In Panama, say, the east gets hot weather (4)
I believe the answer is:
heat
'hot weather' is the definition.
'in panama say the east' is the wordplay.
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'panama say' becomes 'hat' (Panama is a type of hat).
'the east' becomes 'E' (abbreviation).
'hat' placed around 'e' is 'HEAT'.
'gets' is the link.
(Other definitions for heat that I've seen before include "brings out a sweat?" , "Preliminary race to qualify finalists" , "Get agitated" , "Pressure" , "Energy that caues a rise in temperature" .)