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Weather & Climate in San Rafael del Sur, Nicaragua
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
San Rafael del Sur has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 78°F (26°C). Winters average 76°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 243 sunny days per year, above the national average. Annual precipitation totals 51.2 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 413 feet.
Temperature
76°F Jan (24°C)
78°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 78.0°F |
| 44% above US avg | |
| January Average | 76°F (24°C) |
| July Average | 78°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 243 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 413 ft (126 m) |
| Area | 495.5 sq mi (1,283.3 km²) |
| Population Density | 60/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 11.8485°N, 86.4384°W |
| Timezone | America/Managua |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
1,742 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.7.
| Sep 2, 1992 | 83 km SSW of Corinto, Nicaragua | M7.7 | 99 km | 45 km |
| Apr 3, 1990 | 36 km SSW of La Conquista, Nicaragua | M6.8 | 49 km | 53 km |
| Mar 3, 1996 | 30 km WSW of Villa El Carmen, Nicaragua | M6.7 | 37 km | 33 km |
| Apr 21, 2022 | 55 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | M6.6 | 66 km | 27 km |
| Jul 2, 2005 | 32 km W of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | M6.6 | 73 km | 27 km |
| Mar 3, 1996 | 39 km WSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | M6.6 | 50 km | 33 km |
| Apr 11, 2014 | 15 km N of Belén, Nicaragua | M6.6 | 65 km | 135 km |
| Jun 15, 2013 | 44 km W of Masachapa, Nicaragua | M6.5 | 54 km | 30 km |
| Aug 3, 2005 | 6 km NNW of Cárdenas, Nicaragua | M6.3 | 119 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 | 45 km | 28 km |
| Apr 29, 2004 | 49 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 126 km | 10 km |
| Apr 10, 2014 | 16 km SW of Valle San Francisco, Nicaragua | M6.1 | 62 km | 13 km |
| Jun 10, 2016 | Nicaragua | M6.1 | 123 km | 10 km |
| Jan 6, 2022 | near the coast of Nicaragua | M6.1 | 77 km | 17 km |
| Sep 2, 1992 | 58 km SSW of Masachapa, Nicaragua | M6.0 | 68 km | 10 km |
| Sep 5, 1992 | 55 km SSW of Corinto, Nicaragua | M6.0 | 97 km | 10 km |
| Nov 17, 1996 | 27 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | M6.0 | 95 km | 33 km |
| Oct 9, 1998 | 51 km S of El Rosario, Nicaragua | M6.0 | 59 km | 69 km |
| Nov 22, 1993 | 6 km E of La Conquista, Nicaragua | M5.9 | 35 km | 108 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
5 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 4.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2022 | Julia | Category 1 | 75 mph | 196 km |
| 2020 | Iota | Category 3 | 127 mph | 246 km |
| 2016 | Otto | Category 3 | 115 mph | 198 km |
| 1996 | Cesar | Category 1 | 86 mph | 249 km |
| 1988 | Joan:miriam | Category 4 | 144 mph | 157 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
2 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 9.9 m (32 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1992 | NICARAGUA | Earthquake | 9.9 m | 170 | 133 km |
| 1901 | NICARAGUA | Earthquake | 1.5 m | — | 95 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
15 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Nejapa-Miraflores (33 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Nejapa-Miraflores | Fissure vent(s) | 360 m (1,181 ft) | 1060 | 33 km |
| Masaya | Caldera | 594 m (1,949 ft) | 2020 | 33 km |
| Apoyeque | Pyroclastic shield | 518 m (1,699 ft) | -50 | 45 km |
| Granada | Fissure vent(s) | 300 m (984 ft) | Unknown | 51 km |
| Mombacho | Stratovolcano | 1,344 m (4,409 ft) | Unknown | 51 km |
| Momotombo | Stratovolcano | 1,270 m (4,167 ft) | 2016 | 65 km |
| Zapatera | Shield | 629 m (2,064 ft) | Unknown | 69 km |
| Pilas, Las | Complex | 1,088 m (3,570 ft) | 1954 | 77 km |
| Negro, Cerro | Pyroclastic cone(s) | 728 m (2,388 ft) | 1999 | 79 km |
| Rota | Stratovolcano | 832 m (2,730 ft) | Unknown | 85 km |
| Lajas, Las | Shield | 926 m (3,038 ft) | Unknown | 92 km |
| Telica | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,036 m (3,399 ft) | 2018 | 95 km |
| Concepcion | Stratovolcano | 1,700 m (5,577 ft) | 2011 | 95 km |
| San Cristobal | Stratovolcano | 1,745 m (5,725 ft) | 2019 | 113 km |
| Orosi | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,659 m (5,443 ft) | Unknown | 143 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 76°F (24°C) | 0.1 in | |
| February | 77°F (25°C) | 0.1 in | Driest |
| March | 80°F (26°C) | 0.2 in | |
| April | 81°F (27°C) | 0.6 in | Warmest |
| May | 81°F (27°C) | 6.5 in | |
| June | 78°F (26°C) | 9.9 in | |
| July | 78°F (26°C) | 4.0 in | |
| August | 78°F (26°C) | 5.8 in | |
| September | 78°F (25°C) | 10.2 in | |
| October | 77°F (25°C) | 11.4 in | Wettest |
| November | 76°F (25°C) | 2.2 in | |
| December | 76°F (24°C) | 0.3 in | Coldest |
San Rafael del Sur has a seasonal temperature swing of 5°F / from 76°F in December to 81°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 51.3 inches, with October being the wettest month (11.4") and February the driest (0.1").