costa rica weather

Most regions on Costa Rica have two different seasons, the rainy season from May to November and the dry season from December to April. And the rainfall almost everywhere follows a predictable schedule. In general, high ridges are wet, and windward sides always the wettest.

Temperatures are more dictated by location and elevation than by season, range from tropical on the coastal to temperate in the interior highlands. Mean temperatures hover near 22°C (72°F) on the central plateau, average 27°C (82°F) at sea level on the Caribbean coast and 32°C (89°F) and the pacific lowlands, and fall steadily with elevation. Balmy San Jose and the Meseta Central have an average year-round temperature of 23°C (74°F). Everywhere in Costa Rica from March to May are the hottest months, with October and September not so far behind.

Generally, rains occur in the early afternoons in the highlands, midafternoons in the pacific lowlands, and late afternoons and night in the Atlantic lowlands. costa rica weather general information. Dry season "summer" on the Meseta Central and throughout the western regions is December through April. In Guanacaste, the dry season usually lingers slightly longer ; the north west coast which is the driest part of the country often has few rainy days even during wet season. On the Atlantic coast , the so called dry season occurs from January to April.

One of the most common inquiries we receive when traveling up north, especially in winter is,” What’s the weather like down there in Costa Rica”? A lot. In more temperate zones, like the United Sates and Canada, people are accustomed to four seasons that, although predictable in their coming, include a wide range of weather conditions such as snow, freezing rain, rain, tornados and even hurricanes. Unlike temperate countries however, Costa Rica has only two seasons: The dry season from late November to mid April and the rainy season from May to mid November. That said, because of its location and geography, there are many microclimates depending on what side of the country you’re in or at what altitude. Temperatures vary primarily with elevation, not according to season. Rainfall in Costa Rica results from the interaction of the trade winds with local topography. When moisture-laden air coming in off the Caribbean Sea encounters the coastline, the difference in surface temperature between the land and the water can often trigger showers. Moving further inland the air reaches the eastern foothills of the country's mountainous backbone. As the air mass rises to pass over the barrier, it cools, and because cool air can hold less moisture than warm air, it rains, causing the middle elevations of the Caribbean-facing slopes to be the wettest areas in the country with average annual precipitation of more than 160 inches (4000 mm).

Below we have divided the country into six zones: Central Valley, North Pacific, Central Pacific, South Pacific, Caribbean and Northern Zone, in order to provide a more realistic picture of costa rica weather trends at a given area and time of year. Of course, it never hurts to check with your local weatherman (or woman) before you travel.

One of the most common inquiries we receive when traveling up north, especially in winter is,” What’s the weather like down there in Costa Rica”? Most people expect a pretty straightforward answer, I mean, how much variation can there be in a country about the size of West Virginia? Short answer? A lot. In more temperate zones, like the United Sates and Canada, people are accustomed to four seasons that, although predictable in their coming, include a wide range of costa rica weather conditions such as snow, freezing rain, rain, tornados and even hurricanes.

Unlike temperate countries however, Costa Rica has only two seasons: The dry season from late November to mid April and the rainy season from May to mid November. That said, because of its location and geography, there are many microclimates depending on what side of the country you’re in or at what altitude. Temperatures vary primarily with elevation, not according to season. Rainfall in Costa Rica results from the interaction of the trade winds with local topography.

When moisture-laden air coming in off the Caribbean Sea encounters the coastline, the difference in surface temperature between the land and the water can often trigger showers. Moving further inland the air reaches the eastern foothills of the country's mountainous backbone. As the air mass rises to pass over the barrier, it cools, and because cool air can hold less moisture than warm air, it rains, causing the middle elevations of the Caribbean-facing slopes to be the wettest areas in the country with average annual precipitation of more than 160 inches (4000 mm).

Below we have divided the country into six zones: Central Valley, North Pacific, Central Pacific, South Pacific, Caribbean and Northern Zone, in order to provide a more realistic picture of weather trends in Costa Rica at a given area and time of year. Of course, it never hurts to check with your local weatherman (or woman) before you travel.