Severe Winter Storm and ‘Norte’ Event Threaten Mexico this Weekend
Table of Contents
Mexico is bracing for a powerful combination of severe weather this weekend, as the National Meteorological Service (SMN) forecasts the arrival of the second winter storm of the season and a prolonged “Norte” event along the Gulf of Mexico coast. The disruptive weather system is expected to bring intense rainfall, frigid temperatures, and hazardous coastal conditions to a wide swath of the country.
Cold front number 27 is currently moving along the Gulf of Mexico slope and is expected to interact with a low-pressure channel.this interaction will trigger intense, occasional rains in the Sierra Nororiental and Valle Serdán regions of Puebla, and also in Nautla, Capital, and Olmeca in Veracruz. eastern Oaxaca, northwestern and northern Chiapas, and Tabasco are also under threat of notable rainfall.
Further inland, very heavy rains are predicted for Sierra Norte in Puebla, the Totonaca, Papaloapan, and Los Tuxtlas regions of Veracruz, and Campeche. Stronger rainfall is anticipated in San Luis Potosí, the Sierra Gorda region of Querétaro, the Huasteca region of Hidalgo, and the Huasteca Alta and Huasteca Baja regions of Veracruz.
Dangerous Winds and High Waves on the Gulf Coast
A mass of polar air driving the cold front will cause a significant temperature drop across much of Mexico. Simultaneously, an intense “Norte” event is forecast for the Gulf of Mexico coast, with wind gusts possibly reaching 100 to 120 kilometers per hour (km/h) along the Veracruz coastline. These conditions are expected to extend overnight towards the Isthmus and Gulf of Tehuantepec. Waves of 4.0 to 5.0 meters are also predicted along the coasts of Tamaulipas,Veracruz,and the Gulf of Tehuantepec,posing a threat to maritime activities and coastal infrastructure.
Cold Temperatures and Potential Snowfall in the North
A trough at medium and high levels of the atmosphere, combined with polar and subtropical jet streams, will create very cold to frigid conditions and strong wind gusts in the northwest, north, and west of the country. Occasional heavy showers and rains are expected in the Mesa del Norte, with the possibility of snow or sleet in areas of Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Durango. These conditions are expected to spread overnight and into Sunday morning towards Chihuahua and the mountains of Sinaloa.
Contrasting Temperatures Across the country
While much of the country prepares for cold weather, contrasting conditions are expected in other regions. Maximum temperatures of 35 to 40 °C are forecast for Sinaloa, Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, and the Isthmus region of Chiapas.Jalisco’s coast,Colima,Morelos,southwestern Puebla,Campeche,and Yucatán are expected to see temperatures between 30 and 35 °C.
Chiapas on High Alert
The State Civil protection System of Chiapas has issued an alert for heavy rains and strong gusts of wind this weekend, attributing the threat to cold front number 27. According to the system, intense storms of 75 to 150 millimeters are forecast in the North, Mezcalapa, De Los Bosques, Tulijá Tseltal Chol, and maya regions, while very strong storms of 50 to 75 millimeters are expected in the Valles Zoque and Selva regions. Lesser rainfall,between 25 and 50 millimeters,is predicted for Altos Tsotsil Tseltal,comiteca Tojolabal Plateau,and Soconusco,with scattered showers elsewhere in the state.
The organization also anticipates wind gusts of 60 to 70 kilometers per hour, potentially increasing to 90 kilometers per hour in the isthmus-Coast region with the onset of the “Norte” event. Authorities are urging residents to exercise extreme caution, avoid travel on unpaved and rural roads due to low visibility and slippery conditions, and refrain from crossing flooded areas or approaching downed power lines.
Related reading
