The Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA) has activated a nationwide weather vigilance alert. The warning is in effect from 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, January 19, 2026, due to significant rainfall and storm risks across most of the country.
Officials said the alert covers specific regions including Bocas del Toro, the Highlands of Chiriqui, northern Veraguas, Darien, northern Panama Oeste, Colon, the Ngäbe-Buglé and Guna Yala comarcas, the Emberá districts, and northern Cocle and Panama Este. A complex interaction of atmospheric systems is driving the forecast for potentially dangerous conditions.
“These conditions are associated with the displacement of a frontal system over the Caribbean basin, the strengthening of the Azores High, and the northward ascent of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ),” an IMHPA bulletin stated. [Translated from Spanish]
This combination of factors is expected to increase trade winds and the transport of moisture from the Caribbean Sea toward Panama. The result will be intermittent and frequent moderate to heavy rains and showers.
Widespread Impacts and Heightened Risks
Precipitation will concentrate primarily along the Caribbean slope and in mountainous regions. Officials cautioned that rainy episodes on the Pacific side cannot be ruled out. These weather events may include electrical storms and isolated wind gusts.
The sustained rainfall will significantly increase soil moisture levels. This elevates the danger of river overflows, flash flooding, and isolated landslides. Communities in vulnerable areas along the Caribbean slope face the highest threat. The situation is being monitored closely in regions like veraguas norte dari, which are often impacted by such weather patterns.
Meteorologists point to the strengthened Azores High pressure system as a key driver. Its influence is altering typical wind patterns. Simultaneously, the northward movement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), a band of heavy rainfall near the equator, is directing more moisture over the isthmus.
“The population is recommended to stay attentive to official bulletins, avoid crossing swollen rivers, and take necessary prevention measures,” the Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA) warned. [Translated from Spanish]
The advisory specifically highlights precautions for communities prone to flooding and landslides. Residents in the listed provinces and comarcas should prepare for possible disruptions. Local emergency management teams are likely to be on standby throughout the weekend.
This alert follows a period of active weather monitored by the institute. Panama’s complex geography makes it particularly susceptible to rapid changes in rainfall intensity. The IMHPA continues to analyze data from its observation network to provide updates.
Authorities urge citizens to rely solely on official forecasts during the alert period. They advise against traveling through flooded roadways or attempting to cross rising streams. The two-day vigilance period allows for the potential of rainfall accumulations that could quickly overwhelm drainage systems in urban and rural areas alike.