Costa Rica & Panama SST chart
Satellite data from
Southern Costa Rica and western Panama on both coasts: on the Pacific side the Osa Peninsula, Golfo Dulce and the Gulf of Chiriquí with its islands, east to the Azuero Peninsula; on the Caribbean side Limón and Bocas del Toro.
Today’s read
Satellite water temperature,
- Coldest
- 83.9°F
- Median
- 85.2°F
- Warmest
- 86.7°F
- Water with data
- 100%
The median surface temperature is down 0.5°F from 7 days ago.
Foundation SST from JPL MUR 0.01° for 2026-10-16 over the open water in this view; 7-day change compares the median with 2026-10-09.
On this chart: Golfito, Drake Bay, the Osa Peninsula, Golfo Dulce, Puerto Jiménez, the Gulf of Chiriquí, Boca Chica, Bocas del Toro, Limón, Dominical and the Azuero Peninsula.
How to read today’s Southern Central America chart
Hunt the break, not the colour. A sharp line where warm and cool water collide in half a mile is worth far more than a gradient that fades over ten. The contour lines above trace each temperature exactly, so you can see where a given isotherm runs and where it bends.
The water in southern Central America is nearly uniform today (83.9°F to 86.7°F), so the chart is scaled across a 83–87°F band around it — enough to show real breaks without painting small ripples as fronts.
Pair it with chlorophyll
Temperature shows you the seam. Chlorophyll shows you whether there is anything to eat on it. See today’s Southern Central America chlorophyll chart →
Frequently asked
How often does the Southern Central America SST chart update?
The image is regenerated twice a day from the latest MUR 1km satellite analysis in the Catalysst app. The analysis itself is daily, so the date moves forward about once a day — and the date shown is the date of the satellite data, not the date the page was built.
What area does the Southern Central America SST chart cover?
From 7.7°N to 10.3°N and 84.0°W to 80.0°W. Ports and landmarks on it include Golfito, Drake Bay, the Osa Peninsula, Golfo Dulce, Puerto Jiménez, the Gulf of Chiriquí, Boca Chica, Bocas del Toro, Limón, Dominical and the Azuero Peninsula.
What are the lines drawn over the colours?
Isotherms — contour lines that trace one exact temperature each. Colour alone makes a break hard to pinpoint; the lines show you precisely where a given temperature runs and how it bends around structure.
Why do some areas of the chart look soft?
Cloud. Infrared satellites cannot see through it, so under cloud the daily analysis leans on coarser microwave data and fine breaks blur. In the app, use the 1-day window to find a live break and the 3- and 7-day windows to confirm it is holding.
This chart, live and zoomable
1-, 3- and 7-day windows, contour lines, and the working fleet on the same map. 7-day free trial.
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