This week brings a significant weather event to Costa Rica as a cold front and tropical wave combine to generate heavy rainfall, particularly in the Caribbean and Northern Zone regions. Tuesday and Wednesday are the most critical days with the highest rainfall accumulations expected.
The National Emergency Commission (CNE) has declared Yellow Alert for the Caribbean and Northern Zone. These alerts reflect concerns about increased precipitation and winds, combined with already saturated soils that could trigger flooding and falling power lines or trees.
Beyond the heavy rain, this week features strong trade winds across Guanacaste and the Central Valley with maximum gusts between 80 and 90 km/h (50 to 56 mph). This windy pattern is expected to decrease over the weekend.
Additionally, rainfall and downpours from the Caribbean will be felt over the Central Valley, the Guanacaste mountain range, and the Talamanca mountain range, along with a significant decrease in temperatures across the Central Valley for much of this week.
A massive unstable boulder threatens Route 32, the main highway connecting San José with Limón province and the Caribbean coast. The route has been closed as a safety precaution.
According to CONAVI director Mauricio Sojo, the situation is “atypical” because authorities are dealing with a fractured rock slab rather than typical landslide materials. The problematic boulder sits at kilometer 31 approximately 30 meters (98 feet) above the roadway in a precarious position, measuring seven meters (23 feet) high by six meters (20 feet) wide.
Good weather conditions today, Monday, allowed crews to make progress on the necessary drilling for blasting operations. Authorities need to safely bring down the fractured rock in a controlled manner before it falls unexpectedly onto the road below. However, the route’s reopening remains conditional on successfully completing this work, and authorities cannot provide a projected opening time due to the multiple variables involved.
Travelers needing Caribbean coast access must continue using alternate routes during this preventive closure, which comes at a particularly challenging time given this week’s heavy rainfall forecast for the region.
The convergence of a cold front and Tropical Wave #44 creates conditions for persistent, heavy rainfall in Caribbean and Northern Zone regions throughout most of this week. Tuesday is the peak for this weather event, with the most intense rainfall. The cold front will also affect the eastern and northern Central Valley, as well as the mountainous southern Central Valley.
Pacific Region Variation: Unlike the Caribbean and Northern Zone, the Pacific regions experience a different pattern this week. The Central and South Pacific will see typical rainy season afternoon showers with some thunderstorms, but not the extreme rainfall affecting Caribbean areas. Guanacaste and the North Pacific will actually experience drier conditions due to north winds, with only some parts of the North Pacific possibly seeing some light rain and drizzle.
Mornings: Partly to mostly cloudy nationwide with heavy downpours in the Caribbean and Northern Zone. Eastern and northern Central Valley also affected by rainfall. Drier conditions in most of Guanacaste. Windy conditions in central and northern parts of Costa Rica.
Afternoons: Heavy rain continues in the Caribbean and Northern Zone. The Central and South Pacific see typical rainy season showers and thunderstorms, not extreme rainfall. Some rain may affect parts of the Central Valley in the afternoon. Guanacaste remains mostly dry except for possible light rain in eastern, northern, and southeastern areas. Windy conditions persist in central and northern areas.
Nights: Partly to mostly cloudy with heavy downpours continuing in the Caribbean and Northern Zone. The eastern Central Valley experiences rainfall. Central and South Pacific may see coastal showers during early evening hours. Guanacaste maintains drier conditions. Windy conditions throughout central and northern regions.
One of this week’s notable features is a significant temperature decrease in the Central Valley. High temperatures drop to just 28°C (82.4°F) compared to typical November highs around 30-31°C (86-88°F), while overnight lows reach 13°C (55.4°F). This cooling results from persistent cloud cover, rainfall influence from Caribbean weather systems crossing the mountains, and the overall atmospheric pattern associated with the cold front passage.
Residents and travelers should prepare for noticeably cooler conditions, particularly during mornings and evenings when temperatures feel quite chilly by Costa Rican standards. Grab a jacket!
Wind conditions moderate over the weekend, providing some relief from the most intense weather patterns. However, Caribbean and Northern Zone areas may continue experiencing rainfall even as conditions gradually improve.
While this week brings active and challenging weather conditions, there’s encouraging news ahead: Costa Rica is predicted to welcome the dry season starting around November 18th,, especially in the North Pacific and Central Valley.
According to IMN experts, rainfall will decrease considerably starting on that date, marking the end of the rainy season for Pacific regions. The dry season will consolidate progressively, reaching the Central Pacific around November 24th and the South Pacific during the first days of December.
During the second half of November, rainfall will be scarce throughout the country, though temperatures will drop and wind speeds will increase, conditions that will remain definitively established at the beginning of December. With this change, Costa Rica returns to its typical dry season climate pattern, characterized by sunny days, less humidity, and windier conditions across most of the national territory.
However, it’s important to note that the Caribbean will experience an increase in precipitation due to unstable atmospheric conditions and the presence of cyclonic systems near the region. This reflects the Caribbean’s different seasonal pattern, where rainfall can continue even during the Pacific’s dry season months.
This week features notably cooler conditions, particularly in the Central Valley where temperatures drop significantly below typical November values. The Caribbean and Northern Zone also show reduced high temperatures at 27°C (80.6°F), reflecting persistent cloud cover and rainfall throughout the week.
| Region | High °C (°F) | Low °C (°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Central Valley | 28° (82.4°) | 13° (55.4°) |
| North Pacific | 32° (89.6°) | 19° (66.2°) |
| Central Pacific | 32° (89.6°) | 14° (57.2°) |
| South Pacific | 33° (91.4°) | 16° (60.8°) |
| Caribbean | 27° (80.6°) | 20° (68°) |
| Northern Zone | 27° (80.6°) | 20° (68°) |
This forecast is based on outlooks from Costa Rica’s National Meteorological Institute (IMN) and CNE emergency bulletins. Also a shot out to Meteorología CR, for their insights.
