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Weather & Climate in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

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

San Juan del Sur has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 80°F (26°C). Winters average 78°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 224 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 62.4 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 30 feet.

Temperature

78°F Jan (26°C) 79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average79.6°F
47% above US avg
January Average78°F (26°C)
July Average79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days224 days/yr

Geography

Elevation30 ft (9 m)
Area404.2 sq mi (1,046.8 km²)
Population Density19/sq mi
Coordinates11.2529°N, 85.8705°W
TimezoneAmerica/Managua

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 62.4"
64% above US avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (Oct) 13.15"
Driest Month (Feb) 0.08"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

1,471 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.6.

Sep 5, 2012 11 km ENE of Hojancha, Costa Rica M7.6 143 km 35 km
Apr 3, 1990 36 km SSW of La Conquista, Nicaragua M6.8 51 km 53 km
Mar 3, 1996 30 km WSW of Villa El Carmen, Nicaragua M6.7 122 km 33 km
Apr 11, 2014 15 km N of Belén, Nicaragua M6.6 43 km 135 km
Jul 2, 2005 32 km W of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua M6.6 33 km 27 km
Mar 3, 1996 39 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua M6.6 116 km 33 km
Apr 21, 2022 55 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua M6.6 123 km 27 km
Oct 24, 2012 Costa Rica M6.5 144 km 17 km
Jun 15, 2013 44 km W of Masachapa, Nicaragua M6.5 128 km 30 km
Mar 16, 1991 15 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica M6.3 142 km 33 km
Aug 3, 2005 6 km NNW of Cárdenas, Nicaragua M6.3 36 km 14 km
Jun 29, 2004 129 km SSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua M6.3 140 km 9 km
Mar 2, 2004 33 km SW of Masachapa, Nicaragua M6.2 106 km 28 km
Apr 29, 2004 49 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica M6.2 52 km 10 km
Mar 1, 1991 13 km SE of Los Chiles, Costa Rica M6.2 139 km 197 km
Oct 12, 2024 40 km WNW of Tamarindo, Costa Rica M6.2 89 km 16 km
Apr 10, 2014 16 km SW of Valle San Francisco, Nicaragua M6.1 139 km 13 km
Sep 2, 1992 58 km SSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua M6.0 93 km 10 km
Nov 17, 1996 27 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua M6.0 28 km 33 km
Oct 9, 1998 51 km S of El Rosario, Nicaragua M6.0 64 km 69 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 173 km
2020 Iota Category 4 144 mph 282 km
2016 Otto Category 3 115 mph 113 km
2005 Beta Category 2 104 mph 283 km
1996 Cesar Category 1 86 mph 216 km
1988 Joan:miriam Category 4 144 mph 126 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).

Tsunami History

4 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 99 km
1901 NICARAGUA Earthquake 1.5 m 74 km
2012 COSTA RICA Earthquake 0.2 m 2 143 km
1952 COSTA RICA-PANAMA Earthquake 0.1 m 148 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

15 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Concepcion (42 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Concepcion Stratovolcano 1,700 m (5,577 ft) 2011 42 km
Orosi Stratovolcano(es) 1,659 m (5,443 ft) Unknown 53 km
Zapatera Shield 629 m (2,064 ft) Unknown 53 km
Mombacho Stratovolcano 1,344 m (4,409 ft) Unknown 65 km
Granada Fissure vent(s) 300 m (984 ft) Unknown 75 km
Rincon de la Vieja Complex 1,916 m (6,286 ft) 2020 76 km
Masaya Caldera 594 m (1,949 ft) 2020 88 km
Miravalles Stratovolcano 2,028 m (6,654 ft) 1946 96 km
Nejapa-Miraflores Fissure vent(s) 360 m (1,181 ft) 1060 108 km
Tenorio Stratovolcano(es) 1,916 m (6,286 ft) Unknown 114 km
Lajas, Las Shield 926 m (3,038 ft) Unknown 117 km
Apoyeque Pyroclastic shield 518 m (1,699 ft) -50 121 km
Momotombo Stratovolcano 1,270 m (4,167 ft) 2016 149 km
Arenal Stratovolcano 1,670 m (5,479 ft) 2010 155 km
Pilas, Las Complex 1,088 m (3,570 ft) 1954 164 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 78°F (26°C) 0.5 in
February 79°F (26°C) 0.1 in Driest
March 81°F (27°C) 0.1 in
April 82°F (28°C) 0.7 in
May 82°F (28°C) 6.8 in Warmest
June 80°F (26°C) 10.8 in
July 79°F (26°C) 6.5 in
August 80°F (26°C) 7.2 in
September 79°F (26°C) 11.4 in
October 79°F (26°C) 13.2 in Wettest
November 79°F (26°C) 3.9 in
December 78°F (26°C) 1.2 in Coldest

San Juan del Sur has a seasonal temperature swing of 4°F / from 78°F in December to 82°F in May. Total annual precipitation is 62.4 inches, with October being the wettest month (13.2") and February the driest (0.1").

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