INAMHI Warns of High Heat and Extreme UV Across Ecuador Through Sunday

Ecuador's weather service is maintaining an alert for high daytime temperatures, wind gusts, and very high ultraviolet radiation from August 20 through August 23, according to Primicias on August 20, 2026. The warning covers 11 provinces across the Coast, Sierra, and Amazon regions.

Friday's UV warning

For Friday, August 21, INAMHI forecast radiation that would be “extremely high” or “very high” across large parts of the country. It recommended avoiding prolonged sun exposure between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

The source's regional summary lists the Sierra as having high and extremely high UV levels. It also identifies higher-risk provinces in the three regions:

• Litoral: Manabi, Guayas, and El Oro
• Inter-Andean: Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, and Loja
• Amazon: the eastern areas of Sucumbios, Orellana, Napo, and Pastaza

The warning is not a city-by-city forecast. It is a national weather and exposure alert, so residents should still use local updates for the conditions in their own neighborhood.

Fire risk is part of the warning

INAMHI says the conditions could favor the spread of forest fires. The source points to reduced humidity at different levels of the troposphere and local conditions in the Inter-Andean region, combined with dry vegetation.

The service recommends avoiding activities that can create sparks or fire in rural and forested areas. That is especially relevant for people doing property work, burning yard waste, or traveling into rural areas during the warning period.

What this means for Cuenca expats

For residents in the highlands, the useful steps are simple: limit long periods outdoors during the midday window, use sun protection, keep water available, and avoid any activity that could ignite dry vegetation. The fetched report does not provide a Cuenca-specific temperature, rainfall total, or local emergency order, so it should not be read as a precise neighborhood forecast.

Check updated INAMHI information before hiking, driving into rural areas, or planning outdoor work through Sunday. The immediate issue is exposure and fire risk, while the longer-term weather pattern remains a separate question.

Source: Primicias