In Panama, the rule is that there are 4 months of dry season, or summer, and 8 months of rainy season.  Well what does that mean?  Before I came I didn't really have the answer to that question, and still haven't seen an entire year pass, so I guess I can't personally say for sure yet.  I can however, tell you what it has been like weather wise for the last 2 months, in the full swing of the rainy season.

I'm in Panama City.  I have heard that it rains a little less in the interior of the country and a little less in the Coranado, Farallon area.  As far as the city goes, there isn't a depressing amount of rain.  We get a good day of rain per week, and then maybe 15%-25% of the other days with showers, if it rains at all.  Probably 3 days a week at least with no rain, and either sunny all day or partly cloudy.  I can say that it is sunny and hot enough of the time that when a rain or thunder storm blows in, it is a really nice relief, and awesome to watch.

The first storm that I watched roll in here was amazing.  The clouds are really low, they come rolling in off of the ocean gently caressing the tops of the skyscrapers.  The lightning crashes, sometimes blinding it's so close.  I have never in my life heard thunder so intense and so close.  If you're looking in the right place at the right time you can actually see the lightning rod of a building absorb the bolt.  The rain drops are the size of ball bearings and slap the tin roofs and earth with mighty force.  The sound of the traffic disappears.   I love mother nature.

When I was here in December, and later in late February, it was summer, or dry season.  The terrain was dry and brown, it was hot, maybe 3-5 degrees hotter.  Just no rain, sun all day.  Now, the earth is green and lush.  The palm trees are healthy looking, there's not a brown or yellow leaf to be seen anywhere, and the rain is no where near intolerable.

So there you have it, rainy season in Panama is definitely no winter in Vancouver, and from what I've heard, probably a lot dryer than many parts of Canada this summer!!!

Happy House Hunting!!!!

Eldon