| No Hurricanes in Panama?! | | | | neighbors, with no hurricanes - amazingly it's in a |
| When we think of the Caribbean summer months | | | | special climate area that is hurricane-free. Panama |
| images of hurricanes, endless rain and violent | | | | also experiences no major earthquakes. |
| storms often come to mind. However, most | | | | The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Paul Owens - |
| people are unaware that when it comes to | | | | "For the first time in 30 years, United Van Lines |
| Panama Weather hurricanes and other violent | | | | Inc. says it moved more people OUT of Florida |
| weather miss this hidden gem. (Just click on the | | | | than IN! Fed-up Floridians are moving to other |
| highlighted text for a map of Panama and the | | | | parts of the country, (and other parts of the |
| hurricanes of the past 100 years). | | | | world!) in part to escape rising property taxes and |
| The What and Where of Hurricanes | | | | insurance rates. Many residents now say they |
| "Hurricanes are essentially a tropical phenomena, | | | | can't afford to move elsewhere in Florida because |
| that are driven by the evaporation of a large pool | | | | of the huge hit they'd take on taxes. What's |
| of very warm water somewhere not too far | | | | more, busy hurricane seasons in 2004 and 2005 |
| from a shoreline. Local geographic conditions may | | | | led to massive rate hikes from the state's largest |
| cause them to strike (i.e. cross the shore) in | | | | home insurance companies." |
| non-tropical locations, e.g. Florida, Louisiana, the | | | | But What about the Rain? |
| Atlantic coast, as well as Japan or Taiwan (where | | | | "Yes," you may be thinking, "but what about that |
| they are called typhoons). Hurricanes can strike | | | | long rainy season I've heard about?" It's true |
| the Pacific coast, but less commonly than the | | | | Panama weather may be free of violence but it |
| Caribbean, typically between about Acapulco and | | | | does have a long rainy season - it can last up to |
| Panama." Source: MadSci Network: Earth Sciences | | | | seven months - from May to December. |
| Summer Horror in the South | | | | However, rainy season is actually something the |
| It's something we have come to expect each | | | | local inhabitants and many of the transplants look |
| winter season: horror stories about canceled trips | | | | forward too. Again, we get that Hollywood image |
| or worse being stuck in a hotel room to, "Ride | | | | of torrential down pours for days on end. It's |
| out the Storm"; we all still have those haunting | | | | simply not the case in Panama. Yes, when it rains |
| images of poor families lost and homeless in | | | | it can come down in buckets but most showers |
| Louisiana, Florida and other tropical locales. Well, | | | | last for only a few hours sometimes just a few |
| your Panama vacation won't be canceled or re | | | | minutes. Even in the middle of rainy season it is |
| booked due to nasty weather. Also, for those | | | | typical to have beautiful sunshine for at least half |
| who call Panama home or second home your | | | | the day. In June, July and August it is not |
| Panama Real Estate investment will always be | | | | uncommon to have many beautiful sunny days |
| safe from hurricanes and earthquakes. This | | | | with a quick shower now and then. Not unlike |
| means low insurance rates due to the lower risk. | | | | summer in the American Mid-West. |
| Lower tax rates are another benefit as the | | | | Come on Down! |
| government doesn't need to save tax revenues | | | | So, if you are thinking of Panama Real Estate for |
| for the big clean up. Panama is blessed and | | | | retirement or just a Panama vacation don't let the |
| protected by nature, unlike her Central American | | | | Panama Weather in rainy season hold you back! |