WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao is expected to face a hotter and drier rainy season in the coming months, with the Meteorological Department warning that temperatures could remain above normal through October while rainfall is expected to decrease because of a possible “super El Niño” developing in the Pacific Ocean.
The updated forecast follows earlier warnings from Meteorological Department Curaçao about rising temperatures on the island.
According to Meteo, average temperatures between June and October are expected to range between 29.1 and 30.7 degrees Celsius, while maximum temperatures could climb to between 32.9 and 34.5 degrees.
Forecasters say August and September are expected to experience the most intense heat conditions.
Meteo warned that the expected weather patterns may resemble those seen in 2024, which was recorded as the hottest year ever measured on Curaçao.
The weather service stated that temperatures on the island have become structurally higher over recent years compared to the long-term thirty-year average. In addition to higher average temperatures, extreme heat events are becoming more frequent and lasting longer.
Because of those developments, Meteo has repeatedly issued special heat advisories in recent years.
According to the meteorological service, the unusually warm Caribbean Sea remains one of the main contributing factors. Warm air currents over the sea continue heating further as they move across the island, while lower rainfall and reduced cloud cover intensify the effect.
Expected El Niño conditions are also forecast to reduce rainfall during the traditional rainy season across the region.
Meteo is urging residents to take precautions during periods of extreme heat by drinking sufficient water, avoiding heavy physical activity during the hottest parts of the day and paying special attention to vulnerable people and animals.
The warning comes as climate experts increasingly point to rising temperatures and changing weather patterns across the Caribbean linked to global climate change and warming ocean waters.