Northern Zone Weather Region

Northern Zone Weather Region

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This weather region includes all cities north of the central valley to the Nicaraguan border and Lake Nicaragua including Monteverde, La Fortuna (Arenal), San Carlos, and the northern part of the Alajuela and Heredia Provinces. 

Altitude affects the quantity of rain received, but the rain patterns are the same between the lowlands and the mountains.  January through April are the driest months in both locations. Decreased humidity levels coincide with decreased rain and are at their lowest from March until April with an average of 75 %. The rest of the year, relative humidity levels average 85% in both the lowlands and mountains.

Temperatures are definitely affected by altitude. In the lowlands, temperatures hover around 30°C (86°F) (daytime) whereas in the mountainous regions, daytime temperatures average 21°C (70°F).  Nights get quite cool in the mountains dropping to as low as 13°C (55 °F) at night, but only to 20°C (68 °F) in the lowlands.

Winds are usually from the south averaging 5.5km/h (3.4mph) throughout the year, but as you go up in elevation, wind speeds increase. Monteverde can be very windy during the dry season.

 

Arenal Volcano

Month Average Highs Average Lows Average Rainfall Humidity

  F C   F C   in.   mm %
Jan. 83 28 68 20 7.48 192 n/a
Feb. 84 29 67 20 5.14 132 n/a
Mar. 86 30 69 20 3.58 92 n/a
Apr. 87 31 69 21 3.7 95 n/a
May 88 31 70 21 10.23 262 n/a
Jun. 86 30 71 22 16.15 414 n/a
Jul. 85 30 71 22 19.87 509 n/a
Aug. 85 30 72 22 17.05 437 n/a
Sep. 86 30 70 21 16.07 412 n/a
Oct. 85 30 70 21 16.98 435 n/a
Nov. 83 29 71 22 12 308 n/a
Dec. 82 28 70 21 10.1 259 n/a

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

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Ciudad Quesada (San Carlos)

Month Average Highs Average Lows Average Rainfall Humidity

F C F C in. mm %
Jan. 77 25 63 17 7 179 85
Feb. 76 25 62 17 6.36 163 83
Mar. 79 26 63 17 4.77 122 83
Apr. 80 27 63 17 3.33 85 84
May 80 27 66 19 13.3 341 90
Jun. 78 26 65 19 16.45 422 90
Jul. 77 25 66 19 18.71 480 92
Aug. 78 25 66 19 21.3 546 93
Sep. 78 25 66 19 19.68 505 93
Oct. 77 25 65 19 21.93 562 92
Nov. 75 24 65 18 14.93 383 91
Dec. 76 24 64 18 16.7 428 90

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

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La Fortuna

Month Average Highs Average Lows Average Rainfall Humidity

F C F C in. mm %
Jan. 83 28 68 20 7.48 192 n/a
Feb. 84 29 67 20 5.14 132 n/a
Mar. 86 30 69 20 3.58 92 n/a
Apr. 87 31 69 21 3.7 95 n/a
May 88 31 70 21 10.23 262 n/a
Jun. 86 30 71 22 16.15 414 n/a
Jul. 85 30 71 22 19.87 509 n/a
Aug. 85 30 72 22 17.05 437 n/a
Sep. 86 30 70 21 16.07 412 n/a
Oct. 85 30 70 21 16.98 435 n/a
Nov. 83 29 71 22 12 308 n/a
Dec. 82 28 70 21 10.1 259 n/a

Source: National Weather Services of Costa Rica

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