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Weather & Climate in Cárdenas, Nicaragua
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Cárdenas has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 79°F (26°C). Winters average 78°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 201 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 74.8 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 115 feet.
Temperature
78°F Jan (25°C)
79°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 79.4°F |
| 47% above US avg | |
| January Average | 78°F (25°C) |
| July Average | 79°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 201 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 115 ft (35 m) |
| Area | 404.2 sq mi (1,046.8 km²) |
| Population Density | 3/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 11.1964°N, 85.5089°W |
| Timezone | America/Managua |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
1,120 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 | 125 km | 35 km |
| Apr 3, 1990 | 36 km SSW of La Conquista, Nicaragua | M6.8 | 90 km | 53 km |
| Jul 2, 2005 | 32 km W of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | M6.6 | 73 km | 27 km |
| Apr 11, 2014 | 15 km N of Belén, Nicaragua | M6.6 | 64 km | 135 km |
| Oct 24, 2012 | Costa Rica | M6.5 | 126 km | 17 km |
| Aug 3, 2005 | 6 km NNW of Cárdenas, Nicaragua | M6.3 | 7 km | 14 km |
| Mar 16, 1991 | 15 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica | M6.3 | 119 km | 33 km |
| Mar 2, 2004 | 33 km SW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | M6.2 | 145 km | 28 km |
| Apr 29, 2004 | 49 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 69 km | 10 km |
| Mar 1, 1991 | 13 km SE of Los Chiles, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 99 km | 197 km |
| Oct 12, 2024 | 40 km WNW of Tamarindo, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 105 km | 16 km |
| Sep 2, 1992 | 58 km SSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | M6.0 | 133 km | 10 km |
| Oct 9, 1998 | 51 km S of El Rosario, Nicaragua | M6.0 | 104 km | 69 km |
| Nov 17, 1996 | 27 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | M6.0 | 61 km | 33 km |
| Nov 22, 1993 | 6 km E of La Conquista, Nicaragua | M5.9 | 91 km | 108 km |
| Apr 4, 1990 | near the coast of Nicaragua | M5.9 | 110 km | 61 km |
| Sep 5, 2013 | 50 km W of Sardinal, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 93 km | 19 km |
| Sep 13, 1993 | 47 km WSW of Tola, Nicaragua | M5.8 | 89 km | 33 km |
| Jan 16, 2018 | 63 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | M5.8 | 96 km | 22 km |
| Apr 5, 1992 | 50 km WSW of Tola, Nicaragua | M5.8 | 94 km | 32 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
7 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 | 151 km |
| 2020 | Iota | Category 4 | 150 mph | 280 km |
| 2016 | Otto | Category 3 | 115 mph | 74 km |
| 2009 | Ida | Category 1 | 81 mph | 275 km |
| 2005 | Beta | Category 3 | 115 mph | 258 km |
| 1996 | Cesar | Category 1 | 86 mph | 188 km |
| 1988 | Joan:miriam | Category 4 | 144 mph | 105 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
4 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 | — | 60 km |
| 1901 | NICARAGUA | Earthquake | 1.5 m | — | 110 km |
| 2012 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 0.2 m | 2 | 125 km |
| 1952 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 128 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
15 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Orosi (24 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Orosi | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,659 m (5,443 ft) | Unknown | 24 km |
| Concepcion | Stratovolcano | 1,700 m (5,577 ft) | 2011 | 40 km |
| Rincon de la Vieja | Complex | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | 2020 | 46 km |
| Miravalles | Stratovolcano | 2,028 m (6,654 ft) | 1946 | 63 km |
| Zapatera | Shield | 629 m (2,064 ft) | Unknown | 68 km |
| Tenorio | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | Unknown | 79 km |
| Mombacho | Stratovolcano | 1,344 m (4,409 ft) | Unknown | 86 km |
| Granada | Fissure vent(s) | 300 m (984 ft) | Unknown | 95 km |
| Masaya | Caldera | 594 m (1,949 ft) | 2020 | 113 km |
| Arenal | Stratovolcano | 1,670 m (5,479 ft) | 2010 | 120 km |
| Lajas, Las | Shield | 926 m (3,038 ft) | Unknown | 125 km |
| Nejapa-Miraflores | Fissure vent(s) | 360 m (1,181 ft) | 1060 | 136 km |
| Apoyeque | Pyroclastic shield | 518 m (1,699 ft) | -50 | 148 km |
| Platanar | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,267 m (7,438 ft) | Unknown | 160 km |
| Momotombo | Stratovolcano | 1,270 m (4,167 ft) | 2016 | 177 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 78°F (25°C) | 2.1 in | Coldest |
| February | 79°F (26°C) | 0.6 in | |
| March | 81°F (27°C) | 0.3 in | Driest |
| April | 81°F (27°C) | 1.6 in | Warmest |
| May | 81°F (27°C) | 8.0 in | |
| June | 80°F (26°C) | 11.5 in | |
| July | 79°F (26°C) | 8.0 in | |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 8.7 in | |
| September | 79°F (26°C) | 12.6 in | |
| October | 79°F (26°C) | 13.1 in | Wettest |
| November | 79°F (26°C) | 5.6 in | |
| December | 78°F (25°C) | 2.8 in |
Cárdenas has a seasonal temperature swing of 4°F / from 78°F in January to 81°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 74.8 inches, with October being the wettest month (13.1") and March the driest (0.3").