Panama Faces Hotter, Drier August‑October 2026 as El Niño Intensifies

The Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA) issued its climate outlook for August‑October 2026, projecting temperatures 2‑4 °C above normal across most of the country. The heat index is expected to exceed 38 °C in many provinces.

Rainfall is forecast to be 20‑45 % below historical averages in large portions of the Pacific side and central regions, potentially extending dry spells for up to ten days early in August. Several river basins are already experiencing meteorological drought, prompting calls for responsible water use. In contrast, the Caribbean coast, Bocas del Toro, Guna Yala and mountainous areas of Chiriquí may receive above‑average precipitation, raising the risk of flooding and landslides. The agency linked these patterns to an intensifying El Niño, with warmer equatorial Pacific waters expected to amplify the phenomenon’s impact on Panama’s weather.