The Panama Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (IMHPA) warned that there is a 62% probability that the El Niño phenomenon will establish itself in the country in the coming months. Currently, Panama is in a neutral period and has not yet met the official parameters for the event. The director of IMHPA, Luz Graciela de Calzadilla, explained that if it materializes, the effects would begin to be felt between June, July, and August, which would lead to a rainfall deficit in the Pacific and an increase in precipitation in the Caribbean. This would mark a significant change in the country's climate behavior during that quarter. For now, March and April will continue with neutral conditions, while the rainy season is estimated to begin nationwide in the third week of May. However, this is a forecast that could vary depending on how the signal for the phenomenon evolves. Authorities indicated that the impact would not be uniform. While some areas could register more rainfall, others would face drought conditions, especially in the Pacific, where a significant decrease in precipitation is expected. The agricultural sector is already under surveillance, as an event of this type usually translates into problems with drought.
