San Andres, the Colombian Caribbean archipelago, is experiencing one of the most intense heat episodes recorded in recent decades, and authorities have kept an orange alert active amid the sustained rise in temperatures.
The island, one of the region’s main tourist destinations, is facing sweltering days that have already begun to disrupt the daily routines of residents and visitors, amid warnings over health risks and possible environmental impacts.
Last Tuesday, May 5, became a historic date for the island. On that day, official stations reported a temperature of 33.5 degrees Celsius, surpassing the record set in 1998, when thermometers had reached 33 degrees.
The data confirmed the scale of a phenomenon that, according to the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam), is not an isolated event, but rather a climate trend that has been intensifying for several years in Colombia’s Caribbean region.
San Andres in Colombia’s Caribbean faces extreme heat wave
Climate authorities began issuing alerts after detecting several consecutive days with exceptionally high temperatures in San Andres and Providencia. The May 5 reading became the highest officially documented on the island since comparable historical measurements have existed.
The following day, the heat remained at extreme levels with temperatures above 33 degrees, reinforcing signs of a possible heat wave episode that is affecting everyday life on the island.
Ideam explained that the persistence of these conditions is what truly concerns environmental authorities. The combination of high temperatures, elevated humidity and intense solar radiation has generated an even stronger heat index, especially during midday and afternoon hours.
Although hot days are common in Colombia’s Caribbean region, experts say what occurred this week breaks normal seasonal patterns and reflects a gradual increase in maximum temperatures across the archipelago.
In addition to the official records, community measurements reflected even more extreme conditions in some areas of the island. In the Elsy Bar area, residents and local climate monitoring systems reported temperatures close to 38 degrees Celsius, an unofficial figure, but one that illustrates the intensity of the heat currently being felt in San Andres.
Residents in the area described “suffocating” days and nights that are becoming increasingly difficult for sleeping because of accumulated heat. Business owners and tourism workers also acknowledge that outdoor activities have become more difficult during hours of peak sun exposure.
The beaches remain full of tourists, but many visitors have started changing schedules and reducing time under the sun to avoid physical exhaustion. Across different parts of the island, it has become common to see people seeking shelter in the shade or increasing water consumption to cope with the high temperatures.
#IdeamInforma | 🌡️ Alertamos sobre condiciones de calor intenso en el Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina, donde se han registrado temperaturas por encima de los máximos históricos.
En San Andrés Islas se alcanzaron 33,4 °C, superando el récord histórico… pic.twitter.com/WgNYHEJREE
— Ideam Colombia (@IDEAMColombia) May 7, 2026
Orange alert remains active
Given the current situation, Ideam continues to maintain the orange alert for San Andres due to the risk of impacts from extreme heat. Authorities warned that weather conditions may cause dehydration, heatstroke and physical exhaustion, especially among vulnerable populations such as older adults, children, pregnant people and people with chronic illnesses.
The warning also includes outdoor workers, athletes and tourists exposed for several hours to intense solar radiation. The highest risk is concentrated between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the period when temperatures and the heat index reach their highest levels.
Authorities recommended increasing hydration, avoiding intense physical activity under the sun and wearing lightweight, light-colored clothing. They also stressed the need to remain in ventilated spaces and pay attention to symptoms such as dizziness, headaches or extreme fatigue.
“The current conditions show a significant increase in temperatures across the Archipelago, associated with atmospheric and oceanic factors that favor a warmer-than-usual environment. This situation increases the heat index, the risk of heat exhaustion and the probability of vegetation fires, while also generating impacts on productive activities and strategic ecosystems,” Ideam said.
Beyond the current episode, environmental authorities believe what is happening in San Andres reflects a climate transformation that has been consolidating for years. Ideam maintains that the sustained increase in temperatures across the archipelago is linked to atmospheric and oceanic factors that favor a warmer-than-usual environment.
Experts warn that these extreme events are becoming increasingly frequent and prolonged, affecting not only public health, but also strategic ecosystems and key economic activities for the island.
In Providencia, for example, recent temperatures ranged between 34 and 36.5 degrees, although they have not yet surpassed the official historical record. Even so, authorities consider the increase significant and worthy of permanent monitoring.
The impact is also raising concerns over possible environmental consequences. Ideam warned of a higher risk of vegetation fires and impacts on sensitive ecosystems in the insular Caribbean, where high temperatures and reduced humidity can accelerate environmental degradation processes. Likewise, this extreme heat promotes greater water evaporation that could strengthen the upcoming hurricane season.