All Countries
Weather & Climate in Puerto Cortés, Costa Rica
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Puerto Cortés has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 80°F (26°C). Winters average 79°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 139 sunny days per year, below the national average of 205. Annual precipitation totals 131.8 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 72 feet.
Temperature
79°F Jan (26°C)
80°F Jul (27°C)
| Annual Average | 79.6°F |
| 47% above US avg | |
| January Average | 79°F (26°C) |
| July Average | 80°F (27°C) |
| Sunny Days | 139 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 72 ft (22 m) |
| Area | 214.2 sq mi (554.8 km²) |
| Population Density | 18/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 8.9617°N, 83.5246°W |
| Timezone | America/Costa_Rica |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
887 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 | 95 km | 10 km |
| Aug 20, 1999 | 42 km S of Quepos, Costa Rica | M6.9 | 70 km | 20 km |
| Jul 31, 2002 | 14 km SE of Punta de Burica, Panama | M6.5 | 140 km | 10 km |
| Apr 28, 1990 | 8 km SSE of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica | M6.4 | 9 km | 23 km |
| Jun 16, 2002 | 55 km WSW of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica | M6.4 | 55 km | 35 km |
| Apr 24, 1991 | 16 km SE of La Suiza, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 87 km | 13 km |
| Jun 26, 2019 | 4 km SE of Aserrío de Gariché, Panama | M6.2 | 101 km | 33 km |
| May 4, 1991 | 16 km NE of Changuinola, Panama | M6.2 | 138 km | 10 km |
| Sep 4, 1996 | 13 km WSW of Quepos, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 93 km | 33 km |
| Feb 4, 2004 | 2 km S of Finca Blanco, Panama | M6.1 | 98 km | 29 km |
| Aug 7, 2002 | 20 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | M6.0 | 142 km | 10 km |
| Dec 22, 1990 | 2 km NNE of Santiago, Costa Rica | M6.0 | 132 km | 17 km |
| Jun 1, 2010 | 12 km SSW of Quepos, Costa Rica | M6.0 | 85 km | 18 km |
| May 12, 2019 | 1 km W of Breñón, Panama | M6.0 | 85 km | 19 km |
| Feb 13, 2012 | 27 km S of Quepos, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 70 km | 16 km |
| May 20, 2010 | 25 km SW of Quepos, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 91 km | 21 km |
| Mar 11, 2009 | 15 km SW of Golfito, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 63 km | 17 km |
| Aug 28, 1996 | 15 km S of Parrita, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 98 km | 33 km |
| Jun 30, 2005 | 3 km W of Progreso, Panama | M5.9 | 92 km | 38 km |
| May 1, 2006 | 7 km NNW of Limones, Panama | M5.9 | 113 km | 13 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
1 hurricane (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 3.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2016 | Otto | Category 3 | 115 mph | 227 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 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 | 95 km |
| 1941 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.2 m | 6 | 46 km |
| 1983 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | 6 | 57 km |
| 1941 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 73 km |
| 1962 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 136 km |
| 2019 | IRAZU VOLCANO | Explosion | — | — | 119 km |
| 1924 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | — | — | 129 km |
| 1854 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Eruption + Earthquake | — | — | 77 km |
| 1822 | MATINA | Earthquake | — | — | 83 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
5 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Irazu (119 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Irazu | Stratovolcano | 3,432 m (11,260 ft) | 1994 | 119 km |
| Turrialba | Stratovolcano | 3,340 m (10,958 ft) | 2019 | 121 km |
| Barva | Complex | 2,906 m (9,534 ft) | -6050 | 145 km |
| Poas | Stratovolcano | 2,708 m (8,885 ft) | 2019 | 158 km |
| Platanar | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,267 m (7,438 ft) | Unknown | 175 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 79°F (26°C) | 2.4 in | |
| February | 79°F (26°C) | 1.9 in | Driest |
| March | 82°F (28°C) | 3.0 in | |
| April | 82°F (28°C) | 7.3 in | Warmest |
| May | 81°F (27°C) | 14.5 in | |
| June | 80°F (26°C) | 13.5 in | |
| July | 80°F (27°C) | 14.2 in | |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 16.0 in | |
| September | 79°F (26°C) | 17.6 in | |
| October | 78°F (26°C) | 21.8 in | Wettest |
| November | 78°F (25°C) | 14.5 in | Coldest |
| December | 78°F (26°C) | 5.2 in |
Puerto Cortés has a seasonal temperature swing of 4°F / from 78°F in November to 82°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 131.8 inches, with October being the wettest month (21.8") and February the driest (1.9").