Costa Rica Weather
Costa Rica is a tropical country located between 8 and 11
degrees north of the equator. It has twelve bioclimates, three
different rainfall regimes and many microclimates, so researching
its climatological conditions can be an almost never-ending
task.
Although Costa Rica is considered to have a stable climate,
it is important to note that different temperature and weather
conditions may be experienced within the same day, or within
short distances, due mostly to the rugged terrain of this
mountainous country. There are two well defined seasons: the
rainy season or winter (invierno), and the dry season or summer
(verano), with basically one main difference between them:
rainfall averages. Dry season runs from December to April,
and the rainy season from May to November. Rainfall averages
for the country may reach the highest point during the months
of September and October -- approximately 650 mm per month.
Seasonal changes don't bring significant changes in temperatures,
although nights may be cooler in some areas during the rainy
season. Mornings will most commonly be sunny all year round.
San José is located 1150 meters above sea level, and
has a moderate temperature throughout the year. It may go
as low as 59ºF at nighttime, and up to 78ºF during
the day, giving rise to the image of San José as a
city with an eternal spring climate. The Intermontane Central
Valley where San José lies has an average temperature
of 68ºF, and may actually be considered as dry compared
to the humidity of the Caribbean Slope. When it rains, temperatures
will drop slightly, mostly because of humidity and winds.
The Caribbean coastline has an average temperature of 70ºF
at night, and 86ºF during the day. The rainy season has
a rainfall average of 224 inches (5,600 mm) per year, along
the coast, on the eastern face of the mountains and in the
Caribbean lowlands. In most of Costa Rica the peak periods
of rainfall occur during May to June and September to October,
whereas in the Atlantic these are the driest months. Though
it is considered to be the wettest region of the country,
rains usually occur at late evening and nighttime. Due to
humidity and trade winds, temperatures will remain low, and
even drop noticeably during rainy nights.
The northern part of the Pacific coast, as well as Guanacaste,
is totally dry for six months of the year. Rainfall averages
only 59 inches (1,500 mm) a year in the northwest and central
part of the country. The South Pacific region is wetter than
its counterpart to the north. General rainfall will reach
up to 197 inches (5,000 mm) a year. High mountainous areas,
such as the region surrounding Costa Rica's highest peak Cerro
Chirripó, have cold, windy and cloudy conditions all
year round. Chirripó remains below 50ºF during
the day, and may experience temperatures as low as 32ºF
at night. Frost and even snow have been reported. During early
morning hours, Costa Rica's highlands usually reach below-freezing
temperatures.
As a general rule, temperatures decline with elevation at
a rate of approximately 3.5F per thousand feet in Costa Rica.
Thus, average December temperatures vary from 79ºF at
Orotina on the coast, to 66ºF in San José at 3.500
feet, to a chilly 43ºF in Villa Mills at 10,000 feet.
First-time visitors to Costa Rica often neglect to bring a
warm jacket with them after reading about the climates of
the coastal regions and the Central Valley. A medium-weight
fleece jacket is ideal.
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