Colombia heatwave: These municipalities recorded the highest temperatures, Ideam reports

Colombia’s heat returned to elevated levels, with Saldaña in Tolima recording 39.6°C over the past 24 hours, according to the latest report from the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies, known as Ideam.

The report, updated on Sept. 5, lists municipalities where temperatures reached at least 38°C. Six localities across five departments appeared on the list. Tolima recorded three of the highest readings: 39.6°C in Saldaña, 39.2°C in Natagaima and 38.6°C in Ambalema.

Fredonia, in Antioquia, reached 39.4°C. Valledupar in Cesar recorded 39°C, while Villavieja in Huila reached 38.6°C and Urumita in La Guajira recorded 38.4°C. The highest readings were spread across parts of Colombia’s Caribbean and Andean regions.

Ideam cautioned that the figures reflect the locations of its monitoring stations. A municipality’s reported temperature may not exactly represent conditions where most of its residents live or in its urban center.

The report also highlighted a new September record at the El Centro station in Barrancabermeja, Santander. Temperatures reached 37.4°C on Sept. 4, above the station’s previous September record of 36.8°C, set on Sept. 25, 2023. Ideam said no other listed municipality exceeded its historical maximum, while several municipalities in Boyacá recorded low temperatures between 2.6°C and 4.4°C. The report said the elevated readings may be linked to atmospheric and oceanic conditions, including the El Niño phenomenon under surveillance.