Panama Faces Up to 55% Rainfall Deficit Amid El Niño

Panama is bracing for a significant reduction in rainfall, with projections indicating a deficit of up to 55% across the country from July to December 2026. This dry spell is attributed to the ongoing El Niño phenomenon, which is also expected to drive a temperature increase of one to three degrees Celsius.

The Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA) has confirmed the persistence of the El Niño alert, noting that over 95% of international climate models forecast its continuation in the coming months. The IMHPA has identified 1997, 2002, and 2023 as analogous years, exhibiting similar atmospheric behavior to the first half of the current year, suggesting a potentially strong El Niño event.

This climate pattern is known to alter weather globally, causing droughts in some regions while intensifying rainfall and floods in others, alongside a general rise in global temperatures. The Panama Canal Authority has already begun implementing measures to mitigate the impact, anticipating a reduction in draft to 44 feet by summer 2027. This is a proactive step, as the canal experienced similar, though more severe, reductions in draft and daily transits during the intense El Niño of summer 2023.

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We are implementing measures earlier than in 2023 to try to minimize the impact on our clients.