Climate & Weather Guide in Panama

Panama has a tropical climate with strong regional contrasts shaped by elevation, ocean exposure, and seasonal rainfall patterns. Most of the country is warm year-round, with a dry season on the Pacific side and much wetter conditions on the Caribbean side. The World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal reports a 1991–2020 national mean annual precipitation of 2,436.21 mm, and Panama’s coastal lowlands remain hot and humid while the highlands are noticeably cooler. For residents and expats, the main climate decision is less about winter versus summer and more about choosing between humid lowlands, rainier Caribbean zones, drier Pacific areas, or cooler mountain towns.