La Mesa, Panama

Full City Profile

1,235 Population 19/sq mi density

52 ft Elevation 16 meters

75°F Avg Temperature 24°C

La Mesa has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 75°F (24°C). Winters average 73°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. The area gets 117 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 120.8 inches. The area receives 0.0 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

73°F Jan (23°C) 76°F Jul (24°C)

Annual Average	74.8°F
	39% above US avg
January Average	73°F (23°C)
July Average	76°F (24°C)
Sunny Days	117 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	52 ft (16 m)
Area	65.2 sq mi (168.8 km²)
Population Density	19/sq mi
Coordinates	9.4959°N, 82.6753°W
Timezone	America/Panama

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 120.8"

218% above US avg

Snowfall 0.0"

Wettest Month (Oct) 12.28"

Driest Month (Feb) 5.79"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

589 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M7.6. Most recent: M4.3 on Jul 6, 2025.

Apr 22, 1991	34 km S of Limón, Costa Rica	M7.6	48 km
Apr 28, 1990	8 km SSE of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica	M6.4	113 km
Jun 26, 2019	4 km SE of Aserrío de Gariché, Panama	M6.2	115 km
Apr 24, 1991	16 km SE of La Suiza, Costa Rica	M6.2	96 km
May 4, 1991	16 km NE of Changuinola, Panama	M6.2	29 km
Nov 9, 2001	33 km NE of Changuinola, Panama	M6.1	44 km
Feb 4, 2004	2 km S of Finca Blanco, Panama	M6.1	128 km
May 12, 2019	1 km W of Breñón, Panama	M6.0	98 km
May 1, 2006	7 km NNW of Limones, Panama	M5.9	150 km
Mar 11, 2009	15 km SW of Golfito, Costa Rica	M5.9	125 km
Mar 11, 2009	15 km SW of Golfito, Costa Rica	M5.9	126 km
Jun 30, 2005	3 km W of Progreso, Panama	M5.9	119 km
Jul 10, 1993	3 km S of La Suiza, Costa Rica	M5.8	110 km
Aug 3, 2002	4 km ESE of Puerto Armuelles, Panama	M5.8	138 km
Jul 22, 2024	8 km SE of Puerto Armuelles, Panama	M5.7	143 km
May 27, 1991	2 km SW of La Mesa, Panama	M5.7	3 km
May 27, 2013	8 km SSW of Guabito, Panama	M5.7	10 km
Jan 29, 2021	12 km SW of Puerto Armuelles, Panama	M5.7	147 km
May 26, 2008	11 km WNW of Finca Blanco, Panama	M5.6	124 km
Aug 10, 1999	23 km ESE of Quepos, Costa Rica	M5.6	143 km

Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

3 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4.

Year	Name	Category	Closest
2016	Otto	Category 3	167 km
1996	Cesar	Category 1	279 km
1988	Joan:miriam	Category 4	268 km

Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tsunami History

9 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).

Year	Location	Cause	Max Wave	Deaths	Distance
1991	LIMON, PANDORA	Earthquake	3.0 m	90	48 km
1916	BOCAS DEL TORO	Earthquake	1.3 m	—	75 km
1941	COSTA RICA-PANAMA	Earthquake	0.2 m	6	106 km
1983	COSTA RICA	Earthquake	0.1 m	6	102 km
2019	IRAZU VOLCANO	Explosion	—	—	140 km
1854	COSTA RICA-PANAMA	Eruption + Earthquake	—	—	116 km
1822	MATINA	Earthquake	—	—	36 km
1798	MATINA	Earthquake	—	—	82 km
1746	MATINA	Earthquake	—	—	82 km

Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Nearby Volcanoes

4 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Turrialba (133 km).

Name	Type	Elevation	Last Eruption	Distance
Turrialba	Stratovolcano	3,340 m (10,958 ft)	2019	133 km
Irazu	Stratovolcano	3,432 m (11,260 ft)	1994	140 km
Barva	Complex	2,906 m (9,534 ft)	-6050	172 km
Poas	Stratovolcano	2,708 m (8,885 ft)	2019	188 km

Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	73°F (23°C)	8.6 in
February	74°F (23°C)	5.8 in	Driest
March	76°F (24°C)	5.8 in
April	77°F (25°C)	8.1 in	Warmest
May	77°F (25°C)	11.6 in
June	75°F (24°C)	11.9 in
July	76°F (24°C)	11.7 in
August	75°F (24°C)	11.9 in
September	75°F (24°C)	11.0 in
October	74°F (24°C)	12.3 in	Wettest
November	74°F (23°C)	10.9 in
December	73°F (23°C)	11.3 in	Coldest

La Mesa has a seasonal temperature swing of 4°F / from 73°F in December to 77°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 120.8 inches, with October being the wettest month (12.3") and February the driest (5.8").

View full weather details →