El Niño and the rains on the coast of Ecuador
The coast of Ecuador is one of the places where El Niño is born and felt most strongly: the warming of the Pacific Ocean that triggers far heavier rain than usual.
Rain and flooding
During a strong El Niño, the coastal rainy season (roughly December to May) turns extreme, with flooding in Guayaquil, Manabí and El Oro, overflowing rivers and damage to crops and roads.
How to prepare
- Heed the alerts from Inamhi and the risk-management agencies.
- Avoid low-lying areas and riverbanks during heavy rain.
- Follow the radar to see how long the rain may last.
La Niña, by contrast, tends to bring a drier-than-usual coast.