Two countries are not safe for travel. Flood risk and curfew

At the beginning of September, the World Meteorological Organization warned about the very strong El Niño phenomenon, which could significantly change rainfall and temperature patterns around the world and trigger extreme weather phenomena, including intense rainfall.

Travel warning

The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns against traveling to Ecuador and Peru.

The Ecuadorian authorities have introduced a curfew from September 17 to 30, 2026. The restrictions will apply until 11:59 p.m. (local time) on September 30 in the coastal provinces. Guayas, Manabí, Los Ríos and El Oro. Movement restrictions will apply from midnight to 5:00 a.m. every day.

Peru. Callao and 22 regions with warnings

It can also be dangerous in Peru. Until October 30, there is a risk of heavy rainfall in 22 regions (876 districts) and the port city of Callao, 12 km west of Lima. The regions concerned are: Amazonas, Áncash, Apurímac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Huancavelica, Huánuco, Ica, Junín, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, San Martín, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali and Provincia Constitucional del Callao.

El Nino does not only mean the risk of life-threatening weather phenomena (floods and mudslides, especially in mountainous areas). It carries the risk of illness and lack of access to health care. It is possible that the infrastructure will be destroyed, which will make it impossible to continue the journey.

A hurricane destroyed a beach in the USA

A warning signal of the arrival of El Nino was Hurricane Marie, which destroyed the beach in Santa Monica in the USA on Wednesday. The Ocean Way Festival scheduled for September 26 and 27 has been canceled.

The El Nino phenomenon involves maintaining above-average high temperatures on the water surface in the equatorial zone of the Pacific Ocean. Warm water moves towards the coast of South America, accompanied by changes in atmospheric circulation and rainfall patterns.