The National Emergency Commission (CNE) has issued a red alert, its highest alert, for Guanacaste and the Central Pacific as the unrelenting rains from tropical storm Alma flood the coast.

Most Costa Rican airports, including Juan Santamaría in Alajuela and Daniel Oduber in Liberia , remain open with international flights running as normal. However, Tobías Bolaños airport in Pavas has been closed since 6 a.m. – except for opening a half hour this afternoon – and remains closed until further notice from national meteorologists, according to Miguel Ortega, of the airport's management department.

Emergency officials have evacuated about 80 people from the Parrita Centro, Pueblo Nuevo and Sibrad areas, according to CNE spokeswoman Rebeca Madrigal.

At least 120 homes have been flooded, the CNE reported, while bridges and roads across the country have been blocked or damaged.

As many as 60 accidents have been attributed to the rain, according to the Transportation Ministry.

Winds have been reported as high as 50 to 55 miles per hour, according to the National Meteorology Institute in Costa Rica . A storm with winds reaching 74-95 miles per hour is considered a Category 1 hurricane.

Authorities have issued warnings from Costa Rica to El Salvador . The rains, which began last weekend, look to continue, particularly along the Pacific as the storm moves toward Nicaragua .

Alma is the first tropical storm of the year. Hurricane season begins June 1.

Read tomorrow's Tico Times and Daily News for more on the storm.