I can remember the first time I was in Playa Hermosa during the rainy season back in 2003 on a vacation. I knew it was the rainy season but with the warm weather, who cared? Not I, as I could still enjoy all the beauty of the area even if I got wet. I remember the day I decided to take a hike around town, it was early in the morning about 7:30 the sun was out and I really enjoyed the quietness of the area, seeing many different tropical birds and the occasional howler calling the troupe and iguanas scurrying for cover. About 2 hours into the hike it started getting cloudy, then a few drops started falling. So what I thought, I am not that far from the hotel, right! Well within 5 minutes those few drops turned into a torrential downpour. I was soaked thru and thru but it did not matter, I loved it. It reminded me of when I was a kid growing up in New York and a summer rainstorm happened and loved playing in the puddles while splashing and kicking water on my friends and vice versa.
However, due to the conditions of an El Nino effect in the Pacific Ocean the Guanacaste area of Costa Rica; especially Playa Hermosa has been experiencing a drought for the last 2 years. Normally in September and October the area averages close to 25- 35 inches of rain. So far this year, as of October 13th, the area has received only 10 inches of rain, well over 50%, below normal years. You may be thinking, what is this guy a realtor or a weatherman? Well, I have a hobby of measuring rain with real rain gauges. It’s just something I like to do.
Reports from the local meteorologists state that the rainy season for Guanacaste is most likely going to end much earlier this year than normal. Not a great thing to hear. Their predictions are the third week of October for the rainy season to come to an end, this is about a month early. I hope not, because the more rain we get the longer the “Green Season” sticks around; meaning the grasses, trees, and shrubs stay full and of green.
One thing that I need to say is, even though we have been experiencing a drought, the Playa Hermosa area has not had any issues of water shortages or rationing like other parts of the country.
So all I have to say is let it rain, let it rain, let it rain.
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