Water & Climate · Costa Rica (nationwide)

Weaker Trade Winds Gave Costa Rica a Warm, Clear Start to 2026

On Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, Costa Rica's National Meteorological Institute (IMN) forecast a lull in the trade winds, with fewer clouds and warm temperatures on both coasts, up to about 34 °C in Nicoya. It was a short dry-season spell, not a trend: the winds returned within days, and by April the IMN was warning of a strong El Niño later in the year.

By Pura-Verde.com Editors · Published October 30, 2026
Original report: La Nación: Reducción de vientos alisios y temperaturas cálidas marcarán el tiempo de este domingo en Costa Rica (2026-01-04)

Costa Rica's first Sunday of 2026 came with an unusual pause in the wind. On Jan. 4, the National Meteorological Institute (IMN) forecast a drop in the trade winds, thinner cloud cover and warm afternoons on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. It was a one-day forecast, not a climate milestone, but it's a useful window into how the dry season works and what shaped the rest of the year.

What the forecast said for Jan. 4

As La Nación reported that morning, the IMN tied the warmth to fewer clouds as the trade winds eased. The regional numbers told the story:

• North Pacific: stable and mostly clear, with Nicoya forecast between 19.2 °C and 34.3 °C.
• Central Valley: a light breeze and few clouds in the morning, with San José between 16.9 °C and 25.9 °C and possible showers in the west later.
• Central and South Pacific: afternoon clouds and brief rain, with Parrita up to 30.8 °C and Golfito up to 28.2 °C.
• Caribbean: mostly scattered evening rain, with Limón between 20 °C and 26.7 °C.
• Northern Zone: variable clouds, with Ciudad Quesada between 15.3 °C and 22.8 °C.

Nothing in those figures was extreme. What stood out was the calm after a windy holiday season.

Why the trade winds matter so much

From December to April, steady northeast trade winds blow across Costa Rica. They pile moisture against the Caribbean side of the mountains and push dry, gusty air down the Pacific slope. That's why Guanacaste turns brown and breezy in the dry season while Limón still gets rain.

When those winds strengthen, the Central Valley gets cool, blustery days and the mountains see powerful gusts. When they weaken, clouds thin out, the sun does more work, and the coasts heat up. The Jan. 4 forecast was the second kind of day.

The lull followed a stretch of strong wind. According to El Observador, Costa Rica was still feeling the eighth cold surge of the season at the turn of the year, with gusts of 60 to 80 km/h expected along the Guanacaste mountain range before the winds eased between Jan. 2 and 10.

Not a warm month overall

It would be wrong to read the Jan. 4 forecast as a sign of a hot January. The IMN's own monthly outlook, published a day earlier, expected cool temperatures through the month, a very dry Caribbean and Northern Zone, and some unusual showers on the Pacific side in the first weeks.

The calm also didn't last. By Jan. 7, Teletica reported that the trade winds were returning, with gusts up to 65 km/h in the Central Valley and 80 km/h in the mountains. The IMN forecast highs near 35 °C in the lowlands and lows below 3 °C on the highest peaks. Irazú Volcano recorded 2.7 °C that day. IMN meteorologist Rebeca Morera explained that big gaps between hot days and cold nights are typical of the dry season, when dry air lets heat escape quickly after dark.

What came later in 2026

The bigger climate story of the year arrived in the spring. On April 8, IMN director Werner Stolz España said at the government's weekly press conference that a strong El Niño was highly likely to develop in the second half of 2026, as Delfino.cr reported. The IMN projected rainfall deficits of 10% to 30% nationwide and temperatures 0.5 °C to 1 °C above normal, highest in Guanacaste. The IMN also said the Caribbean slope was already in a meteorological drought after a dry start to the year.

The IMN tracks those conditions in its monthly El Niño bulletin, and its June 2026 issue said El Niño was already affecting the country. That backdrop helps explain later stories this year, from Guanacaste's forest fires to water rationing in 74 communities. Our guide to climate resilience in Costa Rica looks at how communities are preparing for drier years like this one.

What it means if you're visiting in the dry season

• Expect wind, especially from December to March. Mountain viewpoints, volcano summits and the Guanacaste ridges can be very gusty. Calm days like Jan. 4 do happen, but they're the exception.
• Pack for two climates. Lowland beaches can top 34 °C while high peaks like Irazú drop near freezing before dawn.
• Check the IMN before outdoor plans. The IMN website posts daily regional forecasts and warnings in Spanish.
• Respect fire and water rules. Dry, windy weather raises wildfire risk, so never light fires outside designated areas, and follow any local water-saving notices.

Frequently asked questions

What are the trade winds in Costa Rica?

They're steady northeast winds that blow across the country, strongest from about December to April. They bring rain to the Caribbean side and dry, gusty weather to the Pacific side and Central Valley.

Was January 2026 unusually hot in Costa Rica?

No. The warm, calm conditions on Jan. 4 were a short spell. The IMN expected cool temperatures through January, and strong winds and cold mountain nights returned within days.

When is the dry season in Costa Rica?

On the Pacific side and in the Central Valley, the dry season usually runs from about December to April. The Caribbean coast follows a different pattern and can get rain in those months.

Did El Niño affect Costa Rica in 2026?

Yes. In April 2026 the IMN said a strong El Niño was highly likely in the second half of the year, with less rain and higher temperatures, and its June bulletin said the phase was already affecting the country.

Sources and original reporting

1. La Nación: Reducción de vientos alisios y temperaturas cálidas marcarán el tiempo de este domingo en Costa Rica (2026-01-04)
2. El Observador: Enero continuará con contraste climático: Pacífico con aguaceros y Caribe con menos lluvias (2026-01-03)
3. Teletica: IMN advierte extremos de temperatura: calor intenso de día y frío marcado de noche (2026-01-07)
4. Delfino.cr: Fenómeno de El Niño provocaría aumento de temperaturas y déficit en lluvias de hasta el 30% en Costa Rica (2026-04-08)
5. IMN: Boletín ENOS (index page)

We wrote this story from the published reports and official sources above. We didn't interview the people named unless the story says so.