El Salvador records its driest August since 1971 as temperatures hit records, government says

August 2026 ended as El Salvador’s driest August since official climate records began in 1971, with rainfall far below average and unusually high temperatures, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources said.

Rainfall totaled 134.9 millimeters, compared with an average of 313.6 millimeters, a 57% decline. The ministry also recorded 15 maximum-temperature records during the month. The highest temperature reached 44.2 degrees Celsius.

The ministry said the dry spell known as the canícula, when temperatures rise and rain temporarily stops during the rainy season, continued throughout August and remained in place in early September. Civil Protection declared a red alert on Aug. 25 because of drought associated with the El Niño weather pattern, which authorities forecast could remain severe through late 2026 and early 2027.

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August 2026 ended as the driest on record, with rainfall far below average and exceptionally high temperatures.

Civil Protection said dry periods linked to El Niño and the extended canícula were expected to recur during August and part of September. It estimated a 20% to 40% chance of at least one nationwide meteorological drought event. Luis Treminio, president of the Salvadoran Chamber of Small and Medium Agricultural Producers, told EFE that about 6.9 million quintals of maize, beans and sorghum, representing all planting scheduled for August and September, could be at risk. Crops planted in May could suffer losses of 20% to 30%.

Official records also showed water levels had fallen by up to 3.45% in four of the country’s five hydroelectric reservoirs. Hydropower supplied 72.7% less electricity to El Salvador’s grid in July than in the same month of 2025.

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It is the duty of the state to safeguard the life, integrity, well-being, livelihoods and food security of the population.