Q COSTARICA — The traditional decrease in rainfall during the rainy season known as Veranillo de San Juan (Veranillo) or “Indian Summer”, is not expected in Costa Rica this year.
According to the national weather service, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN), this is due to wetter and more unstable conditions that will continue the rains through the week of June 24.
According to Daniel Poleo of the IMN’s Climatology Unit, next week is not expected to see the usual interruption in rainfall between June 23 and 25.
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“It (Veranillo) consists of a brief pause in the rains, especially in the Central Valley and the North Pacific, occurring around June 24, the date on which San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist) is celebrated,” Poleo explained.
“However, this year we are going to have quite rainy conditions associated with the proximity of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. It is expected to be quite humid, and the trade winds will not be as pronounced as they normally are around the Indian Summer,” the expert reported.
These conditions will maintain a high humidity atmosphere, with sunny mornings and rainy afternoons, preventing a temporary interruption in the rains.
Does the Veranillo always occur?
Historical data shows that each year, in the last two weeks of June, there is a 60% chance of the Veranillo.
While there is only a 15% chance that, when it occurs, it will be of severe intensity, typically 7 or more consecutive dry days.
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“It gets this name because it presents dry, sunny days (or very little rain); that is, conditions similar to the dry season for a few days,” indicated the IMN.
Scientific Support
Although the term “Veranillo” (a diminutive of “verano”) was originally used colloquially, IMN climate analyses have shown that it does exist.
“It has been shown that there is indeed a decrease in rainfall around June 24th in the Central Valley and the North Pacific, which are the two regions where this Indian summer season occurs,” Poleo emphasized.
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