COSTA RICA NEWS (Friday 6:10PM) – Heavy downpours Friday afternoon caused flooding in downtown areas of San José, Heredia and Alajuela.
In Los Yoses, near San Pedro Mall, 200 metres west of the ICE building, four passengers of a vehicle were trapped by waters that came up to the windows.
In Barrio Cuba, near the NUmbar plant, a number of homes had their roofs raised by the strong winds and in Los Guidos de Desamparados, several homes were flooded,.
On the autopista General Cañas motorists reported flash flooding near the Intel plant; the Circunvalación was slow to move during to water on the roadway; and the rotonda la Hispanidad was under water.
The national weather service, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) says the proximity of a intertropical convergence, coupled with local factors of morning warm temperatures and moisture from maritime sectors led to the afternoon downpours, thunderstorms and lightning that began shortly afer 3:00PM.
The INM says the downpours are expected into the early evening.
In the Central and South Pacific heavy downpours and lightning were reported. In Guanacaste, a province that has been suffering from drought conditions the last several months, it was raining since mid day. Reports to the Q say the rains were moderate, no flooding or other weather problems were experienced.
The flash floods in urban areas for the most part are caused by saturated storm sewers. In rural areas, residents are being asked to keep an eye on water levels of rivers and creeks and strong currents.
September and October are the months with the heaviest rainfall of the rainy season.
