An adiabatic cooling system includes a condenser coil and at least one mist chamber positioned around the condenser coil such that at least a portion of intake air for the adiabatic cooling system passes through the mist chamber prior to contacting the condenser coil. The at least one mist chamber includes a first cooling pad with a first intake-side face and a first output-side face and a second cooling pad with a first intake-side face and a first output-side face. The second-intake side face of the second cooling pad faces the first output-side face of the first cooling pad and is separated from the first-output side face of the first cooling pad by a gap. At least one nozzle is configured, when the adiabatic system is operating in a wet mode, to provide a mist of water into the gap.