San José climate — normals and trends

Q: What is the climate of San José?

San José has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af). Over 1940-2025, the average annual temperature is 24.4 °C and it receives 2,659 mm of precipitation per year.

Q: What is the hottest day ever recorded in San José?

The hottest day measured in San José between 1940 and 2025 was 22 April 1987, reaching 30.9 °C.

Q: What is the coldest day in San José?

The coldest day measured in San José between 1940 and 2025 was 14 January 1956, at 18.7 °C.

Q: Does it snow in San José?

Almost never: San José sees virtually no snow, with about 0 frost days per year.

Q: Has the climate of San José warmed?

Yes: San José warmed by +0.9 °C between 1940 and 2025, a statistically significant trend.

Q: What is the wettest day in San José?

The wettest day measured in San José between 1940 and 2025 was 20 May 1956, with 178 mm of rain in 24 hours.

Q: What was the windiest day in San José?

The windiest day measured in San José between 1940 and 2025 was 1 April 2003, with winds reaching 45.4 km/h.

Q: What is the warmest month in San José?

The warmest month in San José is April (25.4 °C on average); the coldest is January (23.4 °C).

Q: How much does it rain in San José?

San José receives on average 2,659 mm of precipitation per year, spread over about 322 rainy days.

Q: Is it sunny in San José?

San José gets on average 10.0 hours of sunshine per day, roughly 3,650 hours per year over 1940-2025.

San José (Costa Rica) has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) under the Köppen-Geiger classification. Its mean annual temperature is 24.4 °C and it receives 2,659 mm of precipitation per year.

These figures are normals computed over 86 complete calendar years, from 1940 to 2025, using ERA5 reanalysis data from the Copernicus programme.

The warmest month is April (25.4 °C on average) and the coldest is January (23.4 °C). Rainfall peaks in July.

San José averages 0 frost days, 1 hot days (≥ 30 °C) and 322 rainy days per year.

San José has warmed by +0.9 °C between 1940 and 2025, or +0.11 °C per decade. This trend is statistically significant.

The hottest day of the period reached 30.9 °C (on 22 April 1987) and the coldest 18.7 °C (on 14 January 1956).

Data from ERA5 reanalysis (Copernicus Climate Change Service), redistributed under a CC-BY 4.0 licence. Normals are recomputed whenever the archive is updated.

Climate normals · ERA5

San JoséAlajuela Province

coords: 10.95°, -85.14°
period: 1940–2025 · 86 yrs

AfTropical rainforestWarmest monthAprilColdest monthJanuaryWettest monthJulyDriest monthApril

Mean daily temperature

24.4°C

Average daily high

26.6°C

Average daily low

22.7°C

Annual rainfall

2,659mm

Sunshine / day

10.0h

Mean relative humidity

85%

Average peak wind

19.6km/h

Seasonal range

2.0°C

Frost days (< 0 °C)

0 d/yr

Hot days (≥ 30 °C)

1 d/yr

Rainy days (≥ 1 mm)

322 d/yr

Annual snowfall

0.0 cm

Average feels-like high

29.9 °C

Average feels-like low

25.0 °C

Average peak gust

38.4 km/h

Tropical nights (≥ 20 °C)

364 d/yr

Solar radiation

17.2 MJ/m²

Has the climate changed?

One stripe per year, 1940 to 2025

+0.9 °C

since 1940

+0.1 °C per decade · r² = 0.52 · p = < 0.001

19402025

Trend fitted by linear regression (ordinary least squares) on annual means. A trend is shown only when it is statistically significant (p < 0.05).

A climograph overlays rainfall (bars) and temperature (line): the standard reading in climatology, where you can see at a glance whether the warm season is also the dry one.

