Meteorological Report N°5

Tropical Storm Pilar and its indirect influence on Costa Rica

October 30, 2023

4:30 p.m.

Diagnosis: Tropical Storm Pilar is located off the coast of El Salvador, approximately 610 km west (W) of the Gulf of Papagayo. According to the United States National Hurricane Center, the storm has maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h and is moving towards El Salvador at 7 km/h. The perspective of a trajectory that approaches El Salvador and Nicaragua and then moves away to the open sea as of Wednesday is maintained.

This storm interacts with the Intertropical Convergence Zone, maintaining unstable conditions and favoring rains of varying intensity in the North Pacific and the Northern Zone, with accumulated between 15 mm and 30 mm since the last report. In the rest of the country, rainfall has not exceeded 20mm for the moment.

Forecast: Tropical Storm Pilar will maintain its influence over Costa Rica at least until Wednesday, as long as it is located near the region.

An increase in rainfall is expected in the North Pacific in the coming hours, with estimated amounts of between 50 - 80 mm with localized maximums of 140 mm during the night and early morning. In the rest of the Pacific, amounts are estimated between 20 mm and 50 mm, with specific maximums of up to 70 mm.

In the Central Valley the rains would be between weak to moderate intensity with accumulated between 20 mm and 60 mm.

Isolated downpours with thunderstorms and amounts between 20 mm and 40 mm with occasional maximums of up to 70 mm are forecast for the regions of the Northern Zone and the Caribbean.

Regarding wind, in the North Pacific the occurrence of occasional gusts between 20 km/h and 40 km/h with maximums of up to 70 km/h is forecast. While, in the mountainous parts of the country they would reach 60 km/h.

Warning: Special attention in the regions of the North Pacific, Central Pacific and the mountainous areas of the Central Valley and North Zone; because they are the areas where the heaviest rains are expected and where there are soils saturated by the rains in recent days.

Due to the above, the IMN recommends:

• Caution due to sewage saturation and possible flash floods, as well as the main routes of the country in the event of heavy rain events.
• Prevention against electrical storms and seeking shelter in a safe place in case strong gusts of wind occur or are perceived near storm clouds, due to the possible fall of tree branches, power lines, among others.
• Stay informed through social networks, Twitter: @IMNCR, Facebook: National Meteorological Institute CR and the WEB Page: www.imn.ac.cr

Next report will be issued today at 10:30 p.m.

Juan Diego Naranjo Díaz
Meteorologist
DMSA-IMN

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