BRASILIA, Brazil (WMO) - Record-breaking heat, persistent drought, extreme rainfall and devastating tropical cyclones impacted communities and economies throughout Latin America and the Caribbean in 2025, whilst melting glaciers led to an upsurge in short term hazards like floods and long-term water security risk, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Along Atlantic-facing coasts, sea level is rising faster than the global average in parts of the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean. Continuing ocean acidification and warming are compounding risks to marine ecosystems and fisheries, according to the WMO State of the Climate in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2025 .
"The signs of a changing climate are unmistakable across Latin America and the Caribbean, from accelerating glacier loss and rising sea levels to rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones, extreme heat, floods and drought," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
"This report shows that while risks are growing, so too is our capacity to anticipate and act to save lives and protect livelihoods," she said.
This was exemplified by Hurricane Melissa in October 2025 - the first Category 5 hurricane on record to make landfall in Jamaica. It led to 45 deaths and economic losses of approximately 8.8 billion US dollars, more than 41% of GDP. Even though Melissa had no historical precedent, Jamaican authorities used high-quality risk modelling to inform advance financial measures and disaster preparedness which limited the human toll and helped the island cope.
Another major risk is from extreme heat, which is posing an increasing public health burden. In 2025, recurrent and intense heatwaves - with temperatures well above 40°C - affected large parts of North, Central and South America. There is therefore a pressing need to embed climate intelligence into health planning and emergency preparedness and to integrate meteorological early warnings with public health triggers.
Many countries do not routinely publish cause-specific heat mortality data. It is estimated that there were approximately 13 000 heat-attributable deaths annually (average across 17 countries from 2012-2021). This suggests a significant underestimate of heat related mortality and there is a need for improved reporting, according to the report.
It also examines how agro-food systems are exposed to extreme weather and climate shocks, with simultaneous impacts on agricultural production, rural livelihoods, access to food, and market functioning.
The State of the Climate in Latin America and the Caribbean was launched at Olacyr de Moraes Auditorium at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), in Brasília, Brazil. It provides authoritative information on key climate indicators, impacts and risks and on major regional extreme events, including tropical cyclones, heatwaves, heavy rainfall and drought, and cold waves.
"These findings are deeply concerning. But they also show why our work matters. Climate information is not only about data. It is about people," said Celeste Saulo.
"It is about protecting communities from floods, droughts, hurricanes, heatwaves and other hazards. It is about farmers planning their crops, health authorities preparing for heat-related risks, and coastal communities planning for rising seas," she said.
"The State of the Climate in Latin America and the Caribbean 2025 is not only a scientific publication. It is a call to action. It calls on us to strengthen observations, invest in services, close early warning gaps, and ensure that climate information reaches those who need it most," said Celeste Saulo.
