Residents in parts of Costa Rica were bewildered this weekend and through the start of the week to see a lot less rain – a stark contrast to the torrential downpours that have recently lashed countries across the region.

The lighter rain and heavier winds, mostly along the Pacific and in the Central Valley, mean the beginning of a transitional period to the dry season, according to the National Meteorological Institute (IMN).

In a weather analysis posted Monday on its Web site, www.imn.ac.cr, the institute said this period, characterized by alternating rainy and sunny days, will last three to four weeks in the Pacific and Central Valley regions.

Conversely, Costa Rica's Caribbean side, with cold fronts drifting in from North America, is transitioning into its rainy season, forecast to last from November to February.

The hurricane season, however, remains in effect through Nov. 30 and could spur more violent storms that temporarily veer the weather away from expected patterns, the IMN said.