The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a stark warning: climate change is hitting Latin America and the Caribbean hard, with extreme heat, devastating floods, and prolonged drought becoming the new normal.
In 2025, a record-shattering 52.7°C was recorded in Mexico, while Brazil and Paraguay saw temperatures above 44°C. The WMO estimates that roughly 13,000 people died annually from heat-related causes across 17 countries between 2012 and 2021, a figure likely undercounted due to poor tracking.
The region is caught in a cycle of climatic whiplash. In 2025, floods in Peru and Ecuador affected over 110,000 people, while Mexico saw 83 deaths from floods and landslides. Yet, 85% of Mexico also faced severe drought, straining water supplies for crops and communities.
Andean glaciers, which provide freshwater for nearly 90 million people, are melting at an alarming rate. Countries like Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina face growing risks of both flooding and long-term water shortages.
Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, made landfall in Jamaica in October 2025, killing 45 people and inflicting economic damages equal to 41% of Jamaica's GDP. Sea levels in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean are rising faster than the global average, threatening coastal communities and ecosystems.
“The signs of a changing climate are unmistakable,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo, calling the report a “call to action” for better observations, early warning systems, and climate adaptation investments.