Climate Panama
Located in the tropical zone, between the Tropic of Cancer and the equator, Panama enjoys a humid tropical maritime climate. It is therefore hot all year round, but there are two distinct periods: the dry season called "summer", between mid-December and mid-April, and the wet season, "winter", the rest of the year, with some variations between the Pacific and Caribbean sides. If the heat is heavier in winter due to intense humidity and low winds, the rains rarely last more than an hour or two, and the storms are even fantastic spectacles! The landscapes are also greener and the fruits more abundant. There is no good or bad season to travel to Panama, even during the hurricane-prone months in the Caribbean Sea, between June and November, when tropical depressions rarely reach Panama.
A heavy heat
The heat doesn't change much between seasons, with a temperature range of less than 2°C. On the other hand, the sensation of heat is more pronounced during the wet season, when humidity is higher. This is particularly true in April, the month between sunny summer and wet winter. Temperatures vary according to altitude. In the coastal lowlands, minimum temperatures are around 18 to 21°C in the morning, with maximums around 33-35°C during the day. In the so-called temperate lands, between 700 and 1,500 m altitude, temperatures hover around 12-15°C in the early morning and 25-26°C at the height of the day. It's a very pleasant climate, but drizzle often spoils the fun... Higher up, in the highlands of the Cordillera, above 1,500 m, it can be cool, even downright cold, with temperatures close to zero. It has never snowed, however, even on Panama's highest point, the Barú volcano (3,475 m). Finally, on the islands, the weather is always fine, but the breeze sometimes requires a little wool in the evening, or after a heavy storm.
As for the water temperature, it's barely lower than that of the surrounding air. Sea bathing will refresh you without the risk of hydrocution! Temperatures oscillate between 27 and 30°C in both oceans. Ideal for those with a chill, or for surfing and diving. But beware: these temperatures can drop occasionally during the summer, due to stronger winds and ocean currents. On Isla Contadora, for example, in the Las Perlas archipelago, temperatures can drop to 20-22°C in February, compared with 29°C in June. Finally, if you're more of a river lover, the water is cooler than at sea, but still pleasant, even in the Chiriquí mountains. And if it's too cold, head for the hot springs of Caldera, not far from Boquete...
Air conditioning or terrace ?
This humid heat is hard to bear, even for locals who are used to it. In the big cities, and especially in Panama City, air conditioning is widespread: in hotels, shopping malls, administrations, banks, restaurants, cinemas, transport... The air-conditioning is often set very cold, too cold, sometimes forcing you to put on a fleece to avoid catching a cold! The contrast between inside and outside is striking, but Panamanians love this artificial cold. Until about fifteen years ago, it was difficult to find outdoor cafés, as the capital's inhabitants preferred to stay indoors in the cool. Fortunately, the arrival of European expatriates has changed all that, particularly in Casco Viejo, where it's great to sit out on a terrace in the evening, or even better, on a rooftop !
Heavy rains
A strong disparity characterizes the distribution of rainfall in the territory. On the Atlantic side (Caribbean), rainfall is important throughout the year. They exceed 3,200 mm per year in Colón (600 mm in Paris). It is stormy rain, sometimes violent, but quite short. The provinces of Colón and Bocas del Toro are among the rainiest places in the country, but there are many microclimates. During the short dry season, the trade winds loaded with humid air from the Caribbean Sea are often blocked by the mountain ranges, so rain is not excluded. The Pacific coastline benefits from a much more marked dry season. Rainfall reaches 1,700 mm per year (in Panama City), almost half that of the Caribbean side. The sea breeze clears the clouds and the sun shines through, although this does not prevent a good storm from time to time. In winter, the sky is cloudy and the air is full of intense humidity, close to 100%. A surprising impression of "chewing the air" when arriving, especially when leaving the air-conditioned airport! Apart from a short sunny period of a fortnight in July, called veranillo ("little summer"), thunderstorms(aguaceros) break out every day in this season. They occur most often in the early afternoon (from May to September) or late afternoon (from October to December). We can see them coming from far away. When the wind picks up, the humidity becomes extreme and the sky takes on an inky color, beware! Waterspouts will fall on you in a few minutes. And it's really spectacular! In the capital, they cause street flooding, overflowing manholes and endless traffic jams... To the great displeasure of passers-by, cab drivers have the good idea to improvise a little nap. They are hardly disturbed by the thunder that shakes the glass towers and triggers at the same time concerts of alarm sirens... These rains rarely last more than an hour or two, but they can cause damage in cities with a lot of concrete, such as Panamá City, or in villages built along the rivers. In the mountains, there are also beautiful thunderstorms, but it is more often a fine and persistent rain which awaits the hiker... In Boquete, Santa Fe or El Valle, it is called bajareque. This drizzle usually begins in the early afternoon, around 1:00 pm, so it is advisable to leave early in the morning for your excursions. October and November are the rainiest months, but as everywhere the climate is a bit unbalanced, the weather will always surprise you! To cope with this, pack an umbrella in your luggage. It will be useful to shelter you from the rain or to protect you from the sun, which is intense in the tropics!
Tropical storms
Panama is normally safe from the hurricanes and cyclones that develop in the rest of the Caribbean between June and November. Episodes of tropical storms can however occur in winter, with strong winds and torrential rains, causing floods and landslides. This was notably the case in Portobelo in December 2010, then in Bocas del Toro in November 2016, with each time fatal victims and significant property damage.
