How much rain does Panama get? When is the Rainy Season and the Dry Season in Panama and what is it like?

Panama gets a lot of rain.  It is located in the tropics so there is a definite rainy season and a dry season in Panama.  Dry season or locally referred to as Summer is December through April, which coincides with our peak season for tourism.  Rainy season, which is locally referred to as Winter or the "green" season. The rainy season is May-November in Panama.

 

The average amount of yearly rainfall varies greatly depending on what part of Panama you are asking...

Panama gets a lot of rain.  It is located in the tropics so there is a definite rainy season and a dry season in Panama.  Dry season or locally referred to as Summer is December through April, which coincides with our peak season for tourism.  Rainy season, which is locally referred to as Winter or the "green" season. The rainy season is May-November in Panama.

 

The average amount of yearly rainfall varies greatly depending on what part of Panama you are asking about.  For example, in the Panama canal region on the Pacific side or Panama city side, the average rainfall is 110" per year.  On the Caribbean or Colon side of the canal, only 50 miles or 80 kilometers away the average rainfall is double at 220" per year!  Some areas of Panama, such as the Pacific beach areas of Gorgona, Chame, Coronado and also the Azuero peninsula is known for being consistently drier and even has a "desert"region.  In the mountain areas, such as El Valle de Anton, Boquete or Volcan there is a higher rainfall as in most mountainous regions around the world.

 

Many visitors to Panama falsely believe that "rainy season" means that it will be raining hard all day long, every day of the season.  Not True.  I am originally from Seattle and I thought I knew what rain was.  Also not true.  The rain in the tropics is very different than the gray months of 40 F drizzle in Seattle.  Here in Panama, rainy season is very pleasant.  The rain comes in extremely heavy downpours.  Think standing in the shower, where you are instantly soaked to the skin.  The beauty of the rains here is that they are of very short duration, normally 10-20 minutes and are very localized.  You can see the rain storms coming and going, and know that within 20 minutes, you will see the sun again.  Normally, during rainy season you may have 1-4 of these rain showers each day, but you can count on also seeing the sun almost every day of the year.  The other great thing about the rainy season here is that the rain is always warm.  It is never cold here in Panama.  In all lowland areas, never below 75 F. 

 

In Seattle, we never let the rain stop us from going anywhere.  If you waited for it to stop raining in Seattle, you might wait months!  Here in Panama, everyone waits for the rain shower to stop and then they go about their day.  I knew I was officially "Panamanian" when I found myself waiting out a rain shower when coming out of a store.  10 minutes later I was on my way, in the sunshine.

 

One great advantage to visiting Panama is there are less tourists here and many hotels have rainy season discounted prices. And for me, rainy season also means one of my favorite times of year, Humpback whale watching season, but that is another answer...
 

Panama has two seasons. The Dry Season starts in late October and lasts utill March. The main reason that the Panama Canal was dug in Panama is that there is an abundance of rain which is critical to the efficient operation of the Panama Canal. At certain times of the year the winds blow in from the Caribbean which contribute to the Dry Season and very low amounts of rain. In certain areas of Panama such as in the Azuero Peninsula and the Veraguas area the rainfall is less due to the...

Panama has two seasons. The Dry Season starts in late October and lasts utill March. The main reason that the Panama Canal was dug in Panama is that there is an abundance of rain which is critical to the efficient operation of the Panama Canal. At certain times of the year the winds blow in from the Caribbean which contribute to the Dry Season and very low amounts of rain. In certain areas of Panama such as in the Azuero Peninsula and the Veraguas area the rainfall is less due to the blockage of the incoming winds from the Caribbean. One can say it is now raining in the morning in Panama and by evening it is all gone and it is going to be a great evening.

The answers provided by Anne Gordon and Colonel Stevenson to the question about how much rain Panama receives are great.  It is true that things get wet during the rainy season, but its green! Also, it smells nicer in the rainy season.

The answers provided by Anne Gordon and Colonel Stevenson to the question about how much rain Panama receives are great.  It is true that things get wet during the rainy season, but its green! Also, it smells nicer in the rainy season.

Another point on the rainy season in Panama is that it really doesn't rain so much as to stop you from going out and doing your daily activities.  A few years ago you could set your watch at 2 PM when it would rain very hard for about a hour and then the sun pops out.  So when we in Panama say "rainy season" we mean yes we get more rain but not 24 / 7 for months on end.

Another point on the rainy season in Panama is that it really doesn't rain so much as to stop you from going out and doing your daily activities.  A few years ago you could set your watch at 2 PM when it would rain very hard for about a hour and then the sun pops out.  So when we in Panama say "rainy season" we mean yes we get more rain but not 24 / 7 for months on end.

It’s raining really hard now (August 2), in the early afternoon, with lightening and thunder.  A real storm.  By the time I go home, it will be sunny again.   

It’s raining really hard now (August 2), in the early afternoon, with lightening and thunder.  A real storm.  By the time I go home, it will be sunny again.   

The Isthmus of Panama is in the northern hemisphere in the tropical latitudes.

 

If you are from Oceania (AU or NZ) the seasons are rainy winters from June to September and dry, sunny summers from November to April; the missing months are the inter-season months.

 

If you are from the northern hemisphere, the Isthmus of Panama has dry winters and wet summers, which is the actual terminology pertaining to our northern hemisphere location.

The Isthmus of Panama is in the northern hemisphere in the tropical latitudes.

 

If you are from Oceania (AU or NZ) the seasons are rainy winters from June to September and dry, sunny summers from November to April; the missing months are the inter-season months.

 

If you are from the northern hemisphere, the Isthmus of Panama has dry winters and wet summers, which is the actual terminology pertaining to our northern hemisphere location.

 

The wet summers are hot and muggy, but you can always lay by the poolside most of the season before the afternoon 1:00 pm customary and habitual daily rain.  No problem in the summer, but there are dry northern strong winds that will topple tents, break umbrellas and if you are at high elevations, generate bone chilling temperatures.

 

Panamanians call the dry season summer (November to April) and the wet season winter (May to September).

 

 

 

 

Panama gets a lot of rain and humidity. The rainy season in Panama lasts most of the year from May to November, more or less. During most of this time, it rains here and there during the day. The rain will usually be quite strong and then it will stop. During October however, the rain tends to last most of the day. October and early November are the rainiest months. The one good thing about the rainy season is how lush and green the vegetation is. That alone should make getting a little...

Panama gets a lot of rain and humidity. The rainy season in Panama lasts most of the year from May to November, more or less. During most of this time, it rains here and there during the day. The rain will usually be quite strong and then it will stop. During October however, the rain tends to last most of the day. October and early November are the rainiest months. The one good thing about the rainy season is how lush and green the vegetation is. That alone should make getting a little wet worth it.

 

During dry season, there is often a cool, nice breeze blowing. It is not as humid either.