Eyes on Costa Rica and Weather Records - January 2023

 During January, visits to this blog were received from the following 11 countries:

From the time I started to keep track, the total number of countries and non-independent jurisdictions from which visits have been received remains at 135. Of this number, 13 are non-independent (e.g. Isle of Man).

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The following is a summary of weather for the month in the area where we live:

Winter in Costa Rica is referred to as the "dry season" because, as the name implies, there is generally very little rain. January this year was no exception. However, in the Central Valley away from the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, the dry season is also marked by frequent cold early morning temperatures. At least, they "feel" cold by Costa Rican standards.

We have now spent several years and accompanying "dry seasons" living in the Central Valley (originally the Atenas region and now the Grecia region). Gradually, we have become fully acclimatized. Now, anything less than 60°F (15.6°C) "feels" cold. When we lived in Canada, such a temperature in January would have been considered absolutely balmy. No jacket or sweater needed.

The 55.0°F (12.8°C) temperature that we encountered this January was, with one exception, the coldest low temperature that we have experienced during all our time in Costa Rica - it felt very cold. The exception was on a day trip to the Irazú volcano. At the summit over 11,000 feet (3300+ meters), the morning temperature was in the mid 40's (6-9°C).

Click on images to enlarge.

Eyes on Costa Rica and Weather Records - March 2019

During March, visits to this blog were received from the following countries:

My video posted in this blog on August 27, 2017 (Landing at Juan Santamaria International Airport) continues to attract interest. There have now been over 3800 views. During the last 6 months, the average has been about 100 views per month. I have no way of determining which countries the views are coming from. I expect many are from persons oblivious to this blog.

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Now for the weather. The following is a summary for the month of March in the area where we live:

Still no rain except threatening clouds and distant thunder on some days and an unmeasurable dribble of rain for a few minutes on one day. The lack of rain is now 4 months in row (December, January, February, March). The thunder came both from the direction of the Caribbean coast and the Pacific coast. As the crow flies, neither coast is very far away from where we live.

On some days, the measured temperature was relatively high - but was mitigated by low humidity leading to "feels like" temperatures lower than the actual temperature. An overnight low temperature of 57°F (13.9°C) was recorded on one day. Except when we drove to an altitude of about 11,000 feet (3350 m.) to walk around the area and view the Irazu Volcano, this was the lowest temperature we have yet encountered in Costa Rica.

By the way, if you are ever of a mind to visit the Irazu Volcano, shorts with tank tops or T-shirts are not the way to go. The temperature will probably be in the forties (Fahrenheit) or below 10°C and the UV index from the sun can be brutal. When we were there, it was amusing to see how many people were totally unprepared for the experience.

There are occasions in Costa Rica when you should wear full length pants and long sleeved shirts or other tops. A visit to the Irazu Volcano is one of them. For good measure, a sweater or jacket can help. As for your head, wear a hat or bring an umbrella.