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Weather & Climate in Santa Marta, Panama
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Santa Marta has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 78°F (25°C). Winters average 76°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 314 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 126.5 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 909 feet.
Temperature
76°F Jan (25°C)
78°F Jul (25°C)
| Annual Average | 77.6°F |
| 44% above US avg | |
| January Average | 76°F (25°C) |
| July Average | 78°F (25°C) |
| Sunny Days | 314 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 909 ft (277 m) |
| Area | 28.2 sq mi (73.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 69/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 8.5229°N, 82.7011°W |
| Timezone | America/Panama |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
718 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.6.
| Apr 22, 1991 | 34 km S of Limón, Costa Rica | M7.6 | 136 km | 10 km |
| Jul 21, 2021 | 71 km S of Burica, Panama | M6.7 | 126 km | 10 km |
| Jul 31, 2002 | 14 km SE of Punta de Burica, Panama | M6.5 | 67 km | 10 km |
| Jun 16, 2002 | 55 km WSW of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica | M6.4 | 145 km | 35 km |
| Apr 28, 1990 | 8 km SSE of Ciudad Cortés, Costa Rica | M6.4 | 97 km | 23 km |
| Apr 4, 2023 | 73 km S of Boca Chica, Panama | M6.3 | 114 km | 16 km |
| May 18, 1992 | 86 km S of Boca Chica, Panama | M6.3 | 127 km | 18 km |
| May 4, 1991 | 16 km NE of Changuinola, Panama | M6.2 | 118 km | 10 km |
| Jun 26, 2019 | 4 km SE of Aserrío de Gariché, Panama | M6.2 | 9 km | 33 km |
| Aug 25, 2001 | 45 km SSE of Punta de Burica, Panama | M6.1 | 99 km | 25 km |
| Feb 4, 2004 | 2 km S of Finca Blanco, Panama | M6.1 | 27 km | 29 km |
| Nov 9, 2001 | 33 km NE of Changuinola, Panama | M6.1 | 132 km | 10 km |
| Apr 1, 1997 | 53 km SSW of Boca Chica, Panama | M6.1 | 90 km | 33 km |
| Aug 7, 2002 | 20 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama | M6.0 | 78 km | 10 km |
| Apr 2, 2014 | 33 km SSW of Boca Chica, Panama | M6.0 | 76 km | 25 km |
| May 12, 2019 | 1 km W of Breñón, Panama | M6.0 | 18 km | 19 km |
| May 1, 2006 | 7 km NNW of Limones, Panama | M5.9 | 45 km | 13 km |
| Jun 30, 2005 | 3 km W of Progreso, Panama | M5.9 | 21 km | 38 km |
| Mar 11, 2009 | 15 km SW of Golfito, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 57 km | 14 km |
| Mar 11, 2009 | 15 km SW of Golfito, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 56 km | 17 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
1 hurricane (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 3.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2016 | Otto | Category 3 | 115 mph | 275 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tsunami History
9 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.0 m (10 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1991 | LIMON, PANDORA | Earthquake | 3.0 m | 90 | 136 km |
| 1916 | BOCAS DEL TORO | Earthquake | 1.3 m | — | 142 km |
| 1934 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.3 m | — | 62 km |
| 1941 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.2 m | 6 | 58 km |
| 1983 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | 6 | 47 km |
| 1941 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 143 km |
| 1962 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 58 km |
| 1854 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Eruption + Earthquake | — | — | 33 km |
| 1822 | MATINA | Earthquake | — | — | 114 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 76°F (25°C) | 2.1 in | |
| February | 76°F (24°C) | 2.0 in | Driest |
| March | 78°F (25°C) | 2.6 in | |
| April | 78°F (26°C) | 7.6 in | Warmest |
| May | 78°F (25°C) | 13.9 in | |
| June | 76°F (25°C) | 13.3 in | |
| July | 78°F (25°C) | 12.4 in | |
| August | 76°F (24°C) | 14.5 in | |
| September | 75°F (24°C) | 15.6 in | |
| October | 75°F (24°C) | 20.9 in | Wettest |
| November | 75°F (24°C) | 13.9 in | Coldest |
| December | 75°F (24°C) | 5.0 in |
Santa Marta has a seasonal temperature swing of 4°F / from 75°F in November to 78°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 123.9 inches, with October being the wettest month (20.9") and February the driest (2.0").