Panama Climate

Michael · 12-15-2006

For anyone considering traveling to Panama and who is not familiar with the Panamanian climate:

The climate is tropical, hot, humid, cloudy, and there is a prolonged rainy season (from May to January) and a short dry season (from January to May). In my opinion January to May is the best climate, although it is very warm all throught the year and many people living in a cold climate find this to be a huge blessing. On the other hand, if you can't imagine what the rainy season is like, let me explain; it's not a little bit of rain like that starts slowly with tiny drops like in the US or Europe, the rain is a very heavy rain (huge rain drops) and from the moment you feel the first drop to when it starts to rain heavily takes less than 15 seconds. You can also tell it starts to rain when you see people running like hell.

Cheers,

Michael

chris · 12-26-2006

How true, LOL

For me personally, the climate takes some time to get used to. I think it's too hot and too humid, but what can you do about it?

cessy · 01-04-2007

So the weather is pretty unpredictable? Is it considered as a tropical climate? In our country it was a combination of rainy and summer, too but because of changes in the weather, the usual schedule for rainy days and sunny days changed.

Michael · 01-07-2007

Hi Cessy! It will rain almost everyday for a few months and then it will switch to a very hot and dry weather for another few months. There are exceptions but generally it's quite predictable.

Cheers,

Michael

themark · 07-23-2007

People run from the rain? That is something to see!

GordonS · 07-24-2007

I've been watching the animated weather map on weather.com and it seems like for the month I've been watching it, Panama weather is quite stormy! weather.com - Caribbean Satellite

coolandhot · 07-25-2007

I do not get the weather channel anymore. I use to have it, but then I canceled the cable to save money. Whenever there is a storm or such, the local news comes on with information about it.

GordonS · 07-25-2007

This isn't the weather channel. This is a link to National and Local Weather Forecast, Radar, Map and Report which gives an animated map of the weather over Panama and to the east. Other maps are available at the bottom showing the entire Atlantic etc. Quite interesting if you are interested in weather and seeing hurricanes develop. My daughter taught in Dominican Republic and we found it useful to tell her when potential hurricanes were forming off the coast of Africa. Not that this is too useful for Panama since hurricanes virtually never strike there but another great hurricane map source is by the US gov't National Hurricane Center

beminde · 07-26-2007

Panama have two season, rainy and dry.The temperatures are practically uniform the year around 73 to 83 degrees fahrenheit in costal areas.In the highlands,temperatures range from 52 to 65 degrees fharenheit.
Tailor Made Servers

panamapal · 07-26-2007

I think I would prefer to live in the high lands. I like the heat every now and then, but I think mostly I would like to live in a cooler area. I have trouble sleeping in the heat.

fellowtraveler · 08-25-2007

Just discovered this forum and am really impressed with the quality of the discussion. Just checked the weather forecast for the next week and am really impressed with that as well. Temperature plus humidity = relative daytime temperature consistently around 40 degrees Celsius. Seems very steamy to me. How do people cope when out of the AC? And is the rain continuous or intermittent? Are there breaks in the cloud cover? Is the rainy season hot, wet and continuously overcast? Would appreciate more discussion on this topic.

PanamaPat · 08-25-2007

Quote:

Seems very steamy to me. How do people cope when out of the AC?

If you live on a high floor it's quite windy and bearable, even without AC. But spending some time outside is impossible without breaking a sweat.

Quote:

And is the rain continuous or intermittent?

Intermittent. On average, I'd say it rains less about an hour per day, even during the rainy season. When it rains, it usually rains quite violently, but only for a short time.

Quote:

Are there breaks in the cloud cover?

Yes, but they are small and relatively rare. There are some beautiful, cloudless mornings every now and then, but they never seem to last!

In other words, the weather sucks, at least for those of us who are used to cooler climates. But then again, most people are not here for the weather.

panamapal · 08-25-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by PanamaPat

In other words, the weather sucks, at least for those of us who are used to cooler climates. But then again, most people are not here for the weather.

I don't mind the weather. It's nothing to brag about, but I don't have a problem with it.

GlobalGreen · 08-27-2007

I love the climate we have here... it never gets cold! and when it's sunny and dry it's the best climate you could hope for. Whenever I return to a colder climate I long for Panama (a lot!).

themark · 08-28-2007

I find the weather is very different on the beaches than more inland. I like it better near the beaches, but the storms are a little worse.

fellowtraveler · 09-05-2007

I take it that during the rainy season people spend a lot of time indoors. Does that defeat the purpose of living in a tropical paradise?

coolandhot · 09-05-2007

I've seen people go out in the rain. It doesn't rain for the whole rainy season. And, most days you will at least have some breaks from the rain.

Lalaguayaba · 09-06-2007

People don't melt! Of course life goes on as usual when it rains; people go to work, kids go to school, friends go out dancing and drinking...

Its not like rain in Seattle all winter, where its a constant cold, grey nastiness; its humid, sultry rain that pours down---and then stops. Would you ask if ppl went out in the rain in Seattle?

Cheers.

expatplayer · 09-07-2007

When I was a kid, I use to love going out to play in the rain. I don't remember why.

MonAmb · 10-14-2007

I was told that the climate is very much tropical with humidity levels high and heat levels even higher!

I think that tropical weather is always the most unpredictable because the weather can change whenever it wants although that is what is happening all over the world as a result of global warming. I can see the weather in my country becoming somewhat tropical and everyone is beginning to accept that fact.

zhinghur · 12-13-2007

Thats a good news for me , as i will there in march. But One Question, isnt't global warming affecting the climate there ??

nuaeman · 12-14-2007

zhinghur, although there would a global warming, but you still can avoid it by going to the panama beaches..