Strengthening heat and stormy weather persist in northwest Mexico following Ivo's passage
In August 2021, Mexico found itself bracing for weather-related challenges, with the focus mainly on tropical storms and the Mexican monsoon.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued advisories warning of dangerous surf and rip-current conditions due to the swells from Tropical Storm Ivo, as it reached the southern Baja California Peninsula. The storm's maximum sustained winds were 96 km/h (60 mph). Tropical Storm Ivo was also generating surf swells affecting Mexico's southwestern coast, with Baja California Sur potentially seeing surf swells up to 4 meters (13 feet) high.
Simultaneously, the National Meteorological Service of Mexico (