Costa Rica’s National Meteorological Institute (IMN, in Spanish) said rains were abating in much of the country in their 7 p.m. report on Thursday, Oct. 5, with Tropical Storm Nate drifting northwards.

The storm is located 75km west of Puerto Lempira in Honduras and continues to move at a speed of 17km/h north-northwest towards the Gulf of Honduras. The storm is expected to traverse the Gulf of Honduras tonight and Friday morning.

In Costa Rica this has meant a decrease in rain in the Central Valley towards the end of this afternoon; however, intermittent rainfall continues to occur in the Pacific.

In addition, the Colorado River is swollen in several parts of Siquirres, Limón. The Reventazón river is also much widened from rain, as is the Sixaola river which is affecting Paraiso and other parts of Cartago, as are other rivers in the country.

Since 12 midnight, Ciudad Cortés received 252 mm of rain, Quepos  226 mm, the Palmares-Zarcero-Grecia and Naranjo area 130 mm, and Heredia 103 mm, said Costa Rican meteorologists.

The Costa Rican weather forecast for tonight calls for scattered rainfall in Guanacaste, and the Central and South Pacific regions (25-140 mm); and amounts of under 50 mm in scattered regions, mainly mountainous areas of the rest of the country.

On Friday there will be a significant decrease in rainy conditions throughout the country, said the IMN.

However, meteorologists warn that the following areas have saturated soils, and high probability of flooding if there is more rain, as well as potential for landslides: Cartago, El Guarco, Perez Zeledon, Buenos Aires, Osa, Santa Cruz, Los Chiles, San Carlos, Guatuso, Upala, Leon Cortés, Nicoya, Hojancha, Tarrazú, Coto Brus, Cañas, Bagaces, Tilarán, Abangares, Mora, Acosta, Puriscal, Parrita, Turrubares, Aguirre, Liberia, Carrillo, Puntarenas, Nandayure, Dota, Paraíso, San Ramon, Siquirres, Santo Domingo, Moravia, Santa Ana, Belén, Alajuela, Poás, Santa Bárbara, Mora, San Carlos, Valverde Vega, Palmares, Grecia, Naranjo, Atenas, Poás, San José, Curridabat, Desamparados, La Unión, Aguirre, Alfaro Ruiz, Montes de Oro, Esparza, Garabito, Carrillo, Vázquez de Coronado, San Rafael, San Mateo, Orotina, Oreamuno, Corredores, Jiménez, and Turrialba.

Emergency officials urge people to exercise great caution when transiting areas vulnerable to flooding as  sewer systems, soils, rivers and streams are overwhelmed which can also lead to landslides even after the rains have stopped.

Sea navigation is not recommended due to choppy sea conditions and very high waves in coastal areas throughout the country, including Cocos Island, said the IMN.

Stay tuned for updates