Nicaragua is a land of either burning sun or torrential rains - the type of weather that you end up with is largely determined by the timing of your visit.
There are two clearly marked seasons in Nicaragua, one dry and one rainy. During the wet season (May through October), the majority of the country is hit with storms at least once a day. Unlike more temperate climes, where a rainy forecast means a day of clouds and cold, Nicaragua often produces weather as fiercely beautiful and powerful as an eruption from the volcanoes below.
The curtains of rain can be heavy enough to force cars off the roads, flood deep culverts in the city and cause mudslides in the country. While the most severe thunderstorms may produce flash flooding and severe lighting, they short lived, coming to an abrupt end after anywhere between a few minutes to a couple of hours.
The Caribbean lowlands receive such heavy rainfalls that they are frequently flooded. The Pacific area is somewhat sheltered by the mountain range, but may also be hit by hurricanes. In the plains, temperatures hover around 30 degrees Celsius, 20 at night, but are milder in the highlands, with daily averages of 24 to 27 degrees and cooler nights (15 to 20 degrees Celsius).
In the dry season (November to April), the Nicaraguan land becomes dusty and cracked. Streams disappear and rivers dwindle to muddy trickles. Although you may find the temperatures uncomfortably hot, the dry season is the best time to visit Nicaragua if you plan to go further off the beaten path. In the most remote areas you may find that Nicaraguans use the dry riverbeds as impromptu roads.