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Weather & Climate in Mercedes, Costa Rica
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Mercedes 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 148 sunny days per year, below the national average of 205. Annual precipitation totals 114.9 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 1,962 feet.
Temperature
72°F Jan (22°C)
74°F Jul (23°C)
| Annual Average | 73.3°F |
| 36% above US avg | |
| January Average | 72°F (22°C) |
| July Average | 74°F (23°C) |
| Sunny Days | 148 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,962 ft (598 m) |
| Area | 70.0 sq mi (181.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 78/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 9.2745°N, 83.5797°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.
| Apr 22, 1991 | 34 km S of Limón, Costa Rica | M7.6 | 72 km | 10 km |
| Aug 20, 1999 | 42 km S of Quepos, Costa Rica | M6.9 | 69 km | 20 km |
| Mar 7, 1992 | 5 km SW of Río Segundo, Costa Rica | M6.6 | 132 km | 79 km |
| Apr 28, 1990 | 8 km SSE of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica | M6.4 | 44 km | 23 km |
| Jun 16, 2002 | 55 km WSW of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica | M6.4 | 71 km | 35 km |
| Mar 25, 1990 | 11 km E of Paquera, Costa Rica | M6.4 | 150 km | 27 km |
| Apr 24, 1991 | 16 km SE of La Suiza, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 52 km | 13 km |
| Jun 26, 2019 | 4 km SE of Aserrío de Gariché, Panama | M6.2 | 128 km | 33 km |
| Sep 4, 1996 | 13 km WSW of Quepos, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 76 km | 33 km |
| May 4, 1991 | 16 km NE of Changuinola, Panama | M6.2 | 131 km | 10 km |
| Nov 9, 2001 | 33 km NE of Changuinola, Panama | M6.1 | 146 km | 10 km |
| Feb 4, 2004 | 2 km S of Finca Blanco, Panama | M6.1 | 128 km | 29 km |
| Jan 8, 2009 | 10 km NNE of Sabanilla, Costa Rica | M6.1 | 120 km | 14 km |
| Dec 22, 1990 | 2 km NNE of Santiago, Costa Rica | M6.0 | 103 km | 17 km |
| Jun 1, 2010 | 12 km SSW of Quepos, Costa Rica | M6.0 | 69 km | 18 km |
| May 12, 2019 | 1 km W of Breñón, Panama | M6.0 | 110 km | 19 km |
| May 20, 2010 | 25 km SW of Quepos, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 79 km | 21 km |
| Aug 28, 1996 | 15 km S of Parrita, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 81 km | 33 km |
| Feb 13, 2012 | 27 km S of Quepos, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 60 km | 16 km |
| May 13, 2011 | 7 km ESE of Atenas, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 110 km | 73 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
2 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 4.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2016 | Otto | Category 3 | 115 mph | 193 km |
| 1988 | Joan:miriam | Category 4 | 144 mph | 292 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
12 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 | 72 km |
| 1990 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 147 km |
| 1941 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.2 m | 6 | 76 km |
| 1983 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | 6 | 85 km |
| 1941 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 98 km |
| 2019 | IRAZU VOLCANO | Explosion | — | — | 84 km |
| 1924 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | — | — | 108 km |
| 1905 | GULF OF NICOYA | Earthquake | — | — | 137 km |
| 1854 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Eruption + Earthquake | — | — | 107 km |
| 1822 | MATINA | Earthquake | — | — | 68 km |
| 1798 | MATINA | Earthquake | — | — | 127 km |
| 1746 | MATINA | Earthquake | — | — | 127 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
6 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Irazu (84 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Irazu | Stratovolcano | 3,432 m (11,260 ft) | 1994 | 84 km |
| Turrialba | Stratovolcano | 3,340 m (10,958 ft) | 2019 | 86 km |
| Barva | Complex | 2,906 m (9,534 ft) | -6050 | 111 km |
| Poas | Stratovolcano | 2,708 m (8,885 ft) | 2019 | 125 km |
| Platanar | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,267 m (7,438 ft) | Unknown | 143 km |
| Arenal | Stratovolcano | 1,670 m (5,479 ft) | 2010 | 181 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 72°F (22°C) | 2.2 in | |
| February | 73°F (23°C) | 1.5 in | Driest |
| March | 75°F (24°C) | 2.6 in | |
| April | 76°F (24°C) | 6.5 in | Warmest |
| May | 75°F (24°C) | 13.9 in | |
| June | 74°F (23°C) | 13.1 in | |
| July | 74°F (23°C) | 11.1 in | |
| August | 73°F (23°C) | 13.5 in | |
| September | 73°F (23°C) | 15.2 in | |
| October | 72°F (22°C) | 19.0 in | Wettest |
| November | 72°F (22°C) | 11.5 in | |
| December | 72°F (22°C) | 4.7 in | Coldest |
Mercedes has a seasonal temperature swing of 4°F / from 72°F in December to 76°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 114.9 inches, with October being the wettest month (19.0") and February the driest (1.5").