It seemed like just another rainstorm last night, until my little house started to shake and water streamed across the floor. Later I learned that the first major event of the storm season, Hurricane Alma, had passed close by on its way to landfall near the city of Leon, 200 kilometres to the north. San Juan del Sur suffered only high winds and heavy rain, but in the area hit hardest roofs were torn off homes and there has been severe flooding. A reported 25,000 people had to be evacuated as a safety measure.
This morning brought bright sunshine and a chance to survey the wreckage. The beach is completely strewn with driftwood washed up by two metre waves that pounded the usually tranquil bay and will take time to clear. A fishing boat that was torn from its moorings and thrown ashore sits forlornly within a few metres of the waterfront restaurants. Alma was only a Category I storm, with winds of 100 kph by the time it struck Leon and its strength is quickly dissipating as it moves inland, but it is early yet in the season and over the next few months we can expect more opportunities to throw a hurricane party.
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