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Panama - Climate

High temperatures and humidity are typical of Panama's tropical climate, except in the central mountains. Lower temperatures and frost occur at higher elevations in the Cordillera de Talamanca Mountains in western Panama. Mean annual temperatures are 27°C (80°F) on the coasts, with mean annual minimum and maximum temperatures of 10°C and 19°C (50°F and 66°F) respectively, in the mountains. Although rain falls throughout the year, most arrives in torrents during the rainy season (May through December). Annual rainfall in both coastal areas is approximately 2,540 mm (100 in). Humidity averages 80 percent throughout the country.

Panama has a tropical climate. Temperatures are uniformly high — as is the relative humidity — and there is little seasonal variation. Diurnal ranges are low; on a typical dry-season day in the capital city, the early morning minimum may be 24°C and the afternoon maximum 29°C. The temperature seldom exceeds 32°C for more than a short time.

Temperatures on the Pacific side of the isthmus are somewhat lower than on the Caribbean, and breezes tend to rise after dusk in most parts of the country. Temperatures are markedly cooler in the higher parts of the mountain ranges, and frosts occur in the Cordillera de Talamanca in western Panama.

Climatic regions are determined less on the basis of temperature than on rainfall, which varies regionally from less than 1.3 to more than 3 meters per year. Almost all of the rain falls during the rainy season, which is usually from April to December, but varies in length from seven to nine months. The cycle of rainfall is determined primarily by two factors: moisture from the Caribbean, which is transported by north and northeast winds prevailing during most of the year, and the continental divide, which acts as a rainshield for the Pacific lowlands. A third influence that is present during the late autumn is the southwest wind off the Pacific. This wind brings some precipitation to the Pacific lowlands, modified by the highlands of the Peninsula de Azuero, which form a partial rainshield for much of central Panama.

In general, rainfall is much heavier on the Caribbean than on the Pacific side of the continental divide. The annual average in Panama City is little more than half of that in Colon. Although rainy-season thunderstorms are common, the country is outside the hurricane track. Panama's tropical environment supports an abundance of plants. Forests dominate, interrupted in places by grasslands, scrub, and crops. Although nearly 40 percent of Panama is still wooded, deforestation is a continuing threat to the rain-drenched woodlands. Tree cover has been reduced by more than 50 percent since the 1940s. Subsistence farming, widely practiced from the northeastern jungles to the southwestern grasslands, consists largely of corn, bean, and tuber plots. Mangrove swamps occur along parts of both coasts, with banana plantations occupying deltas near Costa Rica. In many places, a multi-canopied rain forest abuts the swamp on one side of the country and extends to the lower reaches of slopes in the other.

Panama ranks 14th among countries most exposed to multiple hazards based on land area. Panama has 15 percent of its total area exposed and 12.5 percent of its total population vulnerable to two or more hazards . In addition, Panama ranks 35th among countries with the highest percentage of total population considered at a relatively high mortality risk from multiple hazards. Climate change threatens to increase vulnerability of both human and ecological systems in Panama. The agriculture, water resources, forestry, coastal zone management and health sectors will be particularly impacted. More frequent and intense storms, floods, and droughts are causing huge economic losses and affecting the livelihoods of the poorest and most marginalized members of society in particular. Vulnerable areas include the San Blas Archipelago, coastal areas of Bocas del Toro, Colón, and western areas of Panama Province.

Increased periods of high temperatures might produce recurrent heat waves that could create severe health impacts including the proliferation of diverse pathogens, increased dehydration and other respiratory diseases. The occurrence of climate-related disasters in Latin America has already increased by a factor of 2.4 since 1970.

Panama experiences a series of extreme weather events including intense and protracted rainfalls, windstorms, floods, droughts, wildfires, earthquakes, landslides, tropical cyclones, tsunamis and ENSO/El Niño-La Niña events. Between 1982 and 2008, Panama was struck by 32 natural disaster events, with total economic damages totaling an estimated US $86 million. In addition, loss of human life during these events totaled 249.

Given the expected variability in precipitation, it is crucial to improve water storage capacity to utilize excess water from wet years. Increased periods of high temperatures might produce recurrent heat waves that could create severe health impacts including the proliferation of diverse pathogens, increased dehydration and other respiratory diseases.

After 2015 the threat of climatic variability begins to be the principle driving force behind the risk of an increased tendency of greater extreme events. This would require integrated assessments and development planning that closely integrate disaster risk planning and climate change adaptation, in particular for food security, energy access, and sustainable development. The poorest populations, included vulnerable indigenous populations, will not, and indeed, cannot adapt if this will require looking beyond their immediate food security needs. The potential impacts of climate change on Panama most vulnerable population should be prioritized.