Judith Pena | April 5, 2023
A thermal sensation of up to 40 ° C can be perceived during this month of April, classified as the hottest of the year in Panama, according to the analysis of the Climatology department of the Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA).
According to the IMHPA, this increase in temperature occurs due to the position of the sun, the weakening of the trade winds and the haze.
Climatologically, between the end of March and April the maximum temperatures in Panama are recorded. The average monthly temperature in April ranges between 24° and 30°C, and there may be days with maximum temperatures between 34°C and 39°C.
Around March 21, the equator, parallel to 0° latitude, aligns at a right angle with the sun. This event is called the Spring Equinox, because it marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and its main characteristic is that the day and night have the same duration. This indicates that the distance traveled by the sun’s rays, from the Sun to the Earth, is shortened, which intensifies the solar radiation that heats our planet. Panama is located between 6 and 10° North latitude, and the sun’s rays fall more directly on the Panamanian territory.
In addition, in April, Panama still maintains little cloud cover and being a country close to the Equator results in a higher incidence of solar radiation.
The high pressure system in the North Atlantic generates the trade winds, winds of pleasant temperatures that come from the northeast and that enter Panama, present from December to April. Being in April when the weakening of the trade winds occurs and in turn, the entry of the warm and humid breeze from the Pacific occurs.
Added to this in Panama, in April is when there are more burnings and forest fires, which produces haze: an atmospheric phenomenon that limits visibility due to the suspension of tiny particles in the air, producing a sensation of suffocating heat.
The increase in thermal sensation on these dates is due to: high temperatures (maximums between 34°C and 39°C), high percentages of humidity (on average between 80% and 90%) and decreased wind speed (lower at 5 knots).
How long will the high temperatures continue?
The temperature is expected to decrease when the rains begin, the rainy season is forecast to fall within the regular period, between mid-April or early May.
During these days that high temperatures will occur, the population is recommended to:
- Maintain hydration throughout the day.
- Control sudden temperature changes between heated areas and outdoors.
- Avoid exposing yourself to sunlight for a prolonged period.
