Persistent high temperatures and stormy weather persistently impact the northwest region of Mexico, following in the path of Ivo.
Mexico Braces for Tropical Storm Ivo and Monsoon Season
Mexico is currently facing a double weather threat as Tropical Storm Ivo generates surf swells along the southwestern coast and the southern Baja California Peninsula, while the Mexican monsoon brings intense rains and heatwaves to various regions.
The National Meteorological Service of Mexico (SMN) has issued weather warnings for several states, including threats of life-threatening surf, high winds, monsoon-related intense rainfall, and a heatwave. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) has also issued an advisory warning of dangerous surf and rip-current conditions due to the swells generated by Tropical Storm Ivo.
Residents in affected areas are urged to pay heed to advisories issued by local civil protection services. State and local authorities have implemented measures to mitigate the heat, setting up hydration stations and air-conditioned shelters.
Baja California Sur could see surf swells up to 4 meters (13 feet) high, while Oaxaca and Chiapas could expect swells of up to 3 meters (10 feet). Jalisco is expected to see considerable precipitation due to the Mexican monsoon, with up to 75 mm (3 inches) of rain forecasted for Friday.
The Mexican monsoon is a seasonal weather pattern affecting northwestern Mexico. It is characterized by warm, moist air moving inland from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, causing atmospheric instability and generating intense rains in the northern states of Durango and Sinaloa. The monsoon is also responsible for the converging of significant rainfall in northwestern Mexico.
While specific 2021 data on Mexico's monsoon and tropical storm impacts are not provided, related research highlights that warming trends increase the risk of extreme precipitation and flooding events, relevant to monsoon and tropical storm impacts in the region. Heat waves and their consequences (wildfires, poor air quality) have been noted as a global trend affecting Mexico indirectly through regional climatic links.
A report on this year's heat waves was issued on Aug. 1 by Mexico's General Directorate of Epidemiology, with a total of 49 deaths due to extreme temperatures reported through the end of July, including three in Baja California and 14 in neighboring Sonora. The SMN has warned coastal residents of the states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Colima, and Baja California Sur of heavy rains and high winds.
For more detailed and precise information on Mexico’s 2021 monsoon and tropical storm impacts, consulting meteorological archives or national weather agencies' reports would be recommended. News sources such as La Voz de la Frontera, Informador, and Debate have reported on the Mexican monsoon and its effects.
According to the National Meteorological Service of Mexico (SMN), the Mexican monsoon, which brings intense rains and heatwaves, is a significant weather factor affecting northwestern Mexico, particularly the states of Durango and Sinaloa. The monsoon's dangerous precipitation and flooding risks are highlighted in environmental science and climate-change research as being potentially exacerbated by warming trends.
The arrival of Tropical Storm Ivo has compounded Mexico's weather challenges, with surf swells up to 4 meters (13 feet) expected in Baja California Sur, and cities like Jalisco forecasted for considerable precipitation due to the Mexican monsoon. Coastal residents in Jalisco, Nayarit, Colima, and Baja California Sur have been warned by the SMN about the risk of heavy rains and high winds.
In light of these weather threats, residents in affected areas are encouraged to stay informed through local civil protection services and heed advisory warnings. Authorities across the country have put measures in place to cope with these adverse weather conditions, such as setting up hydration stations and air-conditioned shelters to help mitigate heatwaves.
News sources, such as La Voz de la Frontera, Informador, and Debate, have provided updates on the Mexican monsoon and its impacts, while consulting meteorological archives or national weather agencies' reports can offer more detailed information on the 2021 monsoon and tropical storm impacts.
