By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The National Emergency Commission announced that by today a new tropical wave, No. 40 for the year, is expected.

According to the commission, this new low pressure disturbance will cause more thunderstorms throughout the country.

Heavy downpours with thunderstorms could be expected in the regions of the Pacific Coast*, the Central Valley*, the Caribbean mountains* and the North Zone*.

Rainfall could increase from 30 to 80 millimeters in those areas.

After the thunderstorm in Alajuela Wednesday, the Red Cross reported five people injured by an apparent lightning strike at the Juan Santamaría International Airport* in the province of Alajuela.

According to the Red Cross report, at 11:50 a.m. the emergency call came on line 911 saying a group of people had been struck by lightning.

Four units were sent to attend the emergency. Upon arriving, the paramedics treated to the five people who said they had been struck by lightning while they were in the area of a hangar.

Of the five, four were classified in stable health conditions and taken to the emergency room of the Alajuela Hospital, said the Red Cross.

One man was classified to be in a delicate condition, having both legs fractured, He was taken in by a private ambulance service to the same hospital.

According to specialists, the increase in rain is due to the presence of the Intertropical Convergence Zone over the country.

The convergence zone, known by sailors as the doldrums or the calms due to the dull, windless weather, is the area where the northeast and southeast trade winds converge. The zone appears as a band of clouds, usually thunderstorms, that circles the globe near the Equator.

Variations in the location of the convergence zone drastically affect the rainfall in many equatorial nations, resulting in the wet and dry seasons of the tropics rather than the cold and warm seasons of higher latitudes. Longer-term changes in the convergence zone can result in severe droughts or flooding in nearby areas.

Due to the current conditions, people should be alert, especially in areas of high risk due to floods, landslides, or strong wind gusts. Specialists recommend:

- Be alert in vulnerable areas to flooding due to sewer saturation, increased river flow and landslides.

- In case of a thunderstorm, take refuge in a safe place.

- In case of strong wind gusts be alert to possible falling tree branches or electrical cables.

The authorities ask the public to call 911 to report any possible flooding, falling trees or landslides.

More updated information can be found at the National Weather Institute of Costa Rica site*.

The A.M. Costa Rica team asks readers to share this alert among their contacts.



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