Ecuador Issues Weather Alerts and Suspends Classes in Coastal Cantons

Ecuadorian technical agencies and government officials have issued weather alerts following forecasts of moderate to heavy rainfall across several provinces. The National Institute of Hydrology and Meteorology (Inamhi) issued a short-term alert for October 29, 2026, warning of variable precipitation across multiple provinces in the Coastal and Sierra regions amidst ongoing El Niño conditions.

In response to these weather conditions, the president of the national emergency operations committee (COE) and Minister of Infrastructure, Roberto Luque, warned of potential waterlogging in Guayaquil and surrounding cantons between 20:00 and 24:00 on Thursday. Officials warned that moderate to heavy rainfall could coincide with high tides, raising the risk of waterlogging. The alert relies on technical assessments provided by Inamhi and the Oceanographic and Antarctic Institute of the Ecuadorian Navy (Inocar).

Regional Impacts and Academic Suspensions

To manage risks associated with the weather alert, the Ministry of Education ordered the suspension of in-person classes for Friday, October 30. Minister of Education Gilda Alcívar announced that public schools in Guayaquil, Samborondón, Daule, and Durán will transition to a non-in-person remote learning modality.

Alcívar said private schools, universities, and institutes may decide whether to maintain in-person classes, taking the safety of their communities into account. The announced change therefore does not impose an identical attendance decision on every educational institution.

Storm activity began around 18:00 on Thursday in parts of Guayaquil and adjacent municipalities. Beyond the main urban centers in Guayas, Inamhi forecasts indicate moderate to heavy rain patterns across coastal provinces as El Niño continues to impact weather conditions throughout the region.

What This Means for Expats

For foreign residents living in or traveling through Guayaquil, Samborondón, Daule, or Durán, the primary immediate impact involves school schedule adjustments and potential transit disruptions. The announcements cover different time windows: the COE warning concerns Thursday evening, while non-in-person teaching is set for Friday. The reported school measure is for October 30; these reports do not announce a longer closure.

Families with children attending public institutions in the affected cantons should follow distance-learning guidelines for October 30. Expats residing along the coast are advised to remain attentive to official announcements from technical agencies like Inamhi and local authorities regarding weather conditions and localized travel conditions.

Sources: eluniverso.com; eluniverso.com; primicias.ec.

Image: AI-generated editorial illustration; not a documentary depiction of the events reported.