Records for the period

Hottest day

30.9 °C

22 April 1987

Coldest day

18.7 °C

14 January 1956

Wettest day

178 mm

20 May 1956

Windiest day

45.4 km/h

1 April 2003

Strongest gust

84.2 km/h

5 February 1996

Hottest feels-like

36.8 °C

4 May 1978

Coldest feels-like

16.4 °C

20 January 1977

Sunniest day

12.5 h

12 June 1960

Year	Hottest day	Coldest day	Annual mean	Rainfall	Hot days
2025	29.5 °C1 April 2025	21.8 °C10 January 2025	24.9 °C	2,836 mm	0
2024	30.9 °C24 March 2024	20.0 °C22 February 2024	25.4 °C	3,136 mm	15
2023	30.3 °C20 May 2023	20.9 °C16 January 2023	25.3 °C	2,368 mm	7
2022	28.9 °C2 April 2022	20.7 °C31 January 2022	24.5 °C	3,238 mm	0
2021	29.0 °C25 April 2021	20.5 °C3 February 2021	24.6 °C	2,433 mm	0
2020	30.3 °C10 April 2020	21.1 °C27 December 2020	24.9 °C	3,028 mm	1
2019	29.6 °C27 April 2019	21.0 °C12 January 2019	25.0 °C	2,436 mm	0
2018	29.6 °C8 May 2018	20.5 °C6 January 2018	24.5 °C	2,583 mm	0
2017	29.5 °C29 April 2017	19.8 °C23 January 2017	24.8 °C	3,035 mm	0
2016	30.3 °C31 March 2016	21.0 °C24 January 2016	25.0 °C	2,641 mm	1
2015	30.4 °C28 April 2015	21.1 °C10 February 2015	24.9 °C	2,302 mm	1
2014	29.8 °C19 May 2014	21.0 °C17 January 2014	24.7 °C	2,483 mm	0
2013	29.7 °C23 April 2013	20.3 °C4 March 2013	24.7 °C	2,480 mm	0
2012	29.2 °C11 May 2012	20.1 °C5 January 2012	24.5 °C	2,358 mm	0
2011	29.2 °C29 April 2011	20.3 °C6 March 2011	24.4 °C	2,383 mm	0
2010	30.4 °C21 April 2010	19.4 °C18 December 2010	24.7 °C	2,759 mm	2
2009	29.3 °C1 May 2009	20.0 °C6 February 2009	24.5 °C	2,360 mm	0
2008	29.4 °C7 May 2008	19.9 °C27 February 2008	24.3 °C	2,924 mm	0
2007	29.3 °C13 May 2007	20.2 °C19 February 2007	24.6 °C	2,711 mm	0
2006	29.3 °C29 April 2006	19.6 °C14 February 2006	24.6 °C	2,497 mm	0
2005	30.5 °C30 April 2005	19.9 °C21 January 2005	24.8 °C	2,468 mm	4
2004	30.2 °C10 April 2004	20.6 °C24 January 2004	24.5 °C	2,824 mm	1
2003	29.7 °C19 March 2003	21.3 °C26 January 2003	24.8 °C	2,430 mm	0
2002	29.4 °C29 April 2002	20.4 °C10 January 2002	24.7 °C	2,753 mm	0
2001	29.7 °C7 May 2001	19.8 °C2 March 2001	24.4 °C	2,405 mm	0
2000	29.7 °C9 May 2000	19.7 °C27 January 2000	24.1 °C	2,684 mm	0
1999	28.9 °C1 April 1999	19.8 °C28 December 1999	24.0 °C	2,392 mm	0
1998	30.5 °C11 May 1998	21.5 °C11 February 1998	25.0 °C	2,455 mm	14
1997	29.4 °C6 April 1997	20.2 °C16 December 1997	24.7 °C	2,382 mm	0
1996	29.4 °C8 April 1996	19.4 °C14 January 1996	24.2 °C	2,531 mm	0
1995	29.8 °C12 April 1995	21.4 °C9 February 1995	24.6 °C	2,517 mm	0
1994	29.8 °C10 April 1994	21.0 °C13 January 1994	24.6 °C	2,217 mm	0
1993	29.6 °C11 April 1993	20.3 °C28 January 1993	24.5 °C	2,458 mm	0
1992	30.2 °C17 May 1992	21.0 °C4 February 1992	24.6 °C	2,206 mm	3
1991	30.6 °C22 April 1991	20.8 °C13 February 1991	24.6 °C	2,178 mm	3
1990	30.4 °C25 April 1990	20.6 °C10 December 1990	24.6 °C	2,337 mm	5
1989	29.5 °C22 April 1989	19.0 °C25 December 1989	24.2 °C	2,063 mm	0
1988	30.6 °C22 April 1988	20.9 °C12 March 1988	24.5 °C	2,562 mm	8
1987	30.9 °C22 April 1987	20.1 °C7 January 1987	25.0 °C	2,172 mm	15
1986	29.8 °C8 May 1986	19.6 °C28 January 1986	24.1 °C	2,794 mm	0
