Rainy Season False Start

OK If you're into the weather, I hope you appreciate this. If you're not, then, oh well. . .

Following is an entry about the weather I wrote two weeks ago and putting on the blog now. Update follows.

“Two weeks ago, was our zenith, when the sun is directly overhead. Last week, when at the beach with my class, we experienced a record high temperature of 103. This week, the rainy season has arrived with an unusual full force. I started the week at school by giving a tropical weather presentation Monday morning at the school assembly. In a nutshell, the sun heats the oceans most intensely in the tropics, water evaporates, then condenses and falls. Throw in tradewinds, ocean currents, and mountains ranges, and Costa Rica is a prime location for copious amounts of rainfall. I also highlighted the forecast for the week, which called for 50 to 100% chance of rain each day. Well, a few hours after the assembly, the clouds opened and, sure enough, we have received rain each day. It is pouring right now and I unplugged the computer due to some close lighting strikes. My trusty rain gauge has captured over 6 inches of rain, the ground is saturated and river heights are rising. No more fears of the springs running dry!

The country averages about 100 inches a year, with as little as 40 inches in the dry northwest and 300 inches in some soaked mountains south of San Jose. Monteverde receives about 100 measurable inches a year, with a majority of it falling between May and October. I use the term ‘measurable’ because the equivalent of an additional 30 or more inches of water arrive as a mist. For comparison sake, approximate annual rainfall (inches) for Chicago is 32 and Miami is 60.

Life goes on, depending on the severity of the rain, we might just decide to stay longer wherever we are and wait for things to lighten a little. Yesterday was a good example of that. The boys and I spent a couple extra hours at school and headed home when the rains slowed. As the rain picked up again, we stopped at an Inn to talk with the owner and play with the animals (dogs, cats, ducks, guinea fowl, etc.). She lent us an umbrella and we sloshed through the puddles home. It was entertaining to watch the boys figure out techniques for walking tandem under the umbrella.”

Well, that was two weeks ago and the rains have stopped. The Easterly trade winds have picked up again and weather has been beautiful – breezy, 70 degrees, plenty of sunshine, and painted sunsets. At points, the wind howls down the mountain bringing with it refreshing mist, but the blue sky is not far away. Clouds and saturated mountain tops to the east and blue sky and rain shadow to the west, while we watch the clouds dissipate directly overhead. The heavy rains should commence when the winds die down, allowing Pacific moisture to roll inland and condense as it rises up the mountain. Locals continue to comment on how dry it is and emphasize that we need the rains to resupply the aquifers. Signed M