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Weather & Climate in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
La Fortuna has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 73°F (23°C). Winters average 72°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 163 sunny days per year, below the national average of 205. Annual precipitation totals 99.1 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 1,434 feet.
Temperature
72°F Jan (22°C)
74°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 73.4°F |
| 36% above US avg | |
| January Average | 72°F (22°C) |
| July Average | 74°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 163 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,434 ft (437 m) |
| Area | 72.1 sq mi (186.8 km²) |
| Population Density | 25/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 10.6743°N, 85.1996°W |
| Timezone | America/Costa_Rica |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
861 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 | 67 km | 35 km |
| Mar 25, 1990 | 7 km SSE of Puntarenas, Costa Rica | M7.3 | 94 km | 22 km |
| Apr 3, 1990 | 36 km SSW of La Conquista, Nicaragua | M6.8 | 146 km | 53 km |
| Mar 7, 1992 | 5 km SW of Río Segundo, Costa Rica | M6.6 | 109 km | 79 km |
| Apr 11, 2014 | 15 km N of Belén, Nicaragua | M6.6 | 131 km | 135 km |
| Jul 2, 2005 | 32 km W of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | M6.6 | 124 km | 27 km |
| Oct 24, 2012 | Costa Rica | M6.5 | 66 km | 17 km |
| Jul 21, 2000 | 55 km SSE of Sámara, Costa Rica | M6.4 | 141 km | 33 km |
| Mar 25, 1990 | 11 km E of Paquera, Costa Rica | M6.4 | 104 km | 27 km |
| Mar 16, 1991 | 15 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica | M6.3 | 56 km | 33 km |
| Aug 3, 2005 | 6 km NNW of Cárdenas, Nicaragua | M6.3 | 74 km | 14 km |
| Oct 12, 2024 | 40 km WNW of Tamarindo, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 106 km | 16 km |
| Mar 1, 1991 | 13 km SE of Los Chiles, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 68 km | 197 km |
| Apr 29, 2004 | 49 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 88 km | 10 km |
| Jan 8, 2009 | 10 km NNE of Sabanilla, Costa Rica | M6.1 | 123 km | 14 km |
| Nov 17, 1996 | 27 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | M6.0 | 104 km | 33 km |
| Dec 22, 1990 | 2 km NNE of Santiago, Costa Rica | M6.0 | 133 km | 17 km |
| May 13, 2011 | 7 km ESE of Atenas, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 126 km | 73 km |
| Sep 5, 2013 | 50 km W of Sardinal, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 99 km | 19 km |
| Jan 16, 2018 | 63 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | M5.8 | 129 km | 22 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
6 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 | 189 km |
| 2016 | Otto | Category 3 | 115 mph | 41 km |
| 2009 | Ida | Category 1 | 81 mph | 292 km |
| 2005 | Beta | Category 3 | 115 mph | 281 km |
| 1996 | Cesar | Category 1 | 86 mph | 211 km |
| 1988 | Joan:miriam | Category 4 | 144 mph | 149 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
7 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 | — | 42 km |
| 1901 | NICARAGUA | Earthquake | 1.5 m | — | 147 km |
| 1990 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 98 km |
| 2012 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 0.2 m | 2 | 67 km |
| 1952 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 65 km |
| 1924 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | — | — | 142 km |
| 1905 | GULF OF NICOYA | Earthquake | — | — | 108 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
15 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Miravalles (10 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Miravalles | Stratovolcano | 2,028 m (6,654 ft) | 1946 | 10 km |
| Tenorio | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | Unknown | 20 km |
| Rincon de la Vieja | Complex | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | 2020 | 22 km |
| Orosi | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,659 m (5,443 ft) | Unknown | 45 km |
| Arenal | Stratovolcano | 1,670 m (5,479 ft) | 2010 | 59 km |
| Platanar | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,267 m (7,438 ft) | Unknown | 100 km |
| Concepcion | Stratovolcano | 1,700 m (5,577 ft) | 2011 | 107 km |
| Poas | Stratovolcano | 2,708 m (8,885 ft) | 2019 | 118 km |
| Barva | Complex | 2,906 m (9,534 ft) | -6050 | 134 km |
| Zapatera | Shield | 629 m (2,064 ft) | Unknown | 136 km |
| Mombacho | Stratovolcano | 1,344 m (4,409 ft) | Unknown | 153 km |
| Granada | Fissure vent(s) | 300 m (984 ft) | Unknown | 163 km |
| Irazu | Stratovolcano | 3,432 m (11,260 ft) | 1994 | 167 km |
| Turrialba | Stratovolcano | 3,340 m (10,958 ft) | 2019 | 173 km |
| Masaya | Caldera | 594 m (1,949 ft) | 2020 | 180 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 72°F (22°C) | 4.7 in | |
| February | 73°F (23°C) | 2.6 in | |
| March | 75°F (24°C) | 1.3 in | Driest |
| April | 76°F (24°C) | 2.0 in | Warmest |
| May | 75°F (24°C) | 9.1 in | |
| June | 74°F (23°C) | 12.9 in | |
| July | 74°F (23°C) | 11.0 in | |
| August | 74°F (23°C) | 11.5 in | |
| September | 73°F (23°C) | 14.7 in | Wettest |
| October | 73°F (23°C) | 14.1 in | |
| November | 72°F (22°C) | 8.7 in | |
| December | 72°F (22°C) | 6.4 in | Coldest |
La Fortuna has a seasonal temperature swing of 4°F / from 72°F in December to 76°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 99.1 inches, with September being the wettest month (14.7") and March the driest (1.3").