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Authorities declare yellow and green alerts due to new tropical storm
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The National Emergency Commission declares a yellow and green alert due to the tropical storm No. 32 of the year, passes through the country.
According to specialists, the areas that have been most affected by heavy rains are in the South Pacific. It has been put on a yellow alert.
Other areas that have been affected, but to a lesser extent, are the north and central areas of the Pacific coast, and the Central Valley which consists of the provinces of San José, Cartago, Alajuela, and Heredia.
According to the Meteorological Institute, thunderstorms are forecast for most of the country. Expect showers in the mornings in the Caribbean and the Northern Zone, and in the afternoons in the Central and South Pacific regions.
Wednesday and Thursday, there will be a slight decrease in rainfall. It is expected to increase in intensity toward the weekend.
According to the authorities, the Golfito* area has recorded cases of flooding due to the overflow of the Claro River.
The Commission has coordinated with emergency service personnel from Golfito Hospital and Ciudad Neily Hospital to attend to people affected by the rains.
As A.M. Costa Rica has been reporting since August, the increase in rain is due to the presence of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) over the country.
The ITCZ, 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 ITCZ appears as a band of clouds, usually thunderstorms, that encircle the globe near the Equator.
Variations in the location of the ITCZ drastically affects 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 ITCZ 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.
Due to the alerts, 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 Weather Channel site here.*
And, at the National Weather Institute of Costa Rica site here.*
The A.M. Costa Rica team asks readers to share this alert among their contacts.
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Have you experienced any emergencies caused by this year's tropical storms in your community? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your opinion to: news@amcostarica.com.
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