Costa Rica is Facing the Threat of Heavy Rainfall Today

Costa Rica is currently facing the threat of heavy rainfall. The National Meteorological Institute (IMN) reported that a low pressure system is affecting the Caribbean region, which is expected to be affected by heavy rain. It also warned of 120 km/h winds on Monday. Other regions are under yellow alert, meaning that people should be prepared for a weather event.

Costa Rica is susceptible to tropical cyclones and flooding. In 2004, a storm deluged parts of the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of the country. Thousands of people fled their homes. Many houses and roads were damaged by landslides. During the last decade, sea level has increased by two to three millimeters per year. Increasing storm surges on the low-lying coasts will further complicate the situation.

Since last Friday, heavy rains have affected different areas of Costa Rica. This rainfall caused landslides and triggered flooding. According to the IMN, there is a risk of thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. The Tempisque river is one of the most frequent rivers in the Guanacaste province. One of the main causes of landslides is ETA.

In addition to the coastal areas, a number of areas in the central region of the country were also affected by flooding. Those affected included Limon, Jaco, Parrita, Quepos, Golfito, Osa, Turrialba, and Corredores. Several roads were damaged and the highway 32 was closed, preventing hundreds of drivers from traveling. A total of 30 cm of rain was recorded in a 24-hour period. Some areas in San Jose were also affected by heavy rains.

Tropical Storm Julia gradually dissipated in the North Pacific, leaving behind its influence. But it still had an indirect impact on the Caribbean and the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Flooding was mainly seen in the Nicoya Peninsula, Coto Brus, and Golfito. People were forced to seek refuge in temporary shelters. Most of the incidents were caused by the overflow of the Claro River in Golfito.

Heavy rainfall also affected other Central American countries. Landslides caused by ETA triggered floods and damaged many bridges. El Nino Southern Oscillation is a climate phenomenon that will cause droughts and floods in a wide part of the country. As such, President Carlos Alvarado signed a directive to create a Permanent Attention Committee. The committee will be composed of 12 institutions.

The heavy rains and landslides that have struck Central America have also caused a lot of damage in Costa Rica. Two deaths were recorded. There were 380 incidents reported by the CNE. Over 600 people were provided shelter in 14 temporary shelters in 3 provinces.

Despite the heavy rainfall, the National Emergency Commission has declared that the situation in the Caribbean and North Pacific is not as serious as earlier predicted. However, the Costa Rican Electricity Institute has activated emergency protocols. Moreover, the Reventazon hydroelectric plant in Angostura is undergoing a controlled spill.

After a meeting with representatives of the state institutions, the Costa Rican Emergency Commission has begun coordination work on El Nino. The Inter-Institutional Contingency Plan is an attempt to mitigate the effects of the Southern Oscillation.