Heat wave in Guatemala will persist this week with temperatures above 40 degrees

Home News Heat wave in Guatemala will persist this week with temperatures above 40 degrees
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April 26, 2026April 26, 2026By Mario Vásquez
Heat wave in Guatemala will persist this week with temperatures above 40 degrees

Intense heat will continue in the country during the week of April 27 to May 3, with temperatures that could reach 40 ° C in several regions, according to records from the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh).

According to Ana Pérez, from the Insivumeh Forecast Office, the weakening of atmospheric pressure has favored predominant winds from the south, which has maintained a warm environment in recent days and will prolong high temperatures in most of the territory, especially in the north, southeast and east.

The expert explained that, according to meteorological models and the atmospheric pressure anomaly index, the entry of frontal systems or the development of tropical cyclones that would significantly modify current conditions is not expected.

However, he indicated that local phenomena are not ruled out, such as severe storms associated with the entry of humidity from the Pacific Ocean and diurnal warming. These could occur with strong wind and possible hail in high areas.

In regions such as the Bocacosta, the volcanic chain and the south of the Central Altiplano, short-term rains could be recorded during the first hours of the night.

Pérez explained that the maximum temperatures expected will remain between 37 °C and 40 °C in valleys in the east and north; between 35 °C and 37 °C in the south of the country; between 29 °C and 32 °C in the Central Highlands, the Caribbean and sectors of the Northern Transversal Belt, and between 24 °C and 28 °C in the west.

In addition, he warned that these conditions favor the proliferation of forest fires, mainly in the valleys of the East and North, and with less probability in regions in the center of the country.

Zacapa exceeds 43 degrees

For this Sunday, April 26, Insivumeh reported cloudiness in the Caribbean, valleys of Oriente and Petén, as well as fog in several departments and high temperatures, with records of up to 43.4 °C in Zacapa and 38.6 °C in Petén in the last 24 hours.

The forecast for Monday, April 27, indicates that the entry of humidity from the Pacific Ocean will promote cloudiness and possible rains with electrical activity in Bocacosta and the south of the West in the late afternoon, while high solar radiation and heat will persist during the day, with maximums close to 40 °C in the north and east.

The Insivumeh recommended taking precautions against high temperatures, avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun and preventing forest fires.

Global context

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) predicts that temperatures above normal will be recorded between May and July in much of the planet. due to the possible formation of an El Niño episode.

The head of climate prediction at the WMO, Wilfran Moufouma Okia, explained that, after a period of neutral conditions at the beginning of the year, climate models show high probabilities of this phenomenon developing, which could be of strong intensity.

Although some experts have called this possible event “Superchild”, the WMO clarified that this term is not part of its official classifications, although it does recognize that it could be a significant episode.

During the previous phenomenon, which was recorded between 2023 and 2024, the two warmest years on record globally were reached. However, the WMO stressed that temperatures They do not depend solely on El Niño or its opposite phase, La Niña, but also climate change caused by human activity.

The agency indicated that, although there is no evidence that climate change increases the frequency or intensity of El Niño, it can amplify its effects, including heat waves, torrential rains and other extreme events.

Likewise, this phenomenon usually generates variations in global rainfall patterns. It may cause increased rainfall in some areas of South America, the United States, the Horn of Africa and Central Asia, while favoring drought conditions in Australia and South Asia.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the warming of ocean waters associated with El Niño can intensify hurricane activity in the central and eastern Pacific, while reducing their formation in the Atlantic Ocean.

With information from EFE

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