rains are expected mainly in the west. Maximum amounts estimated between 5-30 mm. For the coastal areas of the Caribbean, no rain is expected during the rest of the afternoon. About tropical wave number 29 (OT 29):

OT 29 is positioned east of Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. According to the National Hurricane Center of the United States, the probability of becoming a tropical depression in the next 7 days has dropped to 30%. If it does, it would be a tropical depression when it reaches the western Caribbean Sea or the southern Gulf of Mexico later this week. According to current analyses, this system would be passing as a tropical wave through Costa Rica between Thursday night and early Friday morning, reinforcing rainfall in the country, mainly on Friday. However, it is not ruled out that when the system is north of Central America, it will destabilize the ITCZ ​​over the country, favoring a rainier outlook on Saturday and Sunday.

Warning: Due to the rains of the last 3 days, the soils remain saturated in sectors of the South Pacific, mountains of the South Caribbean, Nicoya Peninsula, mountains of the Northern Zone and in coastal sectors of the Central Pacific, which increases the vulnerability in these areas. In addition, the projected rains in urban areas may cause sewer saturation and flash flooding.

Due to the above, the IMN recommends: • Caution due to sewer saturation in places prone to this type of flooding. • Prevention in the event of an electrical storm and seeking shelter in a safe place in the event of strong gusts of wind occurring or perceived 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

DMSA-IMN

 

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