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Weather & Climate in San José, Costa Rica
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
San José has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 80°F (26°C). Winters average 78°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 146 sunny days per year, below the national average of 205. Annual precipitation totals 108.2 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 164 feet.
Temperature
78°F Jan (26°C)
80°F Jul (27°C)
| Annual Average | 79.5°F |
| 47% above US avg | |
| January Average | 78°F (26°C) |
| July Average | 80°F (27°C) |
| Sunny Days | 146 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 164 ft (50 m) |
| Area | 110.2 sq mi (285.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 285/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 10.9519°N, 85.1357°W |
| Timezone | America/Costa_Rica |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
780 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 | 98 km | 35 km |
| Mar 25, 1990 | 7 km SSE of Puntarenas, Costa Rica | M7.3 | 120 km | 22 km |
| Apr 3, 1990 | 36 km SSW of La Conquista, Nicaragua | M6.8 | 138 km | 53 km |
| Mar 7, 1992 | 5 km SW of Río Segundo, Costa Rica | M6.6 | 121 km | 79 km |
| Apr 11, 2014 | 15 km N of Belén, Nicaragua | M6.6 | 112 km | 135 km |
| Jul 2, 2005 | 32 km W of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | M6.6 | 118 km | 27 km |
| Oct 24, 2012 | Costa Rica | M6.5 | 98 km | 17 km |
| Mar 25, 1990 | 11 km E of Paquera, Costa Rica | M6.4 | 131 km | 27 km |
| Aug 3, 2005 | 6 km NNW of Cárdenas, Nicaragua | M6.3 | 55 km | 14 km |
| Mar 16, 1991 | 15 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica | M6.3 | 87 km | 33 km |
| Apr 29, 2004 | 49 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 95 km | 10 km |
| Mar 1, 1991 | 13 km SE of Los Chiles, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 55 km | 197 km |
| Oct 12, 2024 | 40 km WNW of Tamarindo, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 122 km | 16 km |
| Jan 8, 2009 | 10 km NNE of Sabanilla, Costa Rica | M6.1 | 135 km | 14 km |
| Nov 17, 1996 | 27 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | M6.0 | 101 km | 33 km |
| Oct 9, 1998 | 51 km S of El Rosario, Nicaragua | M6.0 | 149 km | 69 km |
| Sep 5, 2013 | 50 km W of Sardinal, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 112 km | 19 km |
| Nov 22, 1993 | 6 km E of La Conquista, Nicaragua | M5.9 | 140 km | 108 km |
| May 13, 2011 | 7 km ESE of Atenas, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 143 km | 73 km |
| Jul 2, 2005 | 34 km W of Tola, Nicaragua | M5.8 | 132 km | 41 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 | 157 km |
| 2016 | Otto | Category 3 | 115 mph | 26 km |
| 2009 | Ida | Category 1 | 81 mph | 264 km |
| 2005 | Beta | Category 3 | 115 mph | 252 km |
| 1996 | Cesar | Category 1 | 86 mph | 181 km |
| 1988 | Joan:miriam | Category 4 | 144 mph | 118 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 | — | 16 km |
| 1901 | NICARAGUA | Earthquake | 1.5 m | — | 149 km |
| 1990 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 124 km |
| 2012 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 0.2 m | 2 | 98 km |
| 1952 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 96 km |
| 1905 | GULF OF NICOYA | Earthquake | — | — | 132 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
15 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Miravalles (23 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Miravalles | Stratovolcano | 2,028 m (6,654 ft) | 1946 | 23 km |
| Rincon de la Vieja | Complex | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | 2020 | 25 km |
| Tenorio | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | Unknown | 34 km |
| Orosi | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,659 m (5,443 ft) | Unknown | 37 km |
| Arenal | Stratovolcano | 1,670 m (5,479 ft) | 2010 | 72 km |
| Concepcion | Stratovolcano | 1,700 m (5,577 ft) | 2011 | 84 km |
| Platanar | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,267 m (7,438 ft) | Unknown | 111 km |
| Zapatera | Shield | 629 m (2,064 ft) | Unknown | 114 km |
| Poas | Stratovolcano | 2,708 m (8,885 ft) | 2019 | 129 km |
| Mombacho | Stratovolcano | 1,344 m (4,409 ft) | Unknown | 133 km |
| Granada | Fissure vent(s) | 300 m (984 ft) | Unknown | 142 km |
| Barva | Complex | 2,906 m (9,534 ft) | -6050 | 145 km |
| Masaya | Caldera | 594 m (1,949 ft) | 2020 | 161 km |
| Lajas, Las | Shield | 926 m (3,038 ft) | Unknown | 163 km |
| Irazu | Stratovolcano | 3,432 m (11,260 ft) | 1994 | 177 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 78°F (26°C) | 6.9 in | |
| February | 79°F (26°C) | 3.5 in | |
| March | 81°F (27°C) | 1.9 in | |
| April | 82°F (28°C) | 1.8 in | Warmest, Driest |
| May | 81°F (27°C) | 7.8 in | |
| June | 80°F (27°C) | 13.9 in | Wettest |
| July | 80°F (27°C) | 13.5 in | |
| August | 80°F (26°C) | 12.9 in | |
| September | 79°F (26°C) | 13.3 in | |
| October | 79°F (26°C) | 13.2 in | |
| November | 78°F (26°C) | 11.0 in | |
| December | 78°F (25°C) | 8.6 in | Coldest |
San José has a seasonal temperature swing of 4°F / from 78°F in December to 82°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 108.2 inches, with June being the wettest month (13.9") and April the driest (1.8").