If a hurricane is close to the country, why is it cloudless, even sunny, in a huge part of the national territory? The answer is simple: the cyclone attracts or sucks all the clouds that around the country.
Juan Carlos Fallas, director of the National Meteorological Institute (IMN), explained that this is because the hurricane tries to concentrate the clouds towards the center.
That does not mean that the situation has stopped. If clouds have disappeared in the last hours, it is due to the higher concentration of clouds near Tropical Storm (now Hurricane) Otto,
explained Fallas.
This afternoon the National Hurricane Center (CNH) confirmed that Otto became the seventh hurricane of this season, which is about to end on November 30th.
Otto is expected to directly impact the Caribbean coasts between Costa Rica and Nicaragua today or on November 24th.
Here’s what you should know about Hurricane Otto:
Where would it hit?
Otto would land on Thursday, between Isla Calero and Bluefields in Nicaragua.
How will it affect Costa Rica?
It will generate a lot of rain, winds and waves in the North Caribbean. Other parts of the country could be affected.
Is there a risk of floods?
Soil saturation could bring floods as consequence.
The CNE has already declared red alert in 18 communities: San Carlos, Sarapiqui, Upala, Los Chiles, Guatuso, Río Cuarto de Grecia, Delta Costa Rica, Calero, Las Barra, Tortuguero, Parismina, Boca Pacuare, Pococí, Guácimo, Siquirres, Matina, Toro Amarillo and La Cruz in Guanacaste.