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Panama Seasons

Panama has two seasons - summer and winter. Summer, from December to April, is the hot and dry season. It is considered summertime and is best for construction work and outdoor activities due to less rain. Winter, from May to November, is the wet rainy season and feels cooler, especially in higher elevations. During winter, most rain falls in the afternoons so outdoor activities are done in the mornings. Both seasons have advantages and disadvantages depending on location, so it is best to experience living in Panama during both seasons before deciding where to live long term.

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117 views4 pages

Panama Seasons

Panama has two seasons - summer and winter. Summer, from December to April, is the hot and dry season. It is considered summertime and is best for construction work and outdoor activities due to less rain. Winter, from May to November, is the wet rainy season and feels cooler, especially in higher elevations. During winter, most rain falls in the afternoons so outdoor activities are done in the mornings. Both seasons have advantages and disadvantages depending on location, so it is best to experience living in Panama during both seasons before deciding where to live long term.

Uploaded by

Nery Simmons
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Panama Seasons

JACKIE LANGE

Last Updated on February 16, 2021

SUMMER AND WINTER IN PANAMA

Panama Mountain Road

It’s odd that the Panamanians think it’s winter in August. Isn’t it summer in
August in the northern hemisphere, and winter in the southern hemisphere?
Once you have spent an entire year in Panama, though, it begins to make
sense. It is a bit cooler in August than it is in February, and so for those who
live here, it feels like wintertime.

Panama, and all of Central America, have just two seasons. Summer is
December through April. This part of the year is considered to be
summertime because it is the hottest, driest time of the year. March and
April are especially warmer. It’s windier in the summertime in Panama too.
Winter is May through November. This is considered wintertime because it is
the wet, rainy season, and often feels considerably cooler. In the higher
elevations in the highland areas, such as El Valle, Volcán, and Boquete,
homes may even have fireplaces to fend off the chill and dampness in the
wintertime.

Although it’s always hot in the coastal areas in Panama, the weather in the
two seasons is quite different and governs daily activities.

Summertime, called el verano, is the time for construction work. It may be


hotter for the workers (how do they do it?) but at least their work won’t get
washed away! It is also beach and vacation time, and you’ll see advertising
promoting typical summer activities. Folks know that in el verano chances are
events won’t get rained out, so it’s a big-time for weddings, graduations (the
school year ends in December), and outdoor parties. There are plenty of
holidays in the summer, starting with Mother’s Day in December, the week of
Christmas to New Year’s, and, of course, Carnaval in February. Baseball, the
country’s national sport, runs from February to March. The kids go back to
school at the end of February and have a break for Semana Santa (Holy Week
before Easter). By the time May rolls around the lower elevations of the
countryside have turned brown, everyone in Panama is sick and tired of the
summer season, and anxiously looking forward to the rains to begin.

Rainbow in BoqueteIn the wintertime, called el invierno, it rains more; but


not every day. The rain usually comes in the afternoon, so outside activities
need to be done in the morning. The trees, shrubs, and lawns all turn lush
green and grow like crazy, which keeps all the yardmen and gardeners super
busy. Driving in a downpour can be challenging and make a mess of the
traffic. Panama’s football (aka soccer) season runs from late July to early
September, so it’s a good thing the stands are covered! There are several
national holidays in November, and the parades sometimes get rained on.
After months of wet, damp, cloudy weather everyone is eager for sunny
summer days to return.

Both seasons have their pros and cons, depending on your personal
preferences, favorite pastimes, and where you live. For those who live in the
often sweltering flatlands, such as David, Santiago or Pedasi, the cooling
afternoon rains of wintertime are a most welcome relief from the heat. In the
mountain towns of western Panama, the late afternoon cloud cover and
drizzly rainy weather may be too dreary for some folks, but pleasantly spring-
like for others.
So if you are coming to Panama to visit or to live, consider the weather and
the seasons carefully before deciding where you want to be. If possible,
spend some time here in both wintertime and summertime so you are
familiar with the climate all year round. Then you can make an educated
choice about which part of beautiful Panama will be your new home.

Before you buy real estate, it is a good idea to experience the weather in
BOTH seasons. There are many different micro-climates throughout Panama.
Where you live in Panama, you may love the weather in July but hate the
weather in February or visa versa. It’s better to rent for at least a year so you
can see what the weather is like in the summer and winter.

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