Guayaquil faces a heightened danger of urban flooding on Tuesday as heavy rainstorms coincide with two peak ocean tides, emergency officials have warned.
The Oceanographic and Antarctic Institute of the Navy, known as INOCAR, reported that sea levels around the city are expected to reach 4.48 metres twice during the day. The morning high tide is forecast for 07:36, followed by an evening high tide at 20:16.
At the same time, the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, known as INAMHI, issued Meteorological Bulletin No. 83 warning of moderate to very heavy downpours across Guayas province. The agency forecast that the strongest rainfall would hit the region on Monday and Tuesday, with wet weather persisting through October 28.
Ecuador's National Risk Management Secretariat warned that the overlap of torrential rain and high sea levels would severely hinder stormwater drainage. The agency cautioned that water would likely pool across city streets and low-lying sectors, particularly in areas near the Guayas River, tidal estuaries, canals and other local waterways.
Tide times and drainage risks
The alert comes after coastal waters surged on Monday, October 26, when INOCAR recorded high tides reaching 4.50 metres at 06:51 and again at 19:31. When ocean waters swell to those heights, gravity-fed drainage systems struggle to discharge rainwater into the river system, significantly increasing the likelihood of street waterlogging.
Guayaquil, Ecuador's primary commercial port and largest coastal city, sits along the western bank of the Guayas River near the Pacific coast. Much of the urban area is built across flat terrain interlaced with tidal channels and saltwater inlets called esteros. Because large parts of the city sit close to sea level, high water from the ocean pushes into these channels and prevents stormwater from escaping outward into the river basin.
Emergency safety guidance
In response to the dual threat, the National Risk Management Secretariat recommended several preventative steps for residents to protect themselves. The agency advised people to avoid unnecessary travel, especially during nighttime downpours, and instructed everyone to avoid crossing flooded streets either on foot or in vehicles.
Officials also told residents in low-lying zones and near riverbanks, canals and estuaries to exercise extreme caution and stay well away from utility poles, electrical cables and power installations in waterlogged areas. The secretariat said it was maintaining active monitoring of the weather conditions and coordinating closely with emergency response agencies.
