Colombia’s state-run Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) predicted Monday that the current high-temperatures affecting Colombia will continue until September.
Julian Corrales, head of IDEAM, said that Colombians feel like there is a heatwave because of the early onset of this year’s dry season, coupled with the weather phenomenon known as “La Niña,” which lowers the surface temperature of the Pacific Ocean and is typically followed by an increase.
“We have a dry season that was a couple of weeks ahead of the Pacific Ocean warming, which occurs after the La Niña phenomenon leveled out temperatures so we have a slight increase in temperature, which, advanced by the dry season gives people the sense that it is hot,” said Corrales.
President Santos called on Colombians to cut back on their water usage, saying “in each region of the country liquid resources should be preserved to avoid a possible lack of rain affecting agricutlure.”
The IDEAM also advised people to monitor their water consumption as well as take the necessary precautions to prevent forest fires.