22 SEPTEMBER. PERU: CLIMATE The past
week Puno had temperatures of 20 C (high for area) and no rain. Arequipa
had moderate to heavy rains with thunderstorms. Moderate rains on the coast
between Atico and Camaná (Dept. Arequipa) with some landslides.
Amazonia, normally hot had above normal temperatures. Light rains in Piura,
but heavy rains in Machala, Ecuador. In Lima, August was a warm month.
September has turned out to be cool (not cold) month with the typical "garúa"
or light drizzle. However, we are having frequent constant light rain all
night and part of the day. The fishermen at Chorillos (just south of downtown
Lima) are practically out of work due to lack of cold water fish. The same
is true along most of the Peruvian coast. Yesterday, Marcona (near Nazca)
had more than 40 hours of drizzle rain and has affected dirt roads and
local houses not built for rain in a desert coast where supposedly it never
rains. The Servicio Nacional de Meterologia e Hidrologia (SENAMHI) states
that sea temperature is 3 to 4 degrees above normal. It is being predicted
that heavy rains may start occurring as early as October/November and that
El Niño may last until next March. Also devastating drught and below
zero temperatures in the high parts of Puno, Cuzco, Huancavelica, Ayacucho.
Twenty additional weather stations have been installed in Cuzco, Abancay
(Huancavelica) and Madre de Dios.--Manuel Plenge <MAPlenge@southernperu.com.pe>
Back to The 1997
El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO 97-98)