1985	29.2 °C14 April 1985	20.0 °C6 January 1985	24.0 °C	2,317 mm	0
1984	30.0 °C21 April 1984	20.1 °C9 January 1984	24.2 °C	2,229 mm	1
1983	30.8 °C26 April 1983	21.0 °C10 February 1983	25.0 °C	2,219 mm	14
1982	29.7 °C5 April 1982	21.0 °C30 December 1982	24.5 °C	2,779 mm	0
1981	28.9 °C30 March 1981	19.7 °C14 January 1981	24.3 °C	2,459 mm	0
1980	30.5 °C4 May 1980	19.7 °C6 February 1980	24.5 °C	2,634 mm	4
1979	29.2 °C27 March 1979	20.3 °C21 January 1979	24.4 °C	2,641 mm	0
1978	29.6 °C4 May 1978	20.1 °C23 February 1978	24.4 °C	2,644 mm	0
1977	29.3 °C1 April 1977	19.7 °C20 January 1977	24.4 °C	2,207 mm	0
1976	28.7 °C9 April 1976	19.4 °C11 February 1976	24.0 °C	2,826 mm	0
1975	29.9 °C30 April 1975	19.7 °C24 December 1975	24.0 °C	2,996 mm	0
1974	29.2 °C20 April 1974	20.1 °C22 January 1974	23.8 °C	2,875 mm	0
1973	30.3 °C9 April 1973	20.0 °C18 December 1973	24.3 °C	2,524 mm	1
1972	29.4 °C3 May 1972	20.6 °C21 February 1972	24.4 °C	2,875 mm	0
1971	29.3 °C9 May 1971	19.9 °C22 January 1971	23.9 °C	3,073 mm	0
1970	29.0 °C5 April 1970	19.7 °C5 February 1970	24.1 °C	3,371 mm	0
1969	30.6 °C7 May 1969	20.9 °C1 February 1969	24.7 °C	3,065 mm	8
1968	29.1 °C28 April 1968	20.0 °C8 February 1968	23.9 °C	2,807 mm	0
1967	28.5 °C21 May 1967	20.7 °C7 February 1967	24.0 °C	3,027 mm	0
1966	29.7 °C14 April 1966	20.6 °C6 February 1966	24.3 °C	2,752 mm	0
1965	29.6 °C23 April 1965	19.7 °C19 January 1965	24.2 °C	2,688 mm	0
1964	29.7 °C10 May 1964	20.4 °C23 December 1964	24.3 °C	2,396 mm	0
1963	28.7 °C1 May 1963	20.1 °C26 December 1963	24.2 °C	2,712 mm	0
1962	29.0 °C30 March 1962	20.2 °C3 January 1962	24.1 °C	2,576 mm	0
1961	29.5 °C9 April 1961	20.7 °C11 February 1961	24.2 °C	2,446 mm	0
1960	29.1 °C18 May 1960	19.8 °C31 January 1960	24.2 °C	2,583 mm	0
1959	29.5 °C17 May 1959	20.9 °C3 January 1959	24.3 °C	2,211 mm	0
1958	30.2 °C1 April 1958	20.1 °C9 January 1958	24.6 °C	2,902 mm	5
1957	30.2 °C30 April 1957	20.0 °C20 March 1957	24.3 °C	2,937 mm	4
1956	29.6 °C18 April 1956	18.7 °C14 January 1956	23.7 °C	3,018 mm	0
1955	29.4 °C12 April 1955	20.4 °C21 January 1955	24.0 °C	2,725 mm	0
1954	28.9 °C29 March 1954	20.2 °C22 December 1954	23.8 °C	2,661 mm	0
1953	30.0 °C24 April 1953	20.0 °C12 January 1953	24.4 °C	2,636 mm	1
1952	29.9 °C30 March 1952	19.6 °C28 February 1952	24.2 °C	2,768 mm	0
1951	29.0 °C23 May 1951	19.8 °C4 February 1951	24.2 °C	2,777 mm	0
1950	29.2 °C15 April 1950	20.0 °C20 December 1950	23.8 °C	2,746 mm	0
1949	30.0 °C14 April 1949	20.3 °C19 November 1949	24.1 °C	2,814 mm	1
1948	29.6 °C27 April 1948	19.8 °C16 January 1948	24.1 °C	3,417 mm	0
1947	29.2 °C15 April 1947	20.4 °C29 January 1947	24.2 °C	2,288 mm	0
1946	29.4 °C10 May 1946	20.3 °C12 March 1946	23.8 °C	2,959 mm	0
1945	29.2 °C23 April 1945	20.0 °C6 December 1945	23.8 °C	3,111 mm	0
1944	29.6 °C17 April 1944	19.9 °C14 December 1944	24.0 °C	3,194 mm	0
1943	28.5 °C17 April 1943	19.3 °C20 December 1943	23.5 °C	3,432 mm	0
1942	29.3 °C16 March 1942	20.5 °C27 February 1942	23.7 °C	3,463 mm	0
1941	30.5 °C11 April 1941	20.4 °C1 April 1941	24.2 °C	2,873 mm	5
1940	29.4 °C7 May 1940	20.3 °C30 January 1940	24.3 °C	2,233 mm	0

