Residents of Grecia, in the province of Alajuela, captured video on Saturday afternoon of a tornado-like whirlwind tearing through their neighborhood, ripping roofs from homes, toppling trees and briefly trapping three people inside a damaged residence, according to the Cruz Roja Costarricense (Costa Rican Red Cross).
The phenomenon, locally known as a torbellino, formed during a heavy storm and moved across Calle Valerio, where Red Cross crews responded to reports of people trapped inside one of the damaged homes. Paramedics evaluated three patients at the scene: women ages 63 and 36, and a 7-year-old girl. All were in stable condition and none required transport to a hospital, the Red Cross said. Rescuers used specialized equipment to free the 36-year-old woman from the affected dwelling.
One neighbor said the event unfolded in seconds during what began as a light rain. “I started seeing the dogs desperate to get inside the house, and then the metal sheets started lifting off,” a resident said. At one of the affected homes, residents reported that roughly half of the zinc roofing panels were torn away and scattered far from the property.
The local Sporting FC stadium also sustained structural damage, according to neighborhood accounts. The Municipal Emergency Committee coordinated with the Red Cross on scene assessment and follow-up support for affected families.
Tornadoes are rare and typically weak in Costa Rica, according to the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN). They form from cumulonimbus storm clouds when warm, humid air collides with drier air masses, producing the atmospheric instability needed to generate the rotating funnels.
Tropical Wave No. 4 to Bring More Storms Sunday
The Grecia incident came as Costa Rica braces for yet another round of unstable weather. The IMN confirmed that Tropical Wave No. 4 is coming today and will produce scattered showers and thunderstorms across much of Costa Rica.
The heaviest activity is forecast for the afternoon in the Central Pacific, South Pacific and the western Central Valley, according to IMN meteorologist José Pablo Valverde. The Caribbean and northern zone will see mostly cloudy skies with isolated rain through the morning, while the North Pacific will remain hot and largely clear before clouds build over the Nicoya Peninsula in the afternoon.
In San José, temperatures are expected to range from 19.1°C to 28°C. The IMN urged residents in areas prone to flooding or landslides to take precautions, as the wet pattern is forecast to extend into the start of the coming week.
For daily updates on conditions across our country, you can go to The Tico Times Costa Rica Weather Forecast page.
