Lima to Piura: Feel the heat

While the capital city reaches record temperatures, the northern coastline of Peru sees the extreme heat take a toll on marine life.

Friends and family abroad may think you’re exaggerating when you complain of how hot it “feels,” but truth be told Lima, and much of Peru, is having one of its hottest summers on record.

According to the national weather service Senamhi, sectors of Lima are registering temperatures between 30 and 32°C (86 to 89.6°F), though the thermal sensation has reached an intense 37.2°C, or 98.78°F (El Comercio). These numbers are based on a report from a specialist with Senamhi, observing recent temperatures in central Lima.

Further north however, in Piura, the thermal sensation has reached a staggering 40°C (104°F), with actual temperatures reaching 37.4°C, as of yesterday. As well, Piura faces threats of strong rainfall this week, just days after an intense six-hour downpour surprised residents by reaching 78 millimeters of rainfall, a record for this time of year.

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According to fisherman in the Lambayeque region of northern Peru, the sea water is getting so unseasonably hot that they have been able to spot unnatural numbers of dead marine life.

Between the northern beaches of Lobos and Lagunas, a total of 13 dolphins, four turtles, and eight sea lions have been spotted washed ashore. While heated waters have certainly taken a drastic turn for Lambayeque wildlife, beaches near Lima have also witnessed the consequences. Chancay, capital of Huaral, has reported numerous beached ocean life as well.