San Cristóbal, Panama

Full City Profile

525 Population 15/sq mi density

33 ft Elevation 10 meters

78°F Avg Temperature 26°C

San Cristóbal has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 78°F (26°C). Winters average 77°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. The area gets 137 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 109.7 inches. The area receives 0.0 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

77°F Jan (25°C) 78°F Jul (26°C)

Annual Average	78.3°F
	45% above US avg
January Average	77°F (25°C)
July Average	78°F (26°C)
Sunny Days	137 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	33 ft (10 m)
Area	35.9 sq mi (93.0 km²)
Population Density	15/sq mi
Coordinates	9.2813°N, 82.2676°W
Timezone	America/Panama

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 109.7"

189% above US avg

Snowfall 0.0"

Wettest Month (Jul) 12.64"

Driest Month (Jan) 3.74"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

504 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	99 km
Apr 28, 1990	8 km SSE of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica	M6.4	142 km
Apr 24, 1991	16 km SE of La Suiza, Costa Rica	M6.2	146 km
May 4, 1991	16 km NE of Changuinola, Panama	M6.2	33 km
Jun 26, 2019	4 km SE of Aserrío de Gariché, Panama	M6.2	106 km
Feb 4, 2004	2 km S of Finca Blanco, Panama	M6.1	123 km
Nov 9, 2001	33 km NE of Changuinola, Panama	M6.1	40 km
Apr 2, 2014	33 km SSW of Boca Chica, Panama	M6.0	149 km
May 12, 2019	1 km W of Breñón, Panama	M6.0	96 km
Jun 30, 2005	3 km W of Progreso, Panama	M5.9	114 km
May 1, 2006	7 km NNW of Limones, Panama	M5.9	141 km
Mar 11, 2009	15 km SW of Golfito, Costa Rica	M5.9	135 km
Mar 11, 2009	15 km SW of Golfito, Costa Rica	M5.9	136 km
Aug 3, 2002	4 km ESE of Puerto Armuelles, Panama	M5.8	129 km
May 27, 2013	8 km SSW of Guabito, Panama	M5.7	43 km
Jul 22, 2024	8 km SE of Puerto Armuelles, Panama	M5.7	132 km
May 27, 1991	2 km SW of La Mesa, Panama	M5.7	52 km
Jan 29, 2021	12 km SW of Puerto Armuelles, Panama	M5.7	141 km
Jul 22, 2024	11 km ESE of Puerto Armuelles, Panama	M5.6	130 km
Oct 31, 1994	14 km S of Buenos Aires, Costa Rica	M5.6	119 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	197 km
1996	Cesar	Category 1	296 km
1988	Joan:miriam	Category 4	282 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	99 km
1916	BOCAS DEL TORO	Earthquake	1.3 m	—	46 km
1934	COSTA RICA-PANAMA	Earthquake	0.3 m	—	145 km
1941	COSTA RICA-PANAMA	Earthquake	0.2 m	6	121 km
1983	COSTA RICA	Earthquake	0.1 m	6	113 km
1854	COSTA RICA-PANAMA	Eruption + Earthquake	—	—	118 km
1822	MATINA	Earthquake	—	—	84 km
1798	MATINA	Earthquake	—	—	123 km
1746	MATINA	Earthquake	—	—	123 km

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

Nearby Volcanoes

2 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Turrialba (184 km).

Name	Type	Elevation	Last Eruption	Distance
Turrialba	Stratovolcano	3,340 m (10,958 ft)	2019	184 km
Irazu	Stratovolcano	3,432 m (11,260 ft)	1994	190 km

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

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	77°F (25°C)	3.7 in	Coldest, Driest
February	77°F (25°C)	4.3 in
March	78°F (26°C)	4.4 in
April	79°F (26°C)	7.3 in
May	80°F (26°C)	11.5 in	Warmest
June	79°F (26°C)	11.0 in
July	78°F (26°C)	12.6 in	Wettest
August	79°F (26°C)	10.9 in
September	79°F (26°C)	9.8 in
October	79°F (26°C)	12.3 in
November	78°F (26°C)	11.0 in
December	77°F (25°C)	10.8 in

San Cristóbal has a seasonal temperature swing of 3°F / from 77°F in January to 80°F in May. Total annual precipitation is 109.6 inches, with July being the wettest month (12.6") and January the driest (3.7").

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