I have often heard the expression: "It is so cold, all that is missing is snow," and many people truly want it to snow, without considering the consequences... Last January a rumor spread saying that, at dawn, it had snowed in Costa Rica, on Chirripo, but a while later the park rangers clarified that it was very cold, but there was no snow.
A few years ago it was said that it had snowed on Cerro de la Muerte, and many people actually went to see and play with the snow, or with the hailstorm that had fallen. I do not think they would have the same opportunity to do that on Chirripo if it truly snowed...
The cold we have experienced, is it because of climate change, climate variability, or a normal situation?
Well, certainly there is a bit of everything. January is a time when cold fronts come from the North, now seasoned with a little climate variability and climate change.
I prefer to call all of this climate change and not get into extremely fine distinctions; that makes it easier for more people to understand and, of course, it helps raise awareness of what we are experiencing.
These changes should make us think about whether the way we have built our houses is correct: full of louvers and windows that allow the wind to pass through to "cool down." I have seen some houses with "reinforcements" of newspaper covering gaps.
We have to adapt to the new climate conditions. We have to check whether everything related to rain in our home works (gutters, downspouts, and drains) and whether they are enough for the amount of water that now falls.
We have to see if windows and louvers close with some degree of airtightness to prevent the wind from swirling through the whole house and, of course, those same windows and louvers that these days we want to close well should be able to open in March and April so the house can ventilate.
The country lost a lot of money a few months ago due to the floods we experienced, and it will lose more again in the coming months because of floods. It seems illogical to keep spending on rebuilding and not invest in works that protect us once and for all.
It is time for all infrastructure to adapt to the new climate conditions, but since that will take some time, let us start with our homes: let us prepare them. Let us start by adapting gutters, downspouts, and drains; let us check windows and louvers; then let us continue with the ditch and the storm drain, and then the whole neighborhood.
Climate change is here to stay. We have to adapt.
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