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Tropical Depression Three-E, which later strengthened into Tropical Storm Cristina, caused damage along Nicaragua’s Pacific coast, where heavy surf stranded several fishing vessels in San Juan del Sur, flooded tourism-related businesses at El Coco and Popoyo beaches, and affected dozens of homes in Chinandega.
According to videos shared on social media, powerful waves battered the municipalities of San Juan del Sur and Tola, in the department of Rivas, beginning on the night of Sunday, June 7, 2026. The rough seas damaged small and semi-industrial fishing boats and other vessels.
The unusual encroachment of seawater and strong currents associated with the weather system also caused damage to businesses located in coastal areas.
The heavy surf is the result of a phenomenon known as mar de fondo, or long-period ocean swells generated by storms and strong winds at sea, which is currently affecting Nicaragua’s Pacific coastline.
Manuel Prado, director of Climate Change at the Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies (Ineter), urged residents to pay special attention in areas such as Rivas, Villa El Carmen, and especially Corinto, where strong waves could cause additional damage.
Communities Cut Off and Power Outages
The community of La Talanguera, in San Juan del Sur, remains cut off due to flooding that has submerged several streets, preventing both vehicles and pedestrians from passing.
On Ometepe Island, strong winds and heavy rains damaged power lines, leaving residents in the Maderas Volcano area without electricity. Fhe fall of a pole also blocked traffic in the community of Punta Gorda.
The emergency has spread to other parts of the country. At the beaches of Poneloya and Las Peñitas, in the department of León, waves surged beyond the shoreline, reaching areas near beachside restaurants, roads, and tourist facilities, raising concerns among residents and visitors about the impact of the rough seas.
Heavy surf along the Pacific coast has also affected businesses at the Paso Caballos beach resort in the municipality of Corinto, where business owners report damage and operational difficulties as seawater advances inland.
At the beaches of San Rafael del Sur and Villa El Carmen, in the department of Managua, seawater flooding has affected several tourism-related businesses.
Economic losses are beginning to mount, particularly for small business owners and artisanal fishermen whose livelihoods depend directly on tourism and maritime activities.
In Managua, torrential rains damaged a main roadway in the San Judas neighborhood, according to reports shared on social media.
The drainage channel that runs through the La Primavera and Villa Ballarta neighborhoods overflowed due to heavy rainfall and increased water flow, carrying large amounts of garbage, mud, and sediment. Residents in both communities remain concerned about the risk of flooding as the rainy season progresses.
Army Maintains Suspension of Departures
The Nicaraguan Army, through the Pacific Naval District, announced that the suspension of vessel departures will remain in effect from June 8 to 13 as a safety measure in response to the tropical weather disturbance, which continues to generate hazardous conditions at sea.
According to the military, the system could generate waves ranging from 1.5 to 5.5 meters, with swells reaching between 1.5 and 2.8 meters, as well as winds of 22 to 80 km/h.
Areas stretching from Salinas Bay in San Juan del Sur to the Gulf of Fonseca could be affected by the system, making navigation difficult in access channels, sandbars, and entry and exit points to the open sea.
Fishing vessels currently operating offshore should “continue monitoring weather disturbances and take all necessary safety precautions while at sea in order to avoid accidents and, if necessary, move to a safe harbor,” the Army recommended.
Tropical Storm Cristina Remains a Threat
The U.S. National Hurricane Center confirmed on Monday, June 8, 2026, that the tropical depression in the Pacific Ocean had strengthened into a tropical storm and was officially named Cristina.
As of midday, Cristina was located about 600 kilometers east-southeast of the mouth of the Suchiate River on the Mexico-Guatemala border and approximately 160 kilometers west-southwest of Managua, Nicaragua.
According to meteorologists, the storm was producing maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h, with gusts reaching 95 km/h, and was moving northward at 7 km/h.
Forecasts indicate that Tropical Storm Cristina will track near the coasts of Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador through Tuesday, keeping the region under close monitoring as adverse weather conditions persist.
