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San Carlos, Nicaragua

Full City Profile

13,451 Population 12/sq mi density
95 ft Elevation 29 meters
79°F Avg Temperature 26°C
San Carlos has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 79°F (26°C). Winters average 78°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 154 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 102.6 inches. The area receives 0.0 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

78°F Jan (25°C) 80°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average79.2°F
47% above US avg
January Average78°F (25°C)
July Average80°F (27°C)
Sunny Days154 days/yr

Geography

Elevation95 ft (29 m)
Area1,077.2 sq mi (2,790.0 km²)
Population Density12/sq mi
Coordinates11.1271°N, 84.7779°W
TimezoneAmerica/Managua

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 102.6"
170% above US avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (Jul) 14.21"
Driest Month (Mar) 1.69"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

461 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M7.6. Most recent: M3.8 on Aug 22, 2025.

Sep 5, 2012 11 km ENE of Hojancha, Costa Rica M7.6 130 km
Mar 25, 1990 7 km SSE of Puntarenas, Costa Rica M7.3 134 km
Mar 7, 1992 5 km SW of Río Segundo, Costa Rica M6.6 113 km
Apr 11, 2014 15 km N of Belén, Nicaragua M6.6 133 km
Oct 24, 2012 Costa Rica M6.5 129 km
Mar 25, 1990 11 km E of Paquera, Costa Rica M6.4 146 km
Mar 16, 1991 15 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica M6.3 115 km
Aug 3, 2005 6 km NNW of Cárdenas, Nicaragua M6.3 84 km
Apr 29, 2004 49 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica M6.2 138 km
Mar 1, 1991 13 km SE of Los Chiles, Costa Rica M6.2 26 km
Jan 8, 2009 10 km NNE of Sabanilla, Costa Rica M6.1 124 km
Nov 17, 1996 27 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua M6.0 139 km
Dec 22, 1990 2 km NNE of Santiago, Costa Rica M6.0 149 km
May 13, 2011 7 km ESE of Atenas, Costa Rica M5.9 140 km
May 1, 1994 47 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica M5.8 136 km
Oct 9, 2010 3 km SSW of Río Segundo, Costa Rica M5.8 115 km
Mar 15, 2005 21 km W of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua M5.8 141 km
Sep 8, 2012 10 km ENE of Hojancha, Costa Rica M5.7 131 km
Feb 25, 2010 near the coast of Nicaragua M5.7 147 km
Mar 7, 2005 7 km S of Tola, Nicaragua M5.6 129 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

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

Year Name Category Closest
2022 Julia Category 1 131 km
2020 Iota Category 4 286 km
2016 Otto Category 3 29 km
2009 Ida Category 1 223 km
2005 Beta Category 3 214 km
1996 Cesar Category 1 145 km
1988 Joan:miriam Category 4 95 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tsunami History

5 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 2.0 m (7 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1950 COSTA RICA-NICARAGUA Earthquake 2.0 m 28 km
1990 COSTA RICA Earthquake 1.0 m 136 km
2012 COSTA RICA Earthquake 0.2 m 2 130 km
1952 COSTA RICA-PANAMA Earthquake 0.1 m 125 km
1905 GULF OF NICOYA Earthquake 142 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Nearby Volcanoes

15 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Tenorio (57 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Tenorio Stratovolcano(es) 1,916 m (6,286 ft) Unknown 57 km
Miravalles Stratovolcano 2,028 m (6,654 ft) 1946 59 km
Rincon de la Vieja Complex 1,916 m (6,286 ft) 2020 68 km
Arenal Stratovolcano 1,670 m (5,479 ft) 2010 74 km
Orosi Stratovolcano(es) 1,659 m (5,443 ft) Unknown 78 km
Platanar Stratovolcano(es) 2,267 m (7,438 ft) Unknown 102 km
Concepcion Stratovolcano 1,700 m (5,577 ft) 2011 103 km
Poas Stratovolcano 2,708 m (8,885 ft) 2019 119 km
Zapatera Shield 629 m (2,064 ft) Unknown 132 km
Barva Complex 2,906 m (9,534 ft) -6050 133 km
Mombacho Stratovolcano 1,344 m (4,409 ft) Unknown 151 km
Granada Fissure vent(s) 300 m (984 ft) Unknown 158 km
Irazu Stratovolcano 3,432 m (11,260 ft) 1994 163 km
Turrialba Stratovolcano 3,340 m (10,958 ft) 2019 165 km
Lajas, Las Shield 926 m (3,038 ft) Unknown 167 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 78°F (25°C) 5.6 in
February 79°F (26°C) 2.6 in
March 80°F (27°C) 1.7 in Driest
April 81°F (27°C) 2.2 in Warmest
May 81°F (27°C) 7.2 in
June 80°F (27°C) 13.7 in
July 80°F (27°C) 14.2 in Wettest
August 79°F (26°C) 12.6 in
September 79°F (26°C) 12.0 in
October 79°F (26°C) 11.7 in
November 78°F (25°C) 10.7 in
December 77°F (25°C) 8.5 in Coldest

San Carlos has a seasonal temperature swing of 4°F / from 77°F in December to 81°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 102.6 inches, with July being the wettest month (14.2") and March the driest (1.7").

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