Latin America and Caribbean Hit by Record Heat, Floods and Climate Extremes in 2025, WMO Warns

Latin America and the Caribbean experienced some of the most severe climate extremes on record in 2025, with devastating heatwaves, floods, droughts, rapidly intensifying hurricanes, and accelerating glacier loss causing widespread humanitarian, economic, and environmental damage across the region, according to a new report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The report, State of the Climate in Latin America and the Caribbean 2025, paints a stark picture of a region increasingly vulnerable to climate change impacts, while also emphasizing the urgent need for stronger climate resilience, early warning systems, and long-term adaptation planning.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo warned that the signs of climate change are now “unmistakable” across the region.

Record-Breaking Heat Intensifies Public Health Risks

One of the most alarming findings in the report is the sharp increase in extreme heat events across North, Central, and South America.

In 2025, recurrent heatwaves pushed temperatures far beyond historical averages, with many areas recording temperatures above 40°C.

Among the most extreme temperatures recorded:

• 52.7°C in Mexicali, Mexico — a new national record

• 44°C in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

• 44.8°C in Mariscal Estigarribia, Paraguay

Central America also faced repeated heatwaves with temperatures reaching between 40°C and 45°C.

According to the WMO, the rising frequency and intensity of extreme heat are creating a growing public health emergency.

Heat-related illnesses and deaths are increasingly affecting vulnerable populations including:

• Elderly people

• Children

• Outdoor workers

• Low-income communities

• People with pre-existing health conditions

The report estimates that approximately 13,000 heat-attributable deaths occur annually across 17 countries in the region, although experts believe the true number is likely much higher due to poor reporting systems.

WMO officials stressed the urgent need to integrate climate intelligence into public health systems and emergency preparedness planning.

Warming Accelerating Across the Region

The report shows that warming trends across Latin America and the Caribbean have intensified dramatically in recent decades.

Between 1991 and 2025:

• South America warmed by approximately 0.26°C per decade

• Central America and the Caribbean warmed by around 0.25°C per decade

• Mexico experienced the fastest warming rate at 0.34°C per decade

The period from 1991 to 2025 represents the strongest regional warming trend since modern climate datasets began in 1900.

The average annual surface temperature in 2025 ranked among the five to eight warmest years ever recorded in the region.

Climate scientists warn that rising temperatures are intensifying multiple climate risks simultaneously, including:

• Drought

• Wildfires

• Heat stress

• Agricultural losses

• Water scarcity

• Tropical storm intensity

More Extreme Rainfall and Flooding Across the Region

The WMO report also highlights major changes in rainfall patterns across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Over recent decades, rainfall has become increasingly extreme, with many regions swinging between severe droughts and intense flooding.

Areas experiencing heavier rainfall and more floods include:

• Central America

• Northern South America

• Colombia

• Venezuela

• Southern Brazil

• Uruguay

• Northern Argentina

In 2025, extreme rainfall caused devastating humanitarian impacts:

• Over 110,000 people affected by floods in Peru and Ecuador

• 83 deaths linked to flooding in Mexico

• Widespread landslides and infrastructure destruction across several countries

June 2025 became the rainiest month ever recorded in Mexico.

However, despite heavy rainfall in some areas, other parts of Mexico simultaneously experienced severe drought conditions, illustrating the increasingly erratic nature of the regional water cycle.

Severe Droughts Fuel Water and Agricultural Crises

The report warns that prolonged drought conditions are becoming more frequent and intense across several regions.

Areas facing increasing dryness include:

• Central Chile

• Northeast Brazil

• Parts of Central America

• Caribbean islands

At the peak of the drought in Mexico, approximately 85 percent of the country experienced drought conditions, creating major pressure on:

• Reservoirs

• Agriculture

• Drinking water supplies

• Hydropower systems

Southern South America also experienced rainfall deficits exceeding 40 percent in some areas, increasing risks of:

• Crop failures

• Food insecurity

• Wildfires

• Economic losses

The Amazon region showed increasingly unstable rainfall patterns, with:

• Longer dry seasons

• Stronger wet-season extremes

• More frequent droughts

Scientists warn that these changes could have major long-term impacts on biodiversity, agriculture, and regional climate systems.

Hurricanes Becoming More Dangerous

The report highlighted Hurricane Melissa as one of the most significant climate disasters of 2025.

In October, Melissa became the first Category 5 hurricane ever recorded making landfall in Jamaica.

The hurricane caused:

• 45 deaths

• Economic losses estimated at US$8.8 billion

• Damage equivalent to more than 41 percent of Jamaica’s GDP

Despite the unprecedented intensity of the storm, WMO officials noted that Jamaica’s preparedness measures and advanced risk modelling helped reduce the human toll.

The report emphasized that rapidly intensifying hurricanes are testing the limits of disaster preparedness systems throughout the Caribbean.

Warmer ocean temperatures linked to climate change are believed to be increasing the intensity of tropical cyclones globally.

Glacier Retreat Threatens Water Security

The WMO warned that accelerating glacier loss in the Andes poses one of the most serious long-term water security threats in Latin America.

Andean glaciers serve as a critical freshwater source for approximately 90 million people across the region.

These glaciers support:

• Drinking water supplies

• Agriculture

• Hydroelectric power

• Industry

• Ecosystem stability

Recent data shows accelerating glacier mass loss in:

• Colombia

• Ecuador

• Chile

• Argentina

Scientists warn that shrinking glaciers combined with rising water demand could create severe long-term shortages, especially for rural Andean communities with limited adaptive capacity.

Oceans Under Growing Stress

The report also documented worsening marine conditions across the region.

Ocean warming, acidification, and declining oxygen levels are threatening:

• Coral reefs

• Fisheries

• Coastal ecosystems

• Marine biodiversity

In 2025:

• Surface ocean acidity reached record levels in parts of the Atlantic and Pacific

• Extreme marine heatwaves affected the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea

• Sea levels rose faster than the global average along some Atlantic-facing coasts

WMO warned that these trends threaten coastal communities, fisheries, tourism industries, and marine food systems throughout the region.

Agriculture and Food Systems Under Pressure

The report found that climate extremes are increasingly damaging agro-food systems across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Simultaneous climate shocks are affecting:

• Agricultural production

• Rural livelihoods

• Food availability

• Market stability

Extreme weather events are disrupting farming cycles, reducing crop yields, and increasing food insecurity risks in vulnerable areas.

Climate experts warn that continued warming could significantly reduce agricultural productivity in several parts of the region over coming decades.

WMO Calls for Urgent Climate Action

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stressed that climate information is not only about scientific data but also about protecting people and livelihoods.

She emphasized that climate services help:

• Farmers plan crops

• Health systems prepare for heat risks

• Communities respond to disasters

• Governments strengthen resilience

Saulo described the report as both a scientific assessment and a call to action.

The WMO urged governments to:

• Strengthen observation systems

• Expand early warning networks

• Invest in climate services

• Improve disaster preparedness

• Ensure climate information reaches vulnerable populations

The report concludes that while climate risks across Latin America and the Caribbean are intensifying rapidly, stronger preparedness and adaptation measures can still save lives and reduce future damage if implemented urgently.