Weather Report #25

Tropical storm Sara maintains indirect influence in Costa Rica

November 15, 2024

10:00 a.m.

Diagnosis: According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Tropical Storm Sara is maintaining maximum winds of 85 km/h this morning and is bordering the coasts of northern Honduras. The system will move slowly to the West-Northwest, maintaining the category of tropical storm. In addition, it is forecast that it will maintain indirect influence over Costa Rica today, with a constant flow of humidity coming from the Pacific Ocean entering the country.

Rains continue to recur in the different regions of the country. In the last 6 hours, the maximum precipitation has been recorded in: Parrita (96 mm), La Cruz (85 mm), Santa Cruz (61 mm), Quepos (45 mm), Hojancha (41 mm), Liberia (30 mm), among others. In the Central Valley there are the mountains of Santa Ana and Escazú (37 mm), together with the other sectors with values ​​between 5 -25 mm.

Forecast: Variable precipitation is forecast for the remainder of the morning and afternoon of this Friday, with increasing intensity during periods of the day, in most of the Pacific regions (rains of variable intensity and probability of heavy downpours). The Central Valley is expected to be cloudy with rain.

The Northern Zone will have variable clouds with occasional rain and local downpours in the center-north, especially in the afternoon. In the Caribbean regions, cloudiness will continue from light to partial, with isolated downpours accompanied by storms (strong in a localized manner and close to the coasts), for the afternoon period.

The estimated accumulations by region in a period of 6 to 12 hours are detailed below:

• North Pacific: ranges between 50 mm and 130 mm, with local maximums of 150 mm.

• Central Pacific: ranges between 30 mm and 80 mm, with maximums of 120 mm.

• South Pacific: ranges between 30 mm and 70 mm, with maximums of 130 mm.

• Central Valley: ranges between 10 mm and 40 mm, with maximums between 70 mm.

• North and South Caribbean: ranges between 15 mm and 50 mm, with maximums of 80 mm.

• Northern Zone: ranges between 5 mm and 30 mm, with maximums of 70.

It should be noted that higher amounts may be recorded in a localized manner in each respective region.

⚠ Attention: The rainy pattern due to the indirect influence of this tropical cyclone will continue from Thursday to Saturday for regions in the south of the country and from Thursday to Sunday in the rest of the Pacific slope and parts of the Central Valley. However, for the regions that gradually emerge from the indirect influence, the occurrence of isolated afternoon showers, typical of the rainy season, is likely.

Warning: High soil saturation remains in much of the country, with saturation levels between 90% and 100%. Therefore, there is a high probability of flooding in vulnerable places, mainly in the low-lying regions of the Pacific, and landslides in the mountains of the Pacific, in the west and east of the Central Valley, in the Northern Zone, the Tilarán Mountain Range and in the western Caribbean.

Due to the above, the IMN recommends:

• Pay attention to the overflow of streams and rivers with high flows.

• Be on alert in places prone to landslides.

• Prevention in the event of an electrical storm and seek shelter in a safe place in the event of strong gusts of wind occurring or perceived near storm clouds, due to the possible fall of tree branches, power lines, among others. These gusts can reach 80 km/h in some isolated cases.

• Stay informed through social media: Twitter: @IMNCR, Facebook: Instituto Meteorológico Nacional CR and the WEBSITE: www.imn.ac.cr

Next Report: Friday, November,15 to 4 p.m.

Jose Valverde Mora

Meteoroligist

DMSA-IMN