Guatemala sizzles: Heatwave brings temperatures to 42.6°C in Zacapa, over 32°C in capital

Guatemala endured a severe heatwave in May, pushing temperatures to extreme levels across the country. The eastern region, particularly La Fragua in Zacapa, registered a scorching 42.6°C, while the capital, Guatemala City, saw daytime highs exceed 32°C on multiple occasions. The National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology (Insivumeh) confirmed these conditions as a unique heatwave impacting the east and north of the country.

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Yes, in effect, our country has registered a unique heatwave at the moment, where temperatures of up to 42.6 °C could be observed, mainly in the La Fragua region, Zacapa, also in Camotán, Pasabién and Panzós, Alta Verapaz.

Edwin Rojas, director of Insivumeh, stated on June 1st that the prolonged high temperatures were unprecedented for the country. He noted that while these readings were significant, they did not surpass historical records from 1991-2000. However, the intensity of the heat was exacerbated by other meteorological factors, including decreased relative humidity, increased sunshine, and reduced cloud cover, creating a perception of even greater warmth.

Although the onset of the rainy season has begun to bring some relief, Insivumeh forecasts that maximum temperatures could still reach between 34°C and 38°C in regions like Petén, the Caribbean coast, the Northern Transversal Strip, the East, and the Pacific coast during the first week of June. In contrast, the Central and Western Highlands are expected to experience milder temperatures ranging from 22°C to 30°C.

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These data allow us to compare with the previous historical data, from 1991 to the year 2000, and in that sense, we can confirm a past heatwave. At the moment, there are no indications that this could happen again.

Preliminary meteorological data from May 2026 further highlights the severity of the heat in La Fragua, Zacapa, where the average maximum temperature was 39.2°C. The peak temperatures of 42.6°C on May 2nd and 42.4°C on May 7th underscore the intensity of the heat that predominantly affected the eastern part of the nation. These figures were notably above usual averages, occurring amidst a backdrop of widespread elevated temperatures.

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As you can see, none of these temperatures exceed the historical records that we have.