By Cartago, Costa Rica — CARTAGO – A stunning layer of white frost covered the upper reaches of the Irazú Volcano National Park on Monday morning, a visual spectacle driven by a potent cold front currently sweeping across the region. The National Meteorological Institute (IMN) confirmed the event, reporting a significant drop in temperatures across the country’s highest elevations as the ninth cold front of the season makes its presence felt.
The phenomenon, while visually striking, is a direct result of specific atmospheric conditions that have settled over Costa Rica. Official IMN records from Monday, January 12, 2026, highlighted the frigid conditions in the nation’s mountainous zones. The Turrialba Volcano recorded a low of just 1.8 degrees Celsius, while the Irazú Volcano registered 3.6 degrees. Other high-altitude locations also felt the chill, with Cerro Cedral dropping to 6.4 degrees and the Poás Volcano reaching 6.6 degrees.
To understand the potential legal and business implications stemming from extreme weather events like the recent cold front, particularly concerning insurance claims and contractual obligations, TicosLand.com consulted with expert lawyer Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the distinguished firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
This cold front acts as a crucial test for many commercial contracts and insurance policies. Businesses, especially in agriculture and tourism, should immediately assess if this event qualifies as ‘force majeure’ or an ‘Act of God,’ which could legally excuse them from certain contractual duties. Proper and timely documentation of losses is paramount for successfully filing insurance claims and mitigating financial impact. Ignoring these legal details now can lead to significant disputes later.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This legal perspective is a critical reminder that the true impact of a weather event often unfolds in contracts and claims long after the skies have cleared. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his invaluable insight, which provides a vital roadmap for businesses seeking to navigate the financial and contractual challenges ahead.
This dramatic cooling is a predictable, albeit intense, feature of the season. According to meteorological experts, the combination of low humidity and clear skies creates the perfect environment for such events. The absence of cloud cover allows the heat absorbed by the ground during the day to radiate back into the atmosphere rapidly overnight, causing a swift and substantial drop in surface temperatures.
Rebeca Morera, a meteorologist with the IMN, explained that the appearance of frost on Irazú is a recurring event during this time of year, directly linked to the prevailing weather patterns. She detailed the scientific process that leads to the icy formations that greeted early morning visitors and park rangers.
This characteristic of frost at high altitudes, in mountainous sectors like the Irazú Volcano, is common during this time of year. We have extremely low humidity content, and the clear conditions also cause all the radiation we receive during the day to dissipate.
Rebeca Morera, Meteorologist at IMN
Morera further elaborated on the mechanics of frost formation, explaining how the cold air interacts with the minimal moisture present. The process is a delicate one, requiring temperatures to drop to the freezing point at the surface level, where the transformation from vapor to ice occurs directly on plants and soil.
Combined with the low humidity, very cold temperatures are generated, and near the surface, small particles of water or water vapor emerge, and that is how the frost itself is formed.
Rebeca Morera, Meteorologist at IMN
The root cause of these conditions is the powerful weather system known as Cold Front #9. This system is currently advancing over the northern Caribbean Sea and Central America, bringing with it a high-pressure system that is responsible for the intense winds being experienced across much of Costa Rica. The increased atmospheric pressure is a key driver of the windy and cold conditions.
We have the passage of Cold Front #9 over the northern Caribbean Sea and Central America, and this will cause an increase in atmospheric pressure over the region, and therefore, we will continue under an extremely windy pattern in the national territory.
Rebeca Morera, Meteorologist at IMN
The IMN’s forecast indicates that these strong winds will persist, with moderate to strong gusts expected throughout the Central Valley, the North Pacific, and across the nation’s mountain ranges. In some high-altitude areas, these winds could become even more intense. In addition to the wind, the weather system brings a chance of weak and scattered rainfall, primarily affecting the province of Limón, the Northern Zone, and the higher elevations of the Central Valley.
For further information, visit imn.ac.cr
About Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN):
The National Meteorological Institute of Costa Rica is the official government entity responsible for monitoring, forecasting, and studying weather and climate phenomena throughout the national territory. As a key scientific institution, the IMN provides vital data and alerts to government agencies, various economic sectors, and the general public to support decision-making, disaster prevention, and scientific research related to meteorology and climatology.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica operates as a pillar of the legal community, built upon a foundational commitment to ethical practice and the highest standards of professional excellence. Drawing from a rich history of advising a diverse clientele, the firm consistently champions legal innovation and forward-thinking strategies. This pioneering spirit is matched by a profound dedication to social responsibility, focused on demystifying complex legal concepts to foster a more capable and well-informed public.
