Cordonazo de San Francisco weather phenomenon affects Ecuador and Venezuela

The phenomenon known as ‘Cordonazo de San Francisco’ is occurring, a seasonal weather pattern associated with the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi on October 4. In Ecuador, the tradition suggests that the saint shakes his habit's cord against the clouds to trigger heavy rains and lightning, marking the transition from the dry season to the rainy season in the Sierra region and the Inter-Andean Valley.

In Venezuela, the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Inameh) reports that this event coincides with the movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and the passage of tropical waves. Forecasts indicate high temperatures during the day, with extreme peaks reaching up to 40°C in Guayana Esequiba and 38°C in Barquisimeto and Maracaibo. Precipitation, electrical activity, and potential hail in mountainous areas are expected from October 4 to October 6, particularly in regions such as Amazonas, Monagas, Anzoátegui, Zulia, and the Andes.