El Niño / La Niña impact — currently El Niño conditions emerging
El Niño · active now
Drier Pacific slope; water stress, but wetter Caribbean side.
La Niña
Wetter Pacific slope; flooding risk.
7-day forecast — Costa Rica
Open-MeteoShowery week — rain on 7 days, heaviest Wed (29mm). Keep an umbrella handy; brief downpours can flood streets.
- ⚠ River flood elevated: discharge +172% vs normal (peak Sun)
Tue
Showers
26° / 19°
💧 93% · 6mm
🌬 10 km/h
Wed
Thunderstorm
26° / 18°
💧 100% · 29mm
🌬 7 km/h
Thu
Thunderstorm
26° / 18°
💧 100% · 19mm
🌬 10 km/h
Fri
Thunderstorm
26° / 18°
💧 100% · 19mm
🌬 10 km/h
Sat
Drizzle
25° / 16°
💧 100% · 6mm
🌬 9 km/h
Sun
Thunderstorm
25° / 17°
💧 100% · 13mm
🌬 7 km/h
Mon
Drizzle
24° / 17°
💧 100% · 7mm
🌬 11 km/h
7-day temperature outlook
AI weather ensemble · Costa Rica
High confidence· why?
- Ensemble members strongly agree — the forecast range is tight.
Plan for the upper end of the range and follow official local authorities for confirmed warnings.
Model comparison — Costa Rica
4 models · daily max °C| Model | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECMWF | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| GFS | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
| ICON | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| GEM | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 |
| Spread | ±3 | ±3 | ±3 | ±3 | ±2 |
Spread = warmest−coolest model mean per day. Small spread → models agree (higher confidence); large → genuine uncertainty.
Emergency resources
Costa Rica · call now or find nearby
ACTIVE EVENTS — Costa Rica (0)
No active events recorded in Costa Rica right now.
How to prepare
Full guide ↗Drought & water scarcity
El Niño can bring prolonged dry spells, crop failure, water and energy stress, and wildfire conditions.
Before
- Store water and prioritise drinking/cooking use; fix leaks.
- Plant drought-tolerant crops; conserve soil moisture (mulching).
- Track official seasonal forecasts and water-restriction notices.
During
- Follow water-rationing rules; reuse greywater for plants where safe.
- Protect livestock with shade and water; reduce herd if advised.
- Watch for heat and wildfire risk that often accompany drought.
After
- Rebuild water stores before the next dry season.
- Assess soil and replant with resilient varieties.
Extreme heat
El Niño years frequently bring record heat, dangerous to health, agriculture and energy.
Before
- Identify cool places (air-conditioned buildings) you can reach.
- Check on elderly, infants, outdoor workers and people with chronic illness.
- Never leave children or pets in parked vehicles.
During
- Drink water regularly even before you feel thirsty; avoid alcohol and heavy meals.
- Stay indoors during peak heat; wear light, loose clothing; limit exertion.
- Know heat-stroke signs (confusion, hot/dry skin, fainting) — call emergency services and cool the person.
After
- Keep hydrating; watch vulnerable people for delayed heat illness.
Wildfire & smoke
Drought and heat raise wildfire risk; smoke (PM2.5) harms health far from the fire.
Before
- Create defensible space — clear dry vegetation around buildings.
- Prepare N95/FFP2 masks and a plan to seal indoor air; ready a go-bag.
- Sign up for local fire alerts and know multiple evacuation routes.
During
- Evacuate early when told — fire moves faster than you expect.
- If trapped by smoke, stay indoors, close windows, run air filtration; wear N95 outdoors.
- Check live air-quality (AQI) before any outdoor activity.
After
- Return only when cleared; watch for hotspots, ash and weakened trees.
- Keep masks on during clean-up; ash can be toxic.