Panama Canal Reduces Crossings as "Very Strong" El Niño Intensifies

South Korea anticipates a warmer winter as El Niño is expected to strengthen. The Panama Canal began reducing the number of ships passing through on September 4 due to a drought caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon.

The Panama Canal Authority stated that low water levels in the two artificial lakes that feed the canal forced this action. The number of vessels allowed through the waterway will be progressively lowered from 36 per day to 32 by mid-September. Panama has declared a nationwide emergency over El Niño. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) stated on Thursday that a potentially exceptional El Niño warming event is now firmly established in the tropical Pacific.

The WMO expects El Niño to strengthen into a very strong El Niño over the coming months and persist through next February. Its climatic effects are expected to continue well into 2027. Central America is already experiencing a severe drought, prompting Honduras and El Salvador to also declare emergencies. The Panama Canal handles 5% of global maritime trade and around 40% of U.S. container traffic.

The canal has implemented other water conservation measures, such as lowering the maximum draft for the largest ships. In 2023, El Niño forced the canal authority to reduce daily crossings to 22 vessels. A new study published in Science indicates El Niños are 36 percent stronger than they were before the industrial age, including a 16 percent jump in intensity over the past 40 years.

The locks of the Panama Canal are fed by Gatún Lake and another artificial reservoir, which also provide drinking water and hydroelectric power for nearby residents. Samuel Muñoz, an associate professor at Northeastern University, explained that when water levels get too low, the canal must restrict ships to conserve water for other critical uses. China's lower Yangtze region faces a flood threat next year due to a super El Niño. Sri Lanka urged farmers to change cultivation timetables and irrigation due to El Niño.