The Costa Rica National Meteorological Institute (IMN) warned of strong winds that will be present throughout the weekend and that could reach 120 /km/h (74.6 mph) on Monday, January 21.

“The meteorological station in La Cruz, Guanacaste registers wind gusts of as much as 102 km/h (63.4 mph). According to the model of the European Center, next Monday, the gusts could be higher than 120 km/h in the Guanacaste mountain range. These gusts have the intensity of a category 1 hurricane, and therefore are very dangerous”, warns IMN.

Winds of this speed could cause accidents with trees, branches, billboards or wiring that would fall. The strong swell could poise a danger for small boats and swimmers.

These strong winds are the result of cold front in the Caribbean Sea, the 14th of the season, which will be affecting Costa Rica as of Sunday; particularly the regions of La Cruz, Tilarán, Arenal, Central Volcanic Mountain Range, and gusts of between 70-90 km/h (43.5 – 56 mph) in the lowlands of Guanacaste, the peninsula and Gulf of Nicoya, the North Zone, lowlands of the Central Valley, Talamanca and the North Caribbean of the country.

Rain is expected in the Caribbean and North Zone as of Sunday night and through Tuesday morning.

IMN recommends to take all necessary precautions; tourists in the different mountain areas of the countries (national parks, volcanoes, etc.) should be extremely cautious. Boats, surfers and swimmers in the North and Central Pacific, the Nicoya Gulf and the Caribbean should expect strong swell and take precaution.