Colombia is experiencing a striking temperature divide in early September, according to new data from the country’s meteorological institute, IDEAM. While afternoons have turned unusually hot in many regions, mornings have grown colder than normal in others.
Comparing readings from September 1-9 against the historical average for 1991-2020, IDEAM found daytime highs far above normal in several areas. The town of Fredonia, in Antioquia department, hit 41.4°C (106.5°F), breaking its previous record by 1.2 degrees. Nearby Urrao reached 29.2°C, more than 6.7 degrees above its historical average. Other hot spots included Armenia (34.6°C/94°F), Saldaña in Tolima (41°C/106°F), Valledupar (40.2°C/104°F), and the Caribbean coastal cities of Cartagena (38.3°C/101°F) and Riohacha (39.6°C/103°F). Smaller cities such as Tunja and Ocaña also broke local records, with temperatures running 1.6 to 1.8 degrees above historical norms.
The heat wasn’t limited to traditionally warm zones—cities in the coffee-growing region and Andean valleys, including Pereira and Mariquita, also saw notable spikes.
At the same time, between September 1 and 10, several areas recorded unusually cold early mornings. Yopal saw lows of 17.6°C, nearly 5 degrees below normal, while towns in Boyacá department, including Paipa, Toca, and Duitama, dropped to between 2°C and 3.2°C (roughly 36-38°F).
For the full regional breakdown, check out the original report on El Tiempo.
Source: Calor extremo y madrugadas más frías: el Ideam revela temperaturas que se han registrado en Colombia en septiembre (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: Shmector, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).