By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I had more than 1,000 emails waiting for me when I got back from Florida. This was one of them - "Hi there. I was just reading the article on visiting Panama in November as my husband and I, together with a few others are considering a trip there in November for a couple of weeks. We are interested in walking, sight seeing and relaxing in the sun. I’m concerned because November being the rainy season if it would be disappointing for us to do the things we’d like to do. How long does it rain during each day and what time in the day does it usually rain? I appreciate hearing back from you. Glenda Wilkins" November? Bring a snorkel. November is the rainiest month of the year. If you want dry, shoot for January, February, and March.

Copyright 2010 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

Nine families were affected by the flooding of the creek Guayabal, while in Gatuncillo Norte there were landslides in the province of Colon. A SINAPROC spokesmen said eight houses were partially damaged, and one was completely destroyed. The SINAPROC is on alert because more rains are expected. (TVN Noticias)    

The phenomenon of “La Niña” will impact Panama in the next few months, and more intense rainfall is expected, said yesterday the Director of the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) Arturo Alvarado. The official urged the population who live in areas vulnerable or prone to flooding to prepare and to stay away from these places. As for the rains that have occurred in the last days, mainly in the province of Chiriquí, he said that these rains have been influenced by a very wide wave generated by hurricane Alex. According to Alvarado, the forecast for the Caribbean is alarming because they expect between 18 to 24 storms, of those 7 to 10 could develop into hurricanes, and from 3 to 5 could develop into very strong Category 5 hurricanes, a situation that could negatively impact Panama. (La Critica)

Editor's Comment: Alvarado is right. La Niña ENSO conditions generally generate increased amounts of rainfall in Panama, and even though we did have an El Niño through May 2010, it seems like we will be seeing a quick flip to a La Niña situation. According to the most recent “El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostic Discussion issued by the Climate Prediction Center/NECP of the National Weather Service on 3 June 2010;

• El Niño dissipated during May 2010 as positive surface temperature (SST) anomalies decreased rapidly across the equatorial Pacific Ocean and negative SST anomalies emerged across the eastern half of the Pacific.

• Collectively, these oceanic and atmospheric anomalies reflect the demise of El Niño and return of ENSO-neutral conditions.

• The majority of models predict ENSO-neutral conditions through early 2011. However, over the last several months, a growing number of models, including the NCEP Climate Forecast System (CFS), indicate the onset of La Niña conditions during June-August 2010.

• There is an increasing confidence in these colder model forecasts, which is supported by recent observations that show cooling trends in the Pacific Ocean and signs of coupling with the atmospheric circulation. Therefore, conditions are favorable for a transition to La Niña conditions during June-August 2010.

   

Surfersvillage Global Surf News - - I have been saying for years that our best swells are New Zealand swells. If you are a surfer and this report below doesn't get you exited, nothing will. With a dozen different breaks all within walking distance or a short walking distance, you will have your choice of point, beach or reef breaks. This looks like it could be setting up to be one of the better swells of the year. Recent Report Surfline: Beyond that; we're currently watching another large complex storm system moving away from New Zealand. Models indicate that this system will continue to develop through the next few days as it tracks across the central SPAC, setting up a large/strong fetch for Central America. Therefore, if things stay on track, we may potentially see a solid SW groundswell starting to hit on Friday, July 2nd, then peaking over the July 4th weekend and holding into the first part of the following week. Stay tuned for the latest updates on this still very active storm/swell system. Good time to jump on a plane to Panama for next week!   

The Government, through the leadership of the National System of Civil Protection, declared the community of Tataré, in Pacora, as a disaster area due to the property damage caused by flooding last weekend. After the disaster, the victims protested and closed the Pan American Highway as a way of applying pressure and to request the presence of government authorities. Ministers Carlos Duboy, Federico Suárez and Franklin Vergara all went there and after talking to residents the protest was lifted and the street was reopened. SINAPROC Director Arturo Alvarado said the area was declared a disaster zone by the Ministry of Public Works, and the MIVI will administer the resources being made available to help the community return to normal. Just in the community of Tataré there were 111 families affected by flooding and another 150 families scattered throughout other communities in the area of Pacora.

TRAVEL BY AIR - Meanwhile, Minister Suarez toured the area by air and ground to assess the areas affected by flooding. "We're doing an analysis of the areas affected by the rains because we've seen some work being done in a new neighborhood and if there is some kind of responsibility, the penalties prescribed by law will be applied," he said. He added that the most important thing was to help to meet the needs of families who lost everything in the floods and that the Government is acutely aware of their plight and is providing assistance to recover their belongings. Minister Suarez and the Minister of Health Franklin Vergara and Housing Carlos Dubois, as well as the Director of the National Civil Protection System, Arturo Alvarado, assessed the rivers in the Eastern sector, such as the Tataré, Tocumen and Juan Díaz rivers. It was reported that the work to dredge the rivers carried out by the MOP during the summer months helped to prevent even more flooding in the communities of the capital city.

