Downpours and thunderstorms continue in coastal areas

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff


According to the National Meteorological Institute, unstable conditions will continue throughout the national territory. With more downpours and thunderstorms on both the Caribbean and the Pacific coasts.

According to the institute, the rest of the country will experience torrential downpours and thunderstorms throughout the afternoon.

Monday, specialists reported rainfall levels with maximums of 50-70 mm on both coasts.

On August 15th, as A.M. Costa Rica previously reported, the authorities of the National Emergency Commission, announced the activation of a green alert, in the provinces of Guanacaste* and San Jose*, and a yellow alert warning for the rest of the country, due to the 24th tropical thunderstorm of this year.

"Tropical storm #24 is generating cloudy conditions in most of the national territory and strong rainy activity in the Caribbean and the Northern Zone, as well as rains in the Central Valley and mountainous sectors of the Pacific," said the Commission in its statement.

According to specialists, emergency calls were registered for flooding in the area of Quepos* on the pacific coast and Perez Zeledon* in the southern zone.

The Commission reports the increase of heavy rains in the nation due to the presence of the Intertropical Convergence Zone over the country, ITCZ.

The ITCZ, known by sailors as the doldrums or the calms because of its 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.

Variation in the location of the ITCZ drastically affects 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, and strong wind gusts.

Due to the alerts, specialists recommend:

- Be alert in areas vulnerable 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 call on 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 heard of any emergencies caused by this year's tropical storms in your community? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com

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