WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s already dry climate is expected to become even drier in the coming decades, with rainfall declining across all seasons, according to the newly released climate scenarios.
While annual rainfall currently averages 618 millimeters, future projections indicate substantial reductions, especially under high-emission scenarios. In the most severe cases, average annual rainfall could fall to around 300 millimeters by 2100, roughly half of today’s levels.
The report notes that the dry season is likely to last longer, while the wet season will recover less, increasing the risk of prolonged droughts. Although rainfall will continue to vary from year to year due to natural climate patterns such as El Niño and La Niña, the long-term trend points clearly toward drying.
Scientists caution that extremely dry years, already familiar to the island, could become more frequent and more severe, placing additional strain on drinking water production, agriculture, and natural ecosystems. Policymakers are urged to prioritize water management, storage, and conservation strategies to prepare for these conditions .