Though it does not seem like it, this year to date, there have been fewer rainy days, when compared to the average of the last 14 years in Costa Rica.

The areas with the least rain have been Guanacaste, San José and Alajuela.

According to the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) – national weather service – the province of the “pampa” (Guanacaste) has seen 35% fewer rainy days this year, while in the province of Alajuela the rains are down 26% and 15% in the province of San José.

Werner Stolz, chief forecaster at the IMN, explains that the lower rainfall is due to the strong period of “heatwaves” or “veranillos” affecting primarily Guanacaste and the central part of the country.

Stolz said the the heatwave ended mid-August and normal rains are expected for September and October, the wettest months of the rainy season.

According to the IMN forecasts, during this and next month we can expect rainy periods of between three and four hours, with rainfall of up to 80 liters of water per square meter of land. These conditions are expected throughout the country.

Also, be prepared for flash flooding, especially near rivers and creeks. Have rain gear – an umbrella, raincoat and galoshes – handy (read our rainy season survival guide). Change the batteries on the flashlight and store it in an easy to reach place, have candles (and matches) available in case of power failures, and keep an eye out for electrical storms (lightning) that can accompany heavy rains.

Article by QCostaRica.com