Launching the regional State of the Local weather report on Monday masking final yr, consultants outlined how temperatures stay effectively above common, with rising sea ranges and elevated excessive climate occasions in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The report warns that local weather shocks are more and more disrupting meals manufacturing, straining healthcare programs and threatening entry to scrub water across the area as excessive climate turns into extra extreme and extra frequent.
Menace to life and well being
In 2025, intense heatwaves pushed temperatures above 40°C across giant components of the area, together with a record-breaking 52.7°C in Mexico. Brazil and Paraguay additionally recorded temperatures above 44°C.
The WMO warned that excessive warmth is changing into a serious public well being risk, particularly for weak communities with restricted entry to healthcare, cooling and dependable electrical energy.
Many nations nonetheless don’t routinely monitor heat-related deaths, however the report estimates round 13,000 individuals died yearly from heat-related causes across 17 nations between 2012 and 2021.
Meals insecurity deepens
More and more excessive rainfall patterns are worsening humanitarian circumstances across the area, with communities dealing with cycles of devastating floods and extended drought.
In 2025, flooding affected greater than 110,000 individuals in Peru and Ecuador, whereas floods in Mexico killed 83 individuals and precipitated widespread infrastructure injury and landslides.
On the identical time, extreme drought affected as much as 85 per cent of Mexico, creating main water shortages for crops and reservoirs regardless of the nation experiencing its wettest June on document.
Water shortages had been additionally reported across the Caribbean, whereas drought circumstances in southern South America elevated agricultural losses and wildfire dangers.
The WMO warned that worsening local weather extremes are putting rising stress on agricultural manufacturing and meals processing (agro-food) programs, threatening livelihoods, meals entry and rural communities across the area.
Glacier soften threatens water provide
Speedy glacier retreat across the Andes can be elevating alarm over future water safety.
Andean glaciers present freshwater for practically 90 million individuals, supporting ingesting water, agriculture, hydropower and business.
Nevertheless, glaciers across Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina are melting at accelerating charges, rising the chance of each flooding and long-term water shortages.
“The indicators of a altering local weather are unmistakable across Latin America and the Caribbean,” mentioned WMO Secretary-Normal Celeste Saulo, warning of accelerating glacier loss, rising sea ranges, tropical cyclones, floods and drought.
“The State of the Local weather in Latin America and the Caribbean 2025 isn’t solely a scientific publication. It’s a name to motion. It calls on us to strengthen observations, put money into companies, shut early warning gaps, and be certain that local weather data reaches those that want it most” she says.
Hurricanes and rising seas
The report additionally highlighted the rising hazard posed by quickly intensifying storms.
Hurricane Melissa turned the primary Class 5 hurricane on document to make landfall in Jamaica in October 2025, killing 45 individuals and inflicting financial losses equal to greater than 41 per cent of the nation’s GDP.
In the meantime, rising sea ranges and warming oceans are rising dangers for coastal communities, fisheries and marine ecosystems across the Caribbean and Atlantic coasts.
Sea ranges in components of the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean are rising sooner than the worldwide common.
WMO officers warned that with out pressing funding in local weather adaptation, catastrophe preparedness and early warning programs, humanitarian wants across the area will seemingly solely worsen.
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