Rains Surprise Quito on Sunday, August 16; Inamhi Issues Forecast

Quito experienced a return of rainfall on Sunday, August 16, 2026, breaking a period of intense heat and high solar radiation. The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Inamhi) had forecast cloudy skies with clear intervals, high radiation levels at midday, and expected afternoon showers for Pichincha.

The Inamhi issued a short-term warning, predicting light and scattered heavy rains across Ecuador from Sunday afternoon until Monday evening. These rains were expected to primarily affect areas along the mountain ranges.

Specific regions anticipated to receive rainfall included the Litoral Region (interior of Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo, Los Ríos, and western mountain foothills), the Inter-Andean Region (western mountain foothills, particularly west of Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Bolívar, and Azuay), and the Amazon Region (intermittent rain and drizzle, especially in eastern mountain foothills).

In Quito, the inclement weather led to a reported incident where a vehicle lost traction on the Ruta Viva on Saturday afternoon due to the rain. Emergency services were on-site to assist the vehicle's owner and coordinate its removal.