Extreme weather and wildfire risks in Colombia

Colombia continues to face significant weather extremes driven by the El Niño phenomenon. Following previous reports of extreme temperatures and wildfire risks in mid-August and early September, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam) has expanded its warnings.

By mid-September, Ideam issued wildfire alerts for 468 municipalities. High temperatures and dry conditions have placed 17 departments under red alert, particularly during afternoon hours. Cundinamarca holds the highest concentration of high-risk areas with 50 municipalities under red alert, followed by Tolima with 24 and Boyacá with 18.

Temperature records have demonstrated extreme contrasts across the country. In Pailitas, Cesar, temperatures reached 42°C, while other regions experienced lows of 2°C. Ideam reported that maximum temperature anomalies at several stations “significantly exceeded historical climatological records from 1991 to 2020.” Notable heat spikes were also recorded in Fredonia (41.4°C), Saldaña (41°C), and Valledupar (40.2°C), affecting both traditionally warm regions and more moderate areas such as the coffee axis and inter-Andean valleys.