Climate of Panama

Climate of Panama

Where is the country of Panama located? Panama is a country on the isthmus linking Central and South America. The Republic of Panama has a tropical climate, ranging from a tropical rainforest climate along the border areas with Costa Rica and Colombia to a monsoon climate in the west and a tropical savanna climate in central Panama. Wherever you go in Panama, it is always tropically warm, with temperatures around thirty degrees. In the spring, from February to May, temperatures can reach as high as 34-35 degrees. Because there is always a fairly high relative humidity, it always feels clammy and stuffy in Panama. People who have ever been to a tropical area will immediately recognize the specific dampness and the accompanying smell.

Rainy season

Most of Panama has a real rainy season, which runs from early May to mid-December. Although the air temperatures are somewhat tempered by the frequent cloud cover during this period, it does not feel any less hot. This has to do with the increasing humidity as a result of the many millimeters of rain that fall. Evaporation creates a lot of moisture in the air and a higher perceived temperature.

With the exception of the rainforests, most rain falls in the form of often very strong showers, which can sometimes last for several hours during the rainy season. In the tropical rainforests, the chance of prolonged rains in the monsoon period is very high.

Bergen

Right through Panama you have three mountain zones. In the east you have the San Blas Mountains, in the middle the Central Mountains and in the west the Corderilla de Talamanca. This last mountain range houses the highest point of Panama: the volcano Barú, with a peak of 3474 meters. In the highest areas, above 2,000 meters, temperatures can drop significantly at night, reaching around freezing. Some atlases and climate guides classify this part of Panama as a high mountain climate.

The hurricane

Because of its protected location relative to the Caribbean, hurricanes have no chance of reaching Panama. Natural disasters such as floods, landslides, tornadoes and earthquakes also rarely occur in Panama.

Besides the fact that the distance between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean was the most suitable for the construction of the Panama Canal, the low risk of natural disasters was also decisive for the construction of this world wonder.

Uv-straling

The power of the sun is great in Panama. The UV index can reach the maximum value of 11 throughout the year, with the exception of December, in which the already very high value of solar power 10 is the maximum achievable. Even on cloudy days there is a serious risk of sunburn and with prolonged exposure an increased risk of skin cancer. Protective clothing (also against mosquitoes) and/or a lot of lubrication can protect you against the bright sun.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

Maximum temperature Minimum temperature Hours of sunshine per day Days of rainfall per month Water temperature
January 30℃ 22℃ 7 10 27℃
February 31℃ 22℃ 8 9 27℃
March 32℃ 23℃ 8 7 28℃
April 33℃ 24℃ 8 9 28℃
May 32℃ 24℃ 7 18 28℃
June 31℃ 23℃ 7 20 28℃
July 31℃ 23℃ 6 22 28℃
August 30℃ 23℃ 6 23 29℃
September 30℃ 23℃ 5 21 29℃
October 29℃ 22℃ 5 22 29℃
November 28℃ 22℃ 6 24 28℃
December 29℃ 22℃ 7 16 28℃

Best time to visit Panama

Do you want to know when is the best time to travel to Panama? You can determine the best time to travel to a destination based on the weather and climate. In addition, there are other factors that are not directly related to the weather and that can influence the best travel periods for a travel destination. Think, for example, of holidays or festive periods, which makes traveling more interesting or not, because daily life comes to a standstill as a result. The Republic of Panama is the southernmost country in Central America. Whoever divides the continent of America in two, will consider Panama as the lowest country of North America. Panama largely has a tropical climate. Which tropical climate type exactly applies to a specific destination depends on the precipitation pattern. The monsoon climate is most common, followed by the tropical rainforest climate, which occurs mainly in the northwest of Panama. The mountains in western Panama have a cooler climate. In this Cordillera de Talamanca, the more temperate climates predominate.

Best months

The best time to travel for a holiday in Panama is from February to April. This is the period in almost the entire country when there is less rain, the sun shows itself more often and the temperatures are tropical in a large part of the country. Because the amount of rain on the Caribbean coast already increases in April, we would opt for February or March if you want to make a tour through Panama.

Regen

Panama has quite a bit of difference in the amounts of rain. In Panama City, the counter usually hangs between 1600 and 1800 millimeters within a calendar year. In Colon, which lies on the other side of the Panama Canal, rain falls almost double. The popular destination Boquete can also count on roughly three thousand millimeters of rain. During the wet season, which runs from May to November, it can be quite hectic. Heavy rain showers combined with thunderstorms can cause serious nuisance.

Temperatures

In Panama you have to deal with tropical temperatures almost everywhere. That means maximums of around or just above 30 degrees and minimums that are around 23 to 26 degrees. It stays sultry for a long time in Panama. During the dry season you can see the temperatures rise slightly. Once the rainy season starts, temperatures drop slightly.

Panama