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Climate in Panama


Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine

Flag - Panama

Map - Panama

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In Panama, the climate is equatorial, hot and rainy all year round, on the north coast, facing the Caribbean Sea. On the southern side, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the climate is tropical, hot all year round, but with a rainy season from May to November and a dry season from December to April.
Panama is a Central American country located just north of the Equator.

The climate in detail


  • The seasons
  • North-west - Bocas Town
  • North side - Colón
  • South side - Panama City
  • The south-west - Santiago de Veraguas
  • Hills and mountains - Boquete
  • Hurricanes
  • When to go
  • What to pack
  • Climate data

The seasons



As mentioned, since it is hot all year round, the main difference is found in the rains.

From May to November, the north-east trade wind meets the southwestern currents of equatorial origin, and it rains all over the country, even on the southern side exposed to the Pacific Ocean, so this is the rainy season.

In contrast, from December to April, the northeastern trade winds prevail, which bring abundant rainfall on the north side overlooking the Caribbean Sea, especially in the first part (December-January), that is to say, when the sea is warmer, while on the south side, beyond the mountain ranges that stretch across the interior of the country as a backbone, this is the dry season.

The rains mostly occur in the form of heavy downpours or thunderstorms (called aguaceros), usually in the afternoon or evening, but they can continue even in the early hours of the night.

However, there are some variations from one year to the next, which make the weather quite unpredictable, especially on the north side, while on the southern side, the seasons are more defined.

On the north side, temperatures vary little throughout the year, and the humidity is stably high. The south side is warmer than the north side, moreover, the coolest months, or rather the least hot, are usually October and November, at the end of the rainy season, although the humidity during this period makes the heat unpleasant. The hottest months are usually March and April, before the rainy season.

The amount of sunshine in Panama is not great, in fact, some cloudiness can always form, however, it's better at the height of the dry season, from February to April. On the other hand, even in the rainy season, the sun makes its appearance for a few hours a day on average, at least in the plains and along the coasts. The cloudiest areas are the east, towards the border with Colombia, and the mountainous inland areas.

North-west



In the north-west, the province of Bocas del Toro has an equatorial climate, ie with no dry season.
Near the border with Costa Rica, the northern side of the mountain range called Cordillera de Talamanca, where the Amistad International Park is found, is occupied by a cloud forest.
In this zone (see Changuinola and the Bocas del Toro Archipelago), where more than 3,000 millimeters (118 inches) of rain fall per year, there are two periods when there's a relative decline in rainfall: February-March and (a little less) September-October, while the wettest months are July, August, November and December.

Bocas Town

Climate chart - Bocas Town
Temperatures on the Caribbean side are not too high, even though the air is humid. In Bocas del Toro, or Bocas Town, located on Colón Island, which is part of the Bocas del Toro archipelago, the average temperature ranges from 26 °C (78 °F) in December to 28 °C (82.5 °F) in May and June.
In this zone, the period of the northeastern trade winds, though rainy, is quite sunny, especially in February and March, when the rains become a little less frequent.
On the north side of Panama, the sea is warm all year round.

Apart from to the northwest, there are other areas of Panama that have an equatorial climate: the northern slopes of the highest mountains, and, in the south-east, the interior of the Darién Province, on the border with Colombia, where an impenetrable rainforest grows, so much so that even the Pan-American Highway, which otherwise would connect the whole American continent from Alaska to Patagonia, is interrupted south of Yaviza (the interruption is called "Darién Gap"). In this area, more than 3,000 mm (118 in) of rain fall per year, and the only time when precipitation goes down to around 150 mm (6 in) per month is January to March.

North side



In the rest of the coast overlooking the Caribbean Sea, it rains more than on the southern side, there is a decrease in rainfall from January to April, which is more pronounced than in the northwest.

Colón

Climate chart - Colón
In Colón, near the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal, rainfall amounts to 3,300 mm (130 in) per year. In the wettest month, November, the rains become monsoon-like, reaching as high as 550 mm (21.5 in) in a month.

North-east of Colón, we find the San Blas archipelago, made up of coral islands which are inhabited by the Kuna Indians.

South side



The southern side, being leeward from the trade winds, is a bit hotter and less rainy than the northern side.

Panama City

Panama City, where is located
Panama City, where is located
Climate chart - Panama City
In Panama City, the capital, located on the south coast, at 9 degrees north latitude, the monthly average temperature ranges from 27 °C (80.5 °F) in October and November to 28.5 °C (83 °F) in April. The January-April period is the hottest, driest and sunniest of the year, although the humidity is lower than in the rainy period. The hottest months are March and April.
In Panama city, rainfall amounts to about 1,900 mm (75 in) per year, almost all of it falling in the rainy season, from May to mid-December. This period is also characterized by hot and muggy weather, with poor sunshine.
In the south side of Panama too, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round: the water temperature ranges from 26.5 °C to 28.5 °C (80 °F to 83 °F).

Panama City

The south-west



Panama, southwest

In the southern plain to the west of the Gulf of Panana (see David, Santiago) and in the Azuero Peninsula, the rainfall drops below 100 mm (4 in) already in December. During the dry season, the sun shines along the coast and it is very hot in the interior, with highs around 35 °C (95 °F).

Santiago de Veraguas

Climate chart - Santiago
In Santiago de Veraguas, in the inland plain, on the hottest days, which generally occur from February to April, the temperature reaches 36/37 °C (97/99 °F), but can sometimes reach 38/39 °C (100/102 °F), especially in El Niño years, such as 1998 and 2016.
In Santiago de Veraguas, almost 2,500 mm (98 in) of rain fall per year.

