How Costa Rica Escapes Hurricane Season - Costarica Insiders

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No Hurricane Zone How Costa Rica Escapes
Hurricane Season
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Every year, at the beginning of June, Central
America and the Caribbean hear those two terrible
words hurricane season. Hurricane season
officially runs June 1-November 15. And every
year, this six-month season marks the weather
lottery will it or wont it? The question is, do
you really want to take that bet? Luckily, in
Costa Rica you dont have to. With all but a few
mild exceptions, Costa Rica does not get
hurricanes. But why not? After all, Costa Rica is
tropical. Were Caribbean-adjacent (and our
eastern coast does border the Caribbean Sea). Our
neighbors are Nicaragua and Puerto Rico, the
Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands,
Haiti and the Bahamas. They all get hurricanes,
so why doesnt Costa Rica?
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How to Build a Hurricane The science of how and
why hurricanes (and tropical depressions,
tropical storms, and other related tempests)
bypass Costa Rica is surprisingly simple. Lets
start with how it all begins. Hurricanes form
when three conditions are present warm ocean
water (80ºF or higher), wind (specifically, the
Coriolis Effect or Coriolis Force), and warm air.
And heres the big but ALL conditions must be
present, together and all at once without one,
the whole hurricane equation simply falls apart.
While theres quite a bit of science behind the
Coriolis Effect, the basics are this the effect
is a direct result of the Earths rotation
influencing the turning of winds. As in, turning
into a spiral to form a hurricane.
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Its Just Science Costa Ricas No-Hurricane
Zone And thats the core of it while Costa Rica
is undeniably home to water and air warm enough
to sustain a hurricane, we thankfully lack
sufficient Coriolis Effect to get the whole
shebang started. But, why is that? Again, were
covering the basics and they are this the
Coriolis Effect isnt strong at the equator,
which means that winds at the equator cant spin
fast enough to form a hurricane. And without
that, all the warm water and air in the world
arent sufficient catalyst for a hurricane.
And all this means that hurricanes are at their
fiercest beginning 20-30 degrees from the
equator here, the Coriolis Effect is strong and
winds spin ferociously, picking up speed and
whipping warm air and water into a hurricane of
frenzy. Conversely, hurricanes cannot form
between the equator and 4º north or south, and
they are very rare within 10º. And that brings us
back to Costa Rica, which curves from 9.55ºN to
10.9º N far outside a hurricanes happy zone.
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Hold onto Your Hat Hurricane Effects Felt in
Costa Rica All of the above is the great news.
Now, were going to rain on your parade. But just
a bit! Because heres the get-real deal While
hurricanes typically dont hit Costa Rica, we can
still feel their effects. Namely, in the pressure
systems that form off our Caribbean Coast,
sending wind and rain into the countrys
interior. And, since hurricane season corresponds
with Costa Ricas rainy season, that can mean a
lot of rain. On top of standard rainy-season
rains. So, what does this all boil down to? Green
landscapes and plenty of Mother Natures precious
elixir  water! And to be honest, were glad for
it. Extra rainfall means quenched earth and that
fresh-rainfall scent, lusher gardens and juicier
fruits. And when you live here, youll soon learn
there are few things better than that.
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