Costa Rica settles into the classic rainy season rhythm this week, with hot and humid mornings giving way to dramatic afternoon downpours and thunderstorms. The Central Valley, Pacific regions, and mountainous areas of the Caribbean and Northern Zone will see the most action.
Tuesday starts off relatively quiet with more isolated rainfall, though don’t be surprised if some areas still get hit with heavy downpours. The real change begins Wednesday as humidity levels climb and the Intertropical Convergence Zone – that band of low pressure systems we’ve talked about before – becomes more active and organized.
The second half of the week is where things get interesting. Expect more widespread rainfall across the Central Valley, Northern Zone, and Pacific slope, with very heavy downpours and intense thunderstorm activity that could stretch well into the night. The Caribbean will continue its pattern of concentrating most rainfall in the mountainous areas rather than coastal zones.
Good news for those tracking tropical systems: no tropical waves are expected in the coming days. There’s also a mass of Saharan dust crossing the Caribbean Sea and northern Central America, but it won’t impact Costa Rica’s weather.
Most of the country will enjoy predominantly clear to partly cloudy skies to start the day. However, during the second half of the week, Pacific coastal areas might wake up to occasional cloudiness and possible rain – a shift from the typical clear morning pattern.
Expect partly to mostly cloudy conditions with variable rainfall intensity. The second half of the week will bring increased rain intensity and thunderstorm activity, so plan indoor activities for Thursday through Sunday afternoons if possible.
Partly to mostly cloudy skies will blanket the entire country. Mountain areas of the Central Valley and Pacific coastal regions should prepare for scattered rain and downpours during the early evening hours. The Caribbean may see occasional rainfall as well.
Temperature patterns remain fairly consistent with previous weeks, with the North Pacific maintaining the highest daytime temperatures while the Central Valley continues to offer those refreshingly cool overnight conditions.
High: 32° (89.6°) | Low: 12° (53.6°)
High: 37° (98.6°) | Low: 18° (64.4°)
High: 33° (91.4°) | Low: 16° (60.8°)
High: 34° (93.2°) | Low: 15° (59°)
High: 31° (87.8°) | Low: 16° (60.8°)
High: 33° (91.4°) | Low: 15° (59°)
Take advantage of Tuesday’s lighter rainfall for any outdoor projects or activities. Wednesday through Sunday will be significantly wetter, so keep an umbrella handy and consider the possibility of evening rainfall when making dinner plans.