REUNION - The situation will be discussed today by the Cabinet Council, which could approve extraordinary funding to help meet the needs of the residents who live in the Tataré river basin, as well as the Barriada Altos de Tataré, in Pacora. (La Critica)   

According to numbers released by the National Civil Protection System, at least 225 families were affected by localized flooding caused by heavy rains that fell over the weekend. Hardest hit were families living in the areas close to the Tataré river who live in the area of Sector 3, El Pantanal, Belén and Nueva Esperanza in Pacora. The area to the East of Panama City was hit by heavy rains that started early Saturday and continued through Sunday morning. The streams overflowed flooding streets, bridges and even residences. In some areas the water was up to two meters deep. Relief efforts including the delivery of food, assistance, and mattresses was coordinated through the SINAPROC Emergency Operations Center. The residents expressed their frustration because 21 years ago when they moved into the area they never had these kinds of problems, but due to the construction of a new neighborhood on land near the Tatar river may have caused it to overflow. About 100 SINAPROC volunteers worked to help provide relief to those affected by the flooding. (La Critica)   

The heavy rain that has been falling in Panama City since about 2:00 pm this Saturday afternoon has caused localized flooding in many parts of the capital city, as well as minor traffic accidents and congestion on some streets. Several of the main routes of the city are flooded with water hindering the transit of vehicles. Drivers wanting to go to the Western part of the province of Panama have complained of long lines of cars waiting to cross both the Bridge of the Americas and the Centennial Bridge. The Ground Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT) reported there was an accident involving a rolled car in the road leading to the Centennial Bridge, near the exit to Paraíso. Police and traffic authorities rushed to the scene of the accident. So far there are no reports of people who might have been injured.

Additionally, there were minor collisions on Vía Tocumen, in front of Villa Lucre; at the roundabout where Roosevelt's statue was in San Miguelito; and on Vía Ricardo J. Alfaro (Tumba Muerto) near the Universidad Santa María la Antigua. The ATTT report indicated there was also a collision on Transístmica near the KFC restaurant. (La Prensa)   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - There is a wave of intense thunderstorms currently developing to the Northeast of Panama City. The center of the storm system is about 150 miles from the capital, over the Caribbean, to the west of the city of Colon. Current radar images indicate this strong system is moving towards the South and West and most likely will eventually generate some strong rains, periods of intense downpours, accompanied with electrical activity, thunder and lightening. This morning the Director of Panama's National Civil Protection System Arturo Alvarado issued a warning about the storm and asked people to "take precautions" when faced with the possibilities of local flooding caused by heavy rains. I looked at the last ten images available on the Nasa Geos Satellite and it appears to me that this very strong and broad system might be weakening somewhat, but if it does reach Panama City in the next few hours it will still pack a considerable wallop. Also, today is 1 June, the first day of the 2010 hurricane season. Hurricanes almost never hit Panama - but they spawn around here. There have been many storms that start life like this big storm we are looking at right now, that eventually get over the warm waters of the Caribbean, grow stronger, develop into a full blown hurricane and then eventually strike the coast of the United States. Anyway, heads up. You might want to make sure you have your umbrella handy for later today, you might need it...

Copyright 2010 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

Heavy rains in the province of Bocas del Toro caused damages in several areas, particularly in the community of Almirante. Several families were evacuated, and a team of rescue personnel from the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) had to make some rescues. Early reports from the area show more than 600 homes have been affected by the flooding. Several streams and rivers have overflowed their banks due to heavy rains, especially the Teribe River, and authorities had to close the intake for the water purification plant, so communities in the area have had no running water for the past 16 hours. (Telemetro)

Editor's Comment: It should be pointed out that the community of Almirante is on the mainland in the province of Bocas del Toro, while most of the members of the English speaking expatriate community as well as the hotels and areas most visited by tourists live on the islands, largely unaffected by this flooding event. In Panama it can rain unbelievably hard, dumping millions if not billions of gallons of water in a concentrated area over a relatively short period of time. The rivers and streams can't handle the load and they overflow their banks. There are parts of the province of Bocas del Toro that "habitually" flood - every other year or so. Most of the houses in the area are built on stilts, and when the water rises the people just sit around and wait for it to drain away. As a matter of fact if you look closely in the photo you can see a house in the background that's up on stilts - "high and dry" - just high enough to be above the flood waters. These people have been living through this for generations, and they know how to deal with it.   

Heavy rains this morning have caused flooding on several major roads in the capital Panama City, causing many minor traffic accidents and vehicular congestion in different parts of the city. Such is the case on Ave. Balboa, which, according to the Ground Transit and Transportation Authority is flooded. The situation is the same on Ave. Nacional. The ATTT also said the toll booths on both the Northern and Southern corridors are flooded as well. Witnesses reported flooding and vehicular congestion in the area of Via Zaita and surrounding areas. The Director of the National Civil Protection System, Arturo Alvarado, explained that the weather is typical in Panama for this time of year. Meanwhile, the Department of Hydrometeorology of the Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica, S.A. (Etesa) says they are forecasting a "rain storm" for the areas to the East and West of the capital, as well as for Panama City itself. (La Prensa)

Editor's Comment: I just spoke to someone on the phone who called because they could not get into Panama City from the area of Las Cumbres - the flooding in the area of Via Zaita had practically closed the Transistmian Highway to all traffic. Their only option was to turn around and go back where they came from. Another caller said one of their employees tried to drive through an intersection flooded with more than two feet of standing water in Punta Pacifica to try to get to work - only to look down and find the water pouring into the car and covering her feet. She managed to get through the intersection without the engine dying, a minor miracle. These kinds of rainstorms happen several times a year, and are the greatest reason why higher riding SUV's or pickup trucks are the more practical choice for personal transportation. I ride about 18" higher in my Jeep Cherokee than most small little compact sedans and I can easily go through standing water that would flood their engines. Anyway, welcome to the rainy season in Panama. It can really rain here when it wants to - a lot.