- Published: Monday, February 3, 2020-
New windy front to affect the Caribbean coast and northern Pacific coast
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The Meteorological Institute warned of a new windy cold front that has entered the country Sunday and will continue today.
According to the institute, this is front number #18 of the season. Its presence will increase the power and speed of the winds, especially on the Caribbean coast and the northern Pacific Coast.
Winds also are expected to affect the tides in both coasts.
This increase in the speed and power of the winds is due, in part, to the proximity of the country with the Intertropical Convergence Zone.
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. The zone fluctuates in latitude depending on the season.
According to the institute, the rains in the last hours on the Caribbean coast have decreased in intensity, but it continues to rain mainly near the mountainous sectors. The accumulated rainfall has not surpassed 32 mm.
The institute reports that the gusts in the Caribbean Coast as well as the North Pacific Coast, the winds are from 60 to 95 km/h in the area near to the mountains in Guanacaste.
In the Central Valley as well as the South Pacific Coast, gusts also will increase between 40 and 70 km/h.
Due to this new windy front, the National Emergency Commission call for increase precautionary measures to people living or traveling to the areas of the Caribbean coast and the northern zone Pacific Coast.
Due to the current conditions, people should be alert, especially in areas of high risk due to floods, landslides, or strong wind gusts, said officials.
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.
Authorities asked the public to call 911 to report any possible flooding, falling trees or landslides.
A call was also made for people to avoid any type of controlled burn because high winds could cause a small fire to become ablaze quickly.
A.M. Costa Rica urges readers to share this alert with their contacts, as well as recommend tourists to increase precautionary measures if they are going to sail or take a local flight.
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