The rainy season is on its way out, but, before it goes it made itself felt on Thursday, with rains starting early in the morning and continuing throughout the day, with a respite for sunny skies in the afternoon.
The Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) – national weather service – reported that a tropical wave and cold front caused the precipitations felt in the entire country, strongest in the Caribbean and northern area, but also surprised residents of the Central Valley.
Besides the flash floods in some areas of the greater metropolitan area, traffic congestion was worse than ever at peak times in the morning and afternoon. The General Cañas, Florencio del Castillo, Ruta 27 (San José-Caldera) and other major roads, were heavily congested.
Rainfall is not expected for this Friday in the Central Valley, save for showers during the morning in the higher areas such as Coronado, Moravia, and San Isidro de Heredia.
Intermittent showers can be expected in the southern, central and north Pacific areas; heavy rainfall, however, will prevail in Limón and the northern zone during the morning and early hours of the afternoon, then gradually fade away.
The National Emergency Commission (CNE) issued a green information alert for Limón and the northern zone, where some streets were flooded on Thursday.
In Pococí, authorities reported swollen rivers. A refuge was set up in the El Ágape Evangelical Church, in Puerto Viejo, for the eventual mobilization of families from Los Lirios and Los Angeles de Nogal, due to the flood of the Rio Sucio and several canals.
Thursday’s tropical wave is number 53 and one of the last of the hurricane season, which began on June 1 and ends tomorrow (Saturday), according to the IMN.
“Though the rains are expected to end by today (Friday), the cold thrust will persist with moderate gusts of winds most of this Friday,” said Eladio Solano, a meteorologist at the IMN.
