Colombia Faces Extreme Heat and Fires as El Niño Strengthens

Colombia is grappling with extreme heat and an escalating wildfire threat as El Niño intensifies. As of September 18, 341 municipalities were under vegetation-fire alert, with 83 under a red alert. Pailitas in Cesar department recorded a scorching 42°C (107.6°F), while Fredonia in Antioquia and the Tolima municipalities of Natagaima and Saldaña reached 41.4°C (106.5°F), 41.2°C (106.2°F), and 41°C (105.8°F) respectively.

Fire alerts surged from 286 on September 17 to 341 the following day. Tolima led with 33 municipalities in a red alert, followed by Nariño with 14 and Cundinamarca with 13. Nationwide, there were 15 active forest fires and nine controlled blazes on September 18, with Tolima responsible for nine active fires. A major fire in Cali's Alto Menga hills burned over 70 hectares (173 acres) and affected five homes, with two firefighters sustaining injuries.

Water risks are also mounting due to El Niño's impact on water planning. The Ministry of Housing identified 558 municipalities and non-municipalized areas at high or very high risk from the event's effects on drinking-water and sanitation systems, with 111 territories at very high risk and 447 at high risk. The situation in Bogotá contrasts with the rest of the country, as the city's Chingaza system remains at 95% capacity, with no risk of water rationing due to El Niño.

El Niño is expected to reach very strong intensity during late 2026 and early 2027, with a 75% probability according to Ideam's assessment.