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Weather & Climate in Atenas, Costa Rica

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Atenas has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 75°F (24°C). Winters average 74°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 183 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 88.8 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 2,310 feet.

Temperature

74°F Jan (23°C) 75°F Jul (24°C)
Annual Average74.7°F
38% above US avg
January Average74°F (23°C)
July Average75°F (24°C)
Sunny Days183 days/yr

Geography

Elevation2,310 ft (704 m)
Area6.1 sq mi (15.7 km²)
Population Density1,157/sq mi
Coordinates9.9749°N, 84.3789°W
TimezoneAmerica/Costa_Rica

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 88.8"
134% above US avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (Sep) 15.00"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.63"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

634 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.6.

Sep 5, 2012 11 km ENE of Hojancha, Costa Rica M7.6 103 km 35 km
Apr 22, 1991 34 km S of Limón, Costa Rica M7.6 147 km 10 km
Mar 25, 1990 7 km SSE of Puntarenas, Costa Rica M7.3 47 km 22 km
Aug 20, 1999 42 km S of Quepos, Costa Rica M6.9 106 km 20 km
Mar 7, 1992 5 km SW of Río Segundo, Costa Rica M6.6 27 km 79 km
Oct 24, 2012 Costa Rica M6.5 101 km 17 km
Jun 16, 2002 55 km WSW of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica M6.4 139 km 35 km
Mar 25, 1990 11 km E of Paquera, Costa Rica M6.4 52 km 27 km
Jul 21, 2000 55 km SSE of Sámara, Costa Rica M6.4 121 km 33 km
Mar 16, 1991 15 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica M6.3 91 km 33 km
Apr 24, 1991 16 km SE of La Suiza, Costa Rica M6.2 98 km 13 km
Mar 1, 1991 13 km SE of Los Chiles, Costa Rica M6.2 111 km 197 km
Sep 4, 1996 13 km WSW of Quepos, Costa Rica M6.2 69 km 33 km
Jan 8, 2009 10 km NNE of Sabanilla, Costa Rica M6.1 29 km 14 km
Jun 1, 2010 12 km SSW of Quepos, Costa Rica M6.0 74 km 18 km
Dec 22, 1990 2 km NNE of Santiago, Costa Rica M6.0 15 km 17 km
Aug 28, 1996 15 km S of Parrita, Costa Rica M5.9 67 km 33 km
May 13, 2011 7 km ESE of Atenas, Costa Rica M5.9 8 km 73 km
Feb 13, 2012 27 km S of Quepos, Costa Rica M5.9 93 km 16 km
May 20, 2010 25 km SW of Quepos, Costa Rica M5.9 81 km 21 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Hurricane History

4 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 4.

Year Name Category Max Wind Closest
2022 Julia Category 1 86 mph 261 km
2016 Otto Category 3 115 mph 114 km
1996 Cesar Category 1 86 mph 251 km
1988 Joan:miriam Category 4 144 mph 214 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).

Tsunami History

8 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 90 147 km
1950 COSTA RICA-NICARAGUA Earthquake 2.0 m 133 km
1990 COSTA RICA Earthquake 1.0 m 42 km
2012 COSTA RICA Earthquake 0.2 m 2 103 km
1952 COSTA RICA-PANAMA Earthquake 0.1 m 92 km
2019 IRAZU VOLCANO Explosion 58 km
1924 COSTA RICA Earthquake 46 km
1905 GULF OF NICOYA Earthquake 36 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

10 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Poas (30 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Poas Stratovolcano 2,708 m (8,885 ft) 2019 30 km
Barva Complex 2,906 m (9,534 ft) -6050 35 km
Platanar Stratovolcano(es) 2,267 m (7,438 ft) Unknown 36 km
Irazu Stratovolcano 3,432 m (11,260 ft) 1994 58 km
Arenal Stratovolcano 1,670 m (5,479 ft) 2010 65 km
Turrialba Stratovolcano 3,340 m (10,958 ft) 2019 67 km
Tenorio Stratovolcano(es) 1,916 m (6,286 ft) Unknown 104 km
Miravalles Stratovolcano 2,028 m (6,654 ft) 1946 121 km
Rincon de la Vieja Complex 1,916 m (6,286 ft) 2020 140 km
Orosi Stratovolcano(es) 1,659 m (5,443 ft) Unknown 164 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 74°F (23°C) 0.6 in Driest
February 75°F (24°C) 0.8 in
March 77°F (25°C) 1.1 in
April 77°F (25°C) 3.8 in Warmest
May 76°F (24°C) 11.9 in
June 75°F (24°C) 12.5 in
July 75°F (24°C) 8.5 in
August 74°F (24°C) 11.6 in
September 74°F (23°C) 15.0 in Wettest
October 74°F (23°C) 14.8 in
November 73°F (23°C) 6.7 in Coldest
December 73°F (23°C) 1.6 in

Atenas has a seasonal temperature swing of 4°F / from 73°F in November to 77°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 88.8 inches, with September being the wettest month (15.0") and January the driest (0.6").

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