Without much more than a kiss hello, the rainy season is on its way out.

The transition to the dry season has begun on schedule this week, despite previous predictions of an early end to Costa Rica's unusually dry rainy season, according to the National Meteorology Institute (IMN). Meteorologists project that the duration of the changeover period will be “normal” in the Central Valley and on the Pacific side.

The dry season will begin between Nov. 7-11 in the northern Pacific, between Nov. 12-16 in the Central Valley, between Dec. 12-16 in the central Pacific and between Jan. 1-5 in the Southern Pacific.

On the Caribbean coast, the IMN forecasts 10 to 20 percent more rain than normal for the months of November and December.

October data has yet to be calculated, but earlier predictions indicated a drier-than-average October in the Central Valley and the Pacific – up to 40 percent less rain in some regions – due to the presence of El Niño in the Caribbean Ocean. Meteorologists believe that these predictions will prove to be accurate.