The National Meteorological Institute (IMN) has issued a weather warning ahead of the arrival of Tropical Wave No. 12 over Costa Rican territory this Tuesday. The atmospheric phenomenon, combined with the active Intertropical Convergence Zone, will significantly increase instability, triggering heavy downpours and severe thunderstorms across multiple regions of the country.

According to satellite reports, dense cloud cover is expected to blanket most of the national map, extending precipitation from the afternoon well into the late-night hours.

Regions Most Affected by the Meteorological Disturbance

Weather authorities point out that a gradual decrease in trade winds will facilitate the development of deep vertical clouds, which are highly prone to generating severe storms. The impact is projected as follows:

  North Pacific and Nicoya Peninsula: Heavy downpours accompanied by frequent lightning are expected to persist through the afternoon and night, heavily impacting the Guanacaste province.

  Central Valley: Central and western sectors (including San José, Alajuela, and Heredia) will experience isolated heavy showers with thunderstorm activity during the afternoon, with lingering scattered rains into the early evening.

  Central and South Pacific: Heavy precipitation and consistently cloudy conditions are forecast, particularly in coastal areas near Puntarenas.

  Northern Zone and Caribbean Region: Moderate showers will be concentrated mainly in mountainous terrain, with variable cloudiness over the plains.

IMN Warning: Special caution is advised in areas vulnerable to flash flooding caused by overwhelmed sewage systems or overflowing rivers, as well as in mountainous sectors prone to landslides due to high soil moisture saturation.

Three Tropical Waves in a Single Week

IMN experts confirmed that Tropical Wave No. 12 is part of a consecutive train of disturbances moving through the region over the coming days. Following the passage of Wave No. 11 early in the week, the arrival of this new system reinforces the wet pattern, while Tropical Wave No. 13 is already projected to approach by the weekend.

Given this outlook of high tropical activity and sustained rainfall, the National Emergency Commission (CNE) urges the general public and local committees to stay informed through official channels and to exercise extreme caution against lightning strikes and strong wind gusts associated with storm cells.

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