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Weather & Climate in Zapotal, Costa Rica
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Zapotal has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 79°F (26°C). Winters average 77°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 321 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 124.8 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The city sits at an elevation of 1,381 feet.
Temperature
77°F Jan (25°C)
79°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 79.0°F |
| 46% above US avg | |
| January Average | 77°F (25°C) |
| July Average | 79°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 321 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 1,381 ft (421 m) |
| Area | 27.2 sq mi (70.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 0/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 10.0000°N, 85.3000°W |
| Timezone | America/Costa_Rica |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
735 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 | 10 km | 35 km |
| Mar 25, 1990 | 7 km SSE of Puntarenas, Costa Rica | M7.3 | 55 km | 22 km |
| Mar 7, 1992 | 5 km SW of Río Segundo, Costa Rica | M6.6 | 110 km | 79 km |
| Oct 24, 2012 | Costa Rica | M6.5 | 10 km | 17 km |
| Jul 21, 2000 | 55 km SSE of Sámara, Costa Rica | M6.4 | 65 km | 33 km |
| Mar 25, 1990 | 11 km E of Paquera, Costa Rica | M6.4 | 56 km | 27 km |
| Aug 3, 2005 | 6 km NNW of Cárdenas, Nicaragua | M6.3 | 141 km | 14 km |
| Mar 16, 1991 | 15 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica | M6.3 | 23 km | 33 km |
| Apr 29, 2004 | 49 km SW of La Cruz, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 117 km | 10 km |
| Sep 4, 1996 | 13 km WSW of Quepos, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 134 km | 33 km |
| Mar 1, 1991 | 13 km SE of Los Chiles, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 127 km | 197 km |
| Oct 12, 2024 | 40 km WNW of Tamarindo, Costa Rica | M6.2 | 108 km | 16 km |
| Jan 8, 2009 | 10 km NNE of Sabanilla, Costa Rica | M6.1 | 122 km | 14 km |
| Nov 17, 1996 | 27 km SW of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua | M6.0 | 146 km | 33 km |
| Dec 22, 1990 | 2 km NNE of Santiago, Costa Rica | M6.0 | 110 km | 17 km |
| Jun 1, 2010 | 12 km SSW of Quepos, Costa Rica | M6.0 | 141 km | 18 km |
| Sep 10, 1992 | 98 km WSW of Sardinal, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 133 km | 27 km |
| May 20, 2010 | 25 km SW of Quepos, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 138 km | 21 km |
| Sep 5, 2013 | 50 km W of Sardinal, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 110 km | 19 km |
| Aug 28, 1996 | 15 km S of Parrita, Costa Rica | M5.9 | 128 km | 33 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
4 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 | 264 km |
| 2016 | Otto | Category 3 | 115 mph | 109 km |
| 1996 | Cesar | Category 1 | 86 mph | 283 km |
| 1988 | Joan:miriam | Category 4 | 144 mph | 225 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 | — | 116 km |
| 1990 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 1.0 m | — | 61 km |
| 2012 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | 0.2 m | 2 | 10 km |
| 1952 | COSTA RICA-PANAMA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 14 km |
| 1924 | COSTA RICA | Earthquake | — | — | 98 km |
| 1905 | GULF OF NICOYA | Earthquake | — | — | 70 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Nearby Volcanoes
11 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Tenorio (81 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Tenorio | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | Unknown | 81 km |
| Arenal | Stratovolcano | 1,670 m (5,479 ft) | 2010 | 83 km |
| Miravalles | Stratovolcano | 2,028 m (6,654 ft) | 1946 | 85 km |
| Rincon de la Vieja | Complex | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | 2020 | 92 km |
| Platanar | Stratovolcano(es) | 2,267 m (7,438 ft) | Unknown | 108 km |
| Orosi | Stratovolcano(es) | 1,659 m (5,443 ft) | Unknown | 111 km |
| Poas | Stratovolcano | 2,708 m (8,885 ft) | 2019 | 119 km |
| Barva | Complex | 2,906 m (9,534 ft) | -6050 | 132 km |
| Irazu | Stratovolcano | 3,432 m (11,260 ft) | 1994 | 159 km |
| Turrialba | Stratovolcano | 3,340 m (10,958 ft) | 2019 | 168 km |
| Concepcion | Stratovolcano | 1,700 m (5,577 ft) | 2011 | 175 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 77°F (25°C) | 0.1 in | Coldest, Driest |
| February | 79°F (26°C) | 0.2 in | |
| March | 81°F (27°C) | 0.4 in | |
| April | 82°F (28°C) | 1.9 in | Warmest |
| May | 80°F (27°C) | 9.9 in | |
| June | 79°F (26°C) | 12.4 in | |
| July | 79°F (26°C) | 6.9 in | |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 9.8 in | |
| September | 78°F (26°C) | 15.3 in | Wettest |
| October | 78°F (25°C) | 15.3 in | |
| November | 77°F (25°C) | 4.8 in | |
| December | 78°F (25°C) | 0.7 in |
Zapotal has a seasonal temperature swing of 6°F / from 77°F in January to 82°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 77.7 inches, with September being the wettest month (15.3") and January the driest (0.1").