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Published Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Alert due to new tropical wave
crossing the country today
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The National Emergency Commission updated the alert for damages associated with the rains and the passage of another new Tropical Wave over the country.
According to the commission, the new Tropical Wave, #48 of the green season, passed through Panama and will cross the country today. Experts predict that the natural phenomenon will leave the country Wednesday morning.
This Tropical Wave has caused an increase in the intensity of the thunderstorms, mainly on the Pacific Coast (Guanacaste and Puntarenas Province), San Jose, Cartago and Alajuela provinces.
The specialists established a Yellow Alert for almost all the country. The alert status serves as an announcement for the rescue forces to prepare for an increased danger of a natural phenomenon that will affect the population in a specific region.
The Green Alert was established on the Caribbean Coast (Limón Province). This alert is given when it is anticipated that a meteorological phenomenon endangers a specific area in the country. The authorities activate the community's emergency commissions to take action due to the danger related to the alert.
Also, the intensity of the rains will increase due to the Intertropical Convergence Zone that is located throughout Costa Rica, the Meteorological Institute said in its statement.
The Intertropical 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.
According to the weather report, in the last few hours, there have been showers and thunderstorms mainly in the North Zone of the country in Alajuela Province, the north of Guanacaste Province and the South Pacific Coast.
In the area of La Cruz in Guanacaste Province, an accumulated amount of rain of up to 70 mm was registered in two hours, the weather report said.
Heavy downpours are forecast to continue in the Northern Zone of the country. They are estimated to accumulate between 30-70 mm and possibly higher.
In addition, in the Central and South Pacific Coast isolated rains and downpours are forecast, with amounts between 25-50 mm.
In the Central Valley area (San José Province) and the mountainous areas of the Caribbean Coast (Limón Province), widespread rains accumulating between 10-40 mm are expected.
Due to the high risk of continuous rains, specialist stresses that in order to avoid accidents, damage to structures and emergencies during the green season, make sure to:
• Keep the roof of your house clean.
• Clear a path in the backyard allowing rainwater to move without problems towards the drainage, which helps to avoid damages and leaks in the house.
• Pick up the garbage so that it does not fall on the pipes or drains on the sidewalks.
• Avoid that solvents, oils, acids or corrosive liquids that can fall into the sewer pipes and deteriorate them.
• Organize the cleaning of public areas such as river banks in your community to avoid flooding.
• Report the lack of concrete caps or grids in the pipes to the Aqueduct Institute by calling 2547-6555.
Authorities call on the public to take the following precautionary measures:
• Stay informed about the alerts issued by the authorities.
• People living in mountain areas should increase precautionary measures against a possible landslide or material falling from the high areas of the hills.
• Have an emergency evacuation plan in the community, work and home.
• Drivers must increase precautions for heavy rain and fog.
• Take precautionary measures in case of electrical storms.
• Be alert in vulnerable areas to flooding due to sewer saturation or increase of river flow.
• 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.
• In the event of a landslide, do not walk on the debris, stay away from affected areas, and do not return home until authorities verify that it is a safe place.
Authorities ask for the people in Costa Rica to call 911 to report any possible flooding, fallen trees or landslides.
A.M. Costa Rica urges readers to share this alert with their contacts.
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What emergencies have you heard of due to the thunderstorms in your community? We would like to know
your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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