Inamhi Warns of Extreme Heat and Rainfall in Ecuador

Ecuador's National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Inamhi) has issued weather warnings for the weekend of August 22-23, 2026, and the days following, forecasting a mix of high daytime temperatures, very high ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and increasing rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms across various provinces. The atmospheric conditions indicate a challenging period for many regions.

During Saturday, August 22, and Sunday, August 23, the country will experience hot conditions. The Litoral region, including Manabí, Guayas, and El Oro, can expect temperatures between 30°C and 35°C. The Sierra region will see highs ranging from 21°C to 26°C in provinces like Carchi and Pichincha, with cooler temperatures in Guaranda (16°C to 20°C). The Amazon region is forecast to have temperatures between 29°C and 32°C. Authorities caution that the combination of heat, wind, and dry vegetation significantly increases the risk of forest fires.

Coastal cities will experience varied conditions. Guayaquil anticipates lows of 24°C-25°C and highs of 28°C-32°C with cloudy skies. Babahoyo will have temperatures from 23°C to 32°C, with morning rains expected by Sunday. Santa Elena will be partly cloudy with temperatures between 23°C and 30°C. In the Galápagos Islands, San Cristóbal will register temperatures from 24°C to 31°C.

The UV radiation levels are predicted to reach critical categories on Saturday, August 22. The Litoral and Amazon regions will experience Moderate to Very High UV indices (5-8), while the Insular region will be Very High (8). The Sierra region faces the highest risk, with levels ranging from High to Extremely High (6-12), particularly in Pichincha and Azuay (up to 11) and Loja (up to 12). Inamhi advises avoiding direct sun exposure between 10:00 and 15:00.

An alert for variable intensity rainfall and thunderstorms has been issued from August 21 to August 25, with the heaviest precipitation expected on Sunday, August 23, and Monday, August 24. Rainfall accumulations are projected to be between 10-41 mm/day in the Litoral, 8-11 mm/day in the Interandina region, and 22-54 mm/day in the Amazon. These conditions may lead to landslides and water accumulation in certain areas, especially in the interior of Esmeraldas and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas.

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The national atmosphere will experience a combined scenario of elevated daytime temperatures, ultraviolet radiation in very high ranges, and the gradual entry of precipitation with electrical storms in various provinces.