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Weather & Climate in San Carlos, Nicaragua
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
San Carlos has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 79°F (26°C). Winters average 78°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 154 sunny days per year, below the national average of 205. Annual precipitation totals 102.6 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 95 feet.
Temperature
78°F Jan (25°C)
80°F Jul (27°C)
| Annual Average | 79.2°F |
| 47% above US avg | |
| January Average | 78°F (25°C) |
| July Average | 80°F (27°C) |
| Sunny Days | 154 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 95 ft (29 m) |
| Area | 1,077.2 sq mi (2,790.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 12/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 11.1271°N, 84.7779°W |
| Timezone | America/Managua |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
461 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 | 130 km | 35 km |
| Mar 25, 1990 | 7 km SSE of Puntarenas, Costa Rica | M7.3 | 134 km | 22 km |
| Mar 7, 1992 | 5 km SW of Río Segundo, Costa Rica | M6.6 | 113 km | 79 km |
| Apr 11, 2014 | 15 km N of Belén, Nicaragua | M6.6 | 133 km | 135 km |
| Oct 24, 2012 | Costa Rica | M6.5 | 129 km | 17 km |
| Mar 25, 1990 | 11 km E of Paquera, Costa Rica | M6.4 | 146 km | 27 km |
| Mar 16, 1991 | 15 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica | M6.3 | 115 km | 33 km |
| Aug 3, 2005 | 6 km NNW of Cárdenas, Nicaragua | M6.3 | 84 km | 14 km |
| Apr 29, 2004 | 49 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 138 km | 10 km |
| Mar 1, 1991 | 13 km SE of Los Chiles, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 26 km | 197 km |
| Jan 8, 2009 | 10 km NNE of Sabanilla, Costa Rica | M6.1 | 124 km | 14 km |
| Nov 17, 1996 | 27 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | M6.0 | 139 km | 33 km |
| Dec 22, 1990 | 2 km NNE of Santiago, Costa Rica | M6.0 | 149 km | 17 km |
| May 13, 2011 | 7 km ESE of Atenas, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 140 km | 73 km |
| May 1, 1994 | 47 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica | M5.8 | 136 km | 68 km |
| Oct 9, 2010 | 3 km SSW of Río Segundo, Costa Rica | M5.8 | 115 km | 91 km |
| Mar 15, 2005 | 21 km W of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | M5.8 | 141 km | 30 km |
| Sep 8, 2012 | 10 km ENE of Hojancha, Costa Rica | M5.7 | 131 km | 35 km |
| Feb 25, 2010 | near the coast of Nicaragua | M5.7 | 147 km | 25 km |
| Mar 7, 2005 | 7 km S of Tola, Nicaragua | M5.6 | 129 km | 85 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 | 131 km |
| 2020 | Iota | Category 4 | 150 mph | 286 km |
| 2016 | Otto | Category 3 | 115 mph | 29 km |
| 2009 | Ida | Category 1 | 81 mph | 223 km |
| 2005 | Beta | Category 3 | 115 mph | 214 km |
| 1996 | Cesar | Category 1 | 86 mph | 145 km |
| 1988 | Joan:miriam | Category 4 | 144 mph | 95 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
5 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 | — | 28 km |
| 1990 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 136 km |
| 2012 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 0.2 m | 2 | 130 km |
| 1952 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 125 km |
| 1905 | GULF OF NICOYA | Earthquake | — | — | 142 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
15 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Tenorio (57 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Tenorio | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | Unknown | 57 km |
| Miravalles | Stratovolcano | 2,028 m (6,654 ft) | 1946 | 59 km |
| Rincon de la Vieja | Complex | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | 2020 | 68 km |
| Arenal | Stratovolcano | 1,670 m (5,479 ft) | 2010 | 74 km |
| Orosi | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,659 m (5,443 ft) | Unknown | 78 km |
| Platanar | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,267 m (7,438 ft) | Unknown | 102 km |
| Concepcion | Stratovolcano | 1,700 m (5,577 ft) | 2011 | 103 km |
| Poas | Stratovolcano | 2,708 m (8,885 ft) | 2019 | 119 km |
| Zapatera | Shield | 629 m (2,064 ft) | Unknown | 132 km |
| Barva | Complex | 2,906 m (9,534 ft) | -6050 | 133 km |
| Mombacho | Stratovolcano | 1,344 m (4,409 ft) | Unknown | 151 km |
| Granada | Fissure vent(s) | 300 m (984 ft) | Unknown | 158 km |
| Irazu | Stratovolcano | 3,432 m (11,260 ft) | 1994 | 163 km |
| Turrialba | Stratovolcano | 3,340 m (10,958 ft) | 2019 | 165 km |
| Lajas, Las | Shield | 926 m (3,038 ft) | Unknown | 167 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 78°F (25°C) | 5.6 in | |
| February | 79°F (26°C) | 2.6 in | |
| March | 80°F (27°C) | 1.7 in | Driest |
| April | 81°F (27°C) | 2.2 in | Warmest |
| May | 81°F (27°C) | 7.2 in | |
| June | 80°F (27°C) | 13.7 in | |
| July | 80°F (27°C) | 14.2 in | Wettest |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 12.6 in | |
| September | 79°F (26°C) | 12.0 in | |
| October | 79°F (26°C) | 11.7 in | |
| November | 78°F (25°C) | 10.7 in | |
| December | 77°F (25°C) | 8.5 in | Coldest |
San Carlos has a seasonal temperature swing of 4°F / from 77°F in December to 81°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 102.6 inches, with July being the wettest month (14.2") and March the driest (1.7").