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Officials urged residents to stay away from rivers and lakes during heavy rain due to the severe flood risk.
Photo courtesy of Costa Rica Fire Department.

Heavy Rain Expected Across Costa Rica This Weekend

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Published on Saturday, August 29, 2026

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected across much of Costa Rica as Tropical Wave No.38 moves through the country this weekend, according to the National Meteorological Institute, known as IMN.

The system begins affecting Costa Rica from Panama’s Caribbean Coast Saturday and is expected to cross the country within about 24 hours, meteorologists said.

Lingering moisture from the system could bring additional showers through Sunday. Weather conditions are expected to gradually improve Monday, according to the IMN.

The rainfall comes as Costa Rica deals with the effects of recent flooding. This week, the government issued a decree declaring a state of emergency in several cantons in the northeastern part of the country that were affected by flooding.

The IMN forecast the following rainfall totals across the country:

Central Mountain Range: 50 to 100 millimeters, with the heaviest rainfall expected at higher elevations.

Pacific Coast, including Guanacaste Province and Puntarenas Province: 30 to 50 millimeters.

Central Valley, including San José, Alajuela, Heredia and Cartago: 30 to 50 millimeters.

Caribbean Coast, including Limón: 60 to 80 millimeters, with thunderstorms likely.

The National Emergency Commission (CNE) has maintained an Orange Alert, the third-highest level on the country’s emergency alert scale, for northern areas of Alajuela, Heredia and Limón provinces.

The alert reflects the ongoing risk of heavy rainfall and potential flooding and requires emergency response teams to remain on high alert and prepared for worsening conditions.

Authorities also issued a Yellow Alert for San José, Cartago and Puntarenas provinces. A Yellow Alert, the second level in Costa Rica's emergency warning system, indicates that emergency response agencies should prepare for a potentially significant natural event.

As of Saturday, authorities had not issued a weather alert for Guanacaste Province.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) is maintaining a precautionary advisory for Route 32, the main highway linking San José and Limón. Authorities warned that overnight closures remain possible because of heavy rainfall and the risk of landslides.

Drivers were advised to use alternate routes, including Route 10 through Turrialba canton (Cartago) and onward to Siquirres canton (Heredia), before reconnecting with Route 32 toward Limón. MOPT said it will post traffic updates through its official social media channels.

Authorities urged residents to take several precautions during the storm, including:

Avoid rivers and lakes during periods of heavy rain.

Monitoring mountainous areas for landslides and falling debris.

Residents in flood-prone communities are urged to review evacuation plans.

Drivers were warned to watch for flooding, slippery roads and reduced visibility.

Remain alert for strong winds that could bring down trees or power lines.

Stay indoors during thunderstorms and avoid using electronic devices during lightning activity.

Call 911 to report flooding, landslides or fallen trees.

Costa Rica has a tropical and subtropical climate with two primary seasons. The dry season, commonly referred to as summer, typically runs from December through May. The rainy season extends from June through November and generally coincides with the Atlantic hurricane season.

The CNE recently issued an alert for parts of the Pacific Coast due to an anticipated reduction in rainfall. However, meteorologists cautioned that the arrival of tropical waves can still trigger periods of heavy precipitation across much of the national territory.

The U.S. Embassy in San José recently issued a warning to American citizens visiting Costa Rica to take extra precautions during the country's rainy season.

The IMN is Costa Rica’s government agency responsible for issuing weather forecasts, hazardous weather warnings and related public safety information.

CNE works in partnership with communities and emergency responders to strengthen the nation’s preparedness, response, and recovery from natural hazards.

MOPT is the government agency responsible for managing the country’s roads, ports, and airports, as well as overseeing public transportation policy.

A.M. Costa Rica encouraged readers to share the weather advisory with their networks

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Have recent rains caused emergencies in your community? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com