Weather guides

How to Read a Weather Radar

Learn what radar colors mean, how radar differs from satellite, what it cannot show, and how to combine radar with the forecast to plan the next few hours.

Rainy and dry season in Panama

How the dry season ("summer") and the rainy season ("winter") work in Panama, when it rains most and what to expect on each coast.

The Panama Canal, drought and El Niño

Why a lack of rain affects the Panama Canal and what role El Niño plays in the droughts that lower the level of Gatún Lake.

Tropical waves and temporales in Panama

What tropical waves and "temporales" are, why they bring heavy rain to Panama, and why the country mostly stays out of the hurricane track.

Highland climate: Boquete and Chiriquí

Why Panama's highlands, such as Boquete and the Barú volcano, are cool and rainy, and what to expect if you head up into the mountains.

Heat, humidity and the UV index in Panama

Why heat feels so intense in Panama and how to protect yourself from the tropical sun all year round.

How a Weather Forecast Is Made

Find out how a weather forecast is built: the observations, numerical models such as ECMWF, GFS and ICON, why forecasts carry uncertainty, and how often the data is updated.

Feels-like temperature: why it differs from the thermometer

What feels-like temperature is, how it differs from air temperature, how wind and humidity change what you sense, and why it matters for your health and clothing.

Humidity and Comfort: How It Affects Your Body

The difference between relative and absolute humidity, what dew point is, why high humidity feels hotter and low humidity dries you out, and the comfortable ranges.

Air Quality and the AQI Index

What the air quality index (AQI) means, the main pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, O₃ and NO₂, the health categories, and how to reduce your exposure.