Q COSTARICA — A mass of Polvo del Sahara (Saharan dust) will enter Costa Rica between Wednesday night and continue through Friday, causing an increase in environmental pollution and a decrease in rainfall across much of the country.
This was confirmed by Daniel Poleo, an expert from the national weather service, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN), who explained that this phenomenon will be combined with increased trade winds and the presence of dry air.
“Basically, starting Wednesday night, we will experience an increase in the trade winds, which is being driven by a mass of Saharan dust approaching the Caribbean Sea and entering the country,” the meteorologist explained.
According to Poleo, this mass will have two main impacts:
- A reduction in rainfall across most of Costa Rica
- An increase in air pollution
“Saharan dust will also contribute to an increase in environmental pollution. This will obviously adversely affect air quality both Thursday and Friday, mainly in the western Central Valley,” he added.
Less Rain
After a rainy start to the week in the country, a change is expected in the coming days. The IMN forecasts:
- More isolated rainfall on the Pacific side
- Occasional showers on the Caribbean side
- Dry and hot conditions in the Central Valley.
Air Quality
According to the Índice Costarricense de Calidad del Aire (ICCA) – Costa Rican Air Quality Index, unfavorable air quality conditions will be observed at some stations in the Central Valley:
- Thursday and Friday: Heredia, Belén, Santa Ana, and San José stations will be in the “unfavorable for sensitive groups” category, marked in yellow
- Alajuela will experience unfavorable conditions (orange) on both days
- For the rest of the week, air quality will be good at all monitored stations, including Cartago.
The ICCA’s yellow category indicates potential impact on people with respiratory conditions, children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups. The orange color represents a greater risk for the general population.
The IMN also highlighted that vehicle traffic during peak hours could cause a further increase in local pollution.
Why is Saharan dust so important?
Saharan dust is composed of very fine mineral particles of sand and clay, carried by the wind from Africa to the Americas.
When these masses reach the Caribbean and Central America, they can worsen air quality and impact people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.
The phenomenon is also associated with hazy skies, decreased visibility, and an increase in fine particulate matter in the atmosphere.
“People may experience eye irritation, respiratory problems, and a higher incidence of asthma,” experts emphasize.
Recommendations include:
- Avoid prolonged outdoor exposure
- Wear a mask if respiratory symptoms occur
- Keep doors and windows closed during peak dust concentrations
- Consult a doctor if you experience respiratory difficulty.
Source link
Rico
