Story perspectives

Record El Niño drives Panama’s unprecedented dry spell

8/14/2026

Summary

El Niño Drought

Panama faces an unprecedented dry spell as the record-breaking El Niño raises temperatures.
Scientists say the El Niño may become the strongest in 80 years, with central Pacific waters projected 4.1 °C above average in December.
The event has caused drought in Ethiopia’s highlands, India’s fifth-driest June since 1901, and heat records in Peru.
Forecasts warn 2.9 billion people face a 10 % chance of top-5 % temperatures and 2.2 billion risk extreme humidity, raising flood threats.

Summary

Panama Canal Surge

Seaspan Benefactor paid $4 million for an expedited Panama Canal transit, over twice the prior week’s average bid.
Itajaí’s Port Authority advanced a hopper suction dredge to early June, reaching 14 metres depth and noting fluid-mud sedimentation since June 10 2026.
The Panama Canal Authority saw a 5 % rise to 35 ships, prompting shipowners to fear stricter ACP limits after 2023 drought and Rhine traders to shift to road and rail routes amid water.

1 of 2

El Niño Drought

Panama faces an unprecedented dry spell as the record-breaking El Niño raises temperatures.
Scientists say the El Niño may become the strongest in 80 years, with central Pacific waters projected 4.1 °C above average in December.
The event has caused drought in Ethiopia’s highlands, India’s fifth-driest June since 1901, and heat records in Peru.
Forecasts warn 2.9 billion people face a 10 % chance of top-5 % temperatures and 2.2 billion risk extreme humidity, raising flood threats.

1 / 2