What would a rainforest be without rain? I am not sure what the answer to this question is but it is not something that I have to worry about any time soon. It has been quite a rainy year in Costa Rica. To date we have had 225 inches of rain or more than 18 feet. Compare this to the 18 inches per year that I was used to in California.
I love the rain. It is what keeps everything fresh, green and alive. Here in Costa Rica the rain usually comes in big bursts. The mornings are usually bright sunny blue skies and as the day passes the clouds build up and let loose with a torrent in the afternoon. It might rain for an hour and stop. It is not like California rain where it is a light mist or sprinkle for days on end.
The rainy season in Costa Rica starts around mid April and gradually builds to its culmination in October. The month of October is known for being the rainiest month of the year and as a result corresponds to the lowest point for the tourist season. In fact, many hotels and tourist operations close for the month of October. By mid November the rains have tapered off and it might only rain once or twice a week through April. This is the high tourist season.
In July 2009 we installed a rain gauge at Café Blue to monitor the rain fall. October of this shows 28 inches of rain which was a bit more than the 22 inches in October 2009. We thought that the rains would begin to taper off but have been hit with a major storm this week. In the first 6 days of November we have had 18 inches of rain. There is a major storm system in the Caribbean that is affecting our weather.
Luckily the rain is a part of life in Costa Rica and I wouldn’t have it any other way. You just have to always remember to take an umbrella with you everywhere you go.
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