Nomadic Narrative

So, now I can say that I’ve experienced a full year of Costa Rican weather. As I think back, there’s a lot more to the seasons than what is often described as wet and dry. In fact, I’ve learned that it was the Spanish colonizers who named the seasons as they compared to their native Mediterranean climate. The dry months were called verano and the wet months invierno. However, the rugged, mountainous terrain just 8 to 11 degrees above the equator flanked by both the Caribbean and the Pacific experiences all kinds of weather phenomena.

Today, March 13, was a spectacular sunny day in the Central Valley, which at 1150 meters tends to be cool. A strong breeze pushed cotton ball-clouds across an azure sky. I even left the house without an umbrella, which is rarely recommended (read previous post). In addition to being in the middle of the dry season, which extends from January to May, we are also experiencing alisios. Alisios are north-easterly trade winds that sweep the country between the months of December thru April, and sometimes they really pack a punch. Thank goodness it tends not to rain during the alisios.

Though it’s not raining, it’s still quite humid — well over 50 percent. This can wreak havoc on clothing (not to mention your hair) and leave a rather unpleasant odor in the house. To combat the humidity, I’ve invested in a dehumidifier. When I first ran it, I was shocked to empty, just four hours later, close to two gallons of water from the basin. Now, who would call that a dry season.

After hearing horror stories about Costa Rica’s rainy season, I can now say that I have not only survived one but I actually enjoyed it. I even miss the afternoon deluges — the steady sound of rushing water washes away tension as quickly as the leaves on the street. Even though the rainy season technically stretches from May to November, there is a delightful July phenomenon which encourages many to head for sand and surf — el veranillo, or little summer. After el veranillo, is when it really starts to pour, and when it does pour, your friends are not exaggerating when they say it lasts for days.

Stay tuned to weather in Costa Rica’s central valley. Your hair depends on it!