What would be the intensity of the El Niño phenomenon in Colombia?

The arrival of El Niño phenomenon to the country seems imminent: according to information from the World Meteorological Organizationthis would happen before the month of Septemberwhich can mean an increase in droughts and a reduction in rainfall in a large part of Colombia.

Against this background, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam) and the Ministry of the Environment reported that this weather phenomenon is expected to be “mild to moderate“, as explained Ghisliane Echeverry, director of Ideamadding that these estimates may have even more intense changes.

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However, from the beginning, the outlook may be less serious than expected, since, in a tropical country like Colombia, El Niño can have very negative effects, even with the estimated intensity.

The Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, María Susana Muhamad, for her part, explained that “In the 2022 National Water Study we have the characterization of 312 municipalities that normally when there are strong phenomena that can lead to drought would generate situations of lack of water availability and where we have to start with great emphasis on preparations“.

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It is, therefore, those populations of the Caribbean and Andean regionwhich could be seriously affected by the season in which El Niño arrives in the country.

Given this, the head of the portfolio took the opportunity to inform that, in order to prevent any tragedy related to water scarcity in the municipalities located in these regions, The National Government already has several action strategies ready to mitigate the phenomenon.
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In addition, He pointed out that the possibility that the projections change and that El Niño is more intense is not ruled out: “Although the first estimates of the level of intensity are moderate to light, this may change, vulnerability has to do with the ability of the territories to resist. The impact can be high“.

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*​With information from EL TIEMPO