South of the coast, we find the pristine island of Coiba, which is home to a national park, and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the southern provinces of Herrera, Coclé and Los Santos, in the part overlooking the Gulf of Panama (see Anton, Chitré, in the small area circled in light red), precipitation drops to around 1,500 millimeters (60 inches) per year. In this region, the vegetation is less thick, in fact, there are also grasslands and shrubs.
In the interior, in the Sarigua National Park, there is even a desert, actually due to deforestation occurred during the last century to make room for grazing, rather than to the climate.

Hills and mountains



To find a bit of cool weather, you have to climb above 1,000 meters (3,300 feet), in the so-called tierras templadas ("temperate lands"), which have a milder climate.

Boquete

Climate chart - Boquete
In Boquete, 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) above sea level, on the slopes of Barú volcano, which is the highest peak in Panama with its 3,475 meters (11,401 feet), the average temperature hovers between 19 °C and 20.5 °C (66 °F and 69 °F) throughout the year.
In Boquete, 3,200 mm (125 in) of rain fall per year; rainfall exceeds 300 mm (12 in) from May to November, while it drops below 100 mm (4 in) per month from January to March.

Above 2,000 meters (6,500 feet), in the tierras frías ("cold lands"), nights can be cold, especially during the period from December to March. Above 3,000 meters (10,000 ft), it can get cold even during the day.

Hurricanes



Panama is almost always spared from hurricanes, which pass through the Caribbean Sea and Central America at a higher latitude.
The only hurricane that hit Panama in historical times was Martha, which followed an abnormal trajectory (from north to south) and hit the coast in Mosquito Gulf, in November 1969. More recently, two hurricanes, Otto in November 2016 and Nate in November 2017, have affected Panama, even though they affected the Caribbean Sea more to the north.
However, the hurricane season runs from June to November, even though at such a low latitude they almost always form at the end of the period, that is, in October and November.

When to go



The best time to visit Panama as a whole runs from February to April, and in particular, the months of February and March: it's hot almost everywhere, the sun shines and there is little rain, except on the north-west and in the interior of the Darién province, where rainfall is quite frequent even during this period.
On the southern side, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, you can go from December to April, with a preference for December and January because from February to April it is very hot, especially in inland areas.

What to pack



For plains and coasts: bring lightweight clothes, and a light sweatshirt for the evening and for air conditioning. In the rainy season (from May to mid-December in Panama City, and throughout the year in the areas having an equatorial climate), you can add a light raincoat or umbrella. When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.
For the tierras templadas: all year round, bring light clothing, and a sweatshirt or sweater for the evening; a raincoat or umbrella in the rainy season. In the dry season, sunscreen and a sun hat.
For the tierras frías: throughout the year, bring clothes for spring and autumn, a T-shirt for the day, and a sweater or sweatshirt and a jacket for the evening; a raincoat or umbrella in the rainy season.
For high mountains: bring warm clothes, a jacket, and hiking boots.

Climate data - Panama


Temperatures: °C, Precipitation: mm
Anton
Anton, location on the map
Anton, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.212222222222212121212122
Max temp.333435353534333433333333
Precip.30554017019017019521525521590
Prec. days2113121413151518156
Day length117119121123125126126124122119117116
Sea temp282727282828282828282828

Bocas Town
Bocas Town, location on the map
Bocas Town, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.242424252525252525252423
Max temp.303030303131303030292928
Precip.245190180280325280380330195215335390
Humidity75%75%75%75%75%74%79%75%74%75%78%78%
Day length117118121123126127126124122119117116
Sun hours789887766667
Sea temp282828292929292929292828

Boquete (1.200 meters)
Boquete, location on the map
Boquete, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.161516161717171717161616
Max temp.232324242424242423242323
Precip.807090225425345240320395525370160
Prec. days13109112022232422232118
Day length117119121123125126126124122119117116

Chitré
Chitré, location on the map
Chitré, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.191920212222212121212020
Max temp.343435353534343434343433
Precip.1005201101359512516022512545
Prec. days10028129101314104
Day length116118121123126127126124122119117116
Sea temp282727282828282828282828

Colón
Colón, location on the map
Colón, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.232324252424242423232323
Max temp.292930313030302929292928
Precip.955045125360340380360310395550340
Prec. days97791920222319222417
Day length117119121123125126125124121119118117
Sea temp272727282829282929292828

David
David, location on the map
David, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.222323232323232323232322
Max temp.333435343231313131303031
Precip.35203510029532529034040540029575
Humidity66%60%59%68%79%80%80%81%81%83%82%76%
Day length117118121123126127126124122119117116
Sun hours999754555457

Panama City
Panama City, location on the map
Panama City, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.222223232424242424242323
Max temp.333333333231323231313132
Precip.30101565225235170220255330250105
Prec. days3115151614151720168
Humidity71%67%65%70%79%81%80%81%82%83%82%78%
Day length117119121123125126126124122119117116
Sun hours788776666566
Sea temp272726272829282929292828

Santiago
Santiago, location on the map
Santiago, location on the map
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Min temp.202121222323232322222222
Max temp.333435353332323232313132
Precip.30201010034029023036035041026070
Prec. days3125151614151718178
Humidity65%58%56%61%76%80%79%81%82%82%82%75%
Day length117119121123125126125124121119117117



See also the temperatures month by month

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