Stormy Christmas alert for Panama

The Emergency Operations Center (COE), has issued prevention and monitoring warning from 2:00 pm on Sunday December 22 until 11.59 pm on December 26, due to a new cold front over the country and strong waves in the Caribbean.

The Panamanian territory remains in a humid and unstable period, with high probabilities of continuing to register rains of varying intensities from light to strong, storms and gusts of winds up to 90 km.

Carlos A. Rumbo P., general director of  The Civil Protection Service (Sinaoproc), said that forecasts emphasize conditions with heavy rains for the Panamanian Caribbean, accompanied by gusts of winds. As of December 23, the intensification of the northern trade winds, associated with these atmospheric systems, is expected. Wind speeds will be sustained from 15.0 km / h to 40.0 km / h and gusts that could range from 50.0 km / h to 90.0 km / h, with the mountainous regions being the areas with the highest probability of winds.

Areas vulnerable to floods and landslides should follow prevention measures. Avoid visiting rivers, streams and mountains. Do not cross rivers since the water heads are sudden and dangerous.