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Weather & Climate in Sámara, Costa Rica

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

Sámara 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 205 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 79.5 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 33 feet.

Temperature

78°F Jan (26°C) 79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average79.1°F
46% above US avg
January Average78°F (26°C)
July Average79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days205 days/yr

Geography

Elevation33 ft (10 m)
Area42.2 sq mi (109.3 km²)
Population Density25/sq mi
Coordinates9.8815°N, 85.5281°W
TimezoneAmerica/Costa_Rica

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 79.5"
109% above US avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (Oct) 16.89"
Driest Month (Jan) 0.08"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

697 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 33 km 35 km
Mar 25, 1990 7 km SSE of Puntarenas, Costa Rica M7.3 79 km 22 km
Mar 7, 1992 5 km SW of Río Segundo, Costa Rica M6.6 137 km 79 km
Oct 24, 2012 Costa Rica M6.5 34 km 17 km
Mar 25, 1990 11 km E of Paquera, Costa Rica M6.4 77 km 27 km
Jul 21, 2000 55 km SSE of Sámara, Costa Rica M6.4 56 km 33 km
Mar 16, 1991 15 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica M6.3 50 km 33 km
Oct 12, 2024 40 km WNW of Tamarindo, Costa Rica M6.2 97 km 16 km
Apr 29, 2004 49 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica M6.2 115 km 10 km
Sep 4, 1996 13 km WSW of Quepos, Costa Rica M6.2 150 km 33 km
Jan 8, 2009 10 km NNE of Sabanilla, Costa Rica M6.1 149 km 14 km
Dec 22, 1990 2 km NNE of Santiago, Costa Rica M6.0 134 km 17 km
Nov 17, 1996 27 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua M6.0 145 km 33 km
Aug 28, 1996 15 km S of Parrita, Costa Rica M5.9 145 km 33 km
Sep 5, 2013 50 km W of Sardinal, Costa Rica M5.9 101 km 19 km
May 13, 2011 7 km ESE of Atenas, Costa Rica M5.9 133 km 73 km
Sep 10, 1992 98 km WSW of Sardinal, Costa Rica M5.9 112 km 27 km
Oct 9, 2010 3 km SSW of Río Segundo, Costa Rica M5.8 140 km 91 km
May 1, 1994 47 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica M5.8 115 km 68 km
Jan 16, 2018 63 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua M5.8 147 km 22 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Hurricane History

3 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 284 km
2016 Otto Category 3 115 mph 133 km
1988 Joan:miriam Category 4 144 mph 243 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).

Tsunami History

6 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 137 km
1990 COSTA RICA Earthquake 1.0 m 85 km
2012 COSTA RICA Earthquake 0.2 m 2 33 km
1952 COSTA RICA-PANAMA Earthquake 0.1 m 42 km
1924 COSTA RICA Earthquake 116 km
1905 GULF OF NICOYA Earthquake 93 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

11 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Tenorio (104 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Tenorio Stratovolcano(es) 1,916 m (6,286 ft) Unknown 104 km
Miravalles Stratovolcano 2,028 m (6,654 ft) 1946 105 km
Rincon de la Vieja Complex 1,916 m (6,286 ft) 2020 108 km
Arenal Stratovolcano 1,670 m (5,479 ft) 2010 111 km
Orosi Stratovolcano(es) 1,659 m (5,443 ft) Unknown 122 km
Platanar Stratovolcano(es) 2,267 m (7,438 ft) Unknown 136 km
Poas Stratovolcano 2,708 m (8,885 ft) 2019 146 km
Barva Complex 2,906 m (9,534 ft) -6050 159 km
Irazu Stratovolcano 3,432 m (11,260 ft) 1994 184 km
Concepcion Stratovolcano 1,700 m (5,577 ft) 2011 185 km
Turrialba Stratovolcano 3,340 m (10,958 ft) 2019 194 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 78°F (26°C) 0.1 in Driest
February 79°F (26°C) 0.2 in
March 81°F (27°C) 0.4 in
April 82°F (28°C) 1.7 in Warmest
May 81°F (27°C) 10.2 in
June 79°F (26°C) 12.4 in
July 79°F (26°C) 6.6 in
August 79°F (26°C) 9.9 in
September 78°F (26°C) 15.8 in
October 78°F (25°C) 16.9 in Wettest
November 78°F (25°C) 4.7 in Coldest
December 78°F (25°C) 0.7 in

Sámara has a seasonal temperature swing of 5°F / from 78°F in November to 82°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 79.5 inches, with October being the wettest month (16.9") and January the driest (0.1").

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