Normals computed over complete calendar years 1940–2025.

A specific year

Pick a year and see how it compares to normal — warmer, drier or more extreme than usual?

Year

Across the whole year

Average daily high

27.1 °C

+0.5 °C

Hot days (≥ 30 °C)

0 d/yr

-1

Frost days (< 0 °C)

0 d/yr

Annual rainfall

2836 mm

+177 mm

Month by month

	High	vs. normal	Precipitation	vs. normal
Jan	25.7 °C	0.0 °C	307 mm	+116 mm
Feb	26.3 °C	-0.1 °C	114 mm	-7 mm
Mar	28.3 °C	+0.8 °C	43 mm	-42 mm
Apr	28.2 °C	-0.2 °C	76 mm	+0 mm
May	28.4 °C	+0.7 °C	139 mm	-72 mm
Jun	26.8 °C	+0.1 °C	547 mm	+244 mm
Jul	27.1 °C	+0.7 °C	294 mm	-32 mm
Aug	27.3 °C	+0.7 °C	232 mm	-42 mm
Sep	27.4 °C	+0.7 °C	220 mm	-46 mm
Oct	27.2 °C	+0.9 °C	302 mm	-12 mm
Nov	26.3 °C	+0.5 °C	376 mm	+109 mm
Dec	26.0 °C	+0.5 °C	187 mm	-41 mm

The year's extremes

Hottest day

29.5 °C

1 Apr 2025

Coldest day

21.8 °C

10 Jan 2025

Wettest day

78.4 mm

23 Jun 2025

Windiest day

34.9 km/h

25 Jan 2025

Strongest gust

67.7 km/h

25 Jan 2025

Hottest feels-like

35.3 °C

7 May 2025

Coldest feels-like

22.0 °C

13 Apr 2025

Sunniest day

12.0 h

30 May 2025

What was the weather like that day?

Your birthday, a wedding, a memorable trip: discover the actual weather for any date since 1940.

Date

Frequently asked questions

What is the climate of San José?

San José has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af). Over 1940-2025, the average annual temperature is 24.4 °C and it receives 2,659 mm of precipitation per year.

What is the hottest day ever recorded in San José?

The hottest day measured in San José between 1940 and 2025 was 22 April 1987, reaching 30.9 °C.

What is the coldest day in San José?

The coldest day measured in San José between 1940 and 2025 was 14 January 1956, at 18.7 °C.

Does it snow in San José?

Almost never: San José sees virtually no snow, with about 0 frost days per year.

Has the climate of San José warmed?

Yes: San José warmed by +0.9 °C between 1940 and 2025, a statistically significant trend.

What is the wettest day in San José?

The wettest day measured in San José between 1940 and 2025 was 20 May 1956, with 178 mm of rain in 24 hours.

What was the windiest day in San José?

The windiest day measured in San José between 1940 and 2025 was 1 April 2003, with winds reaching 45.4 km/h.

What is the warmest month in San José?

The warmest month in San José is April (25.4 °C on average); the coldest is January (23.4 °C).

How much does it rain in San José?

San José receives on average 2,659 mm of precipitation per year, spread over about 322 rainy days.

Is it sunny in San José?

San José gets on average 10.0 hours of sunshine per day, roughly 3,650 hours per year over 1940-2025.

Are there tropical nights in San José?

Yes: San José has on average 364 tropical nights per year (temperature staying above 20 °C), over 1940-2025.

What was the most extreme apparent temperature in San José?

In San José, between 1940 and 2025, the highest apparent temperature reached 36.8 °C on 4 May 1978, and the lowest was 16.4 °C on 20 January 1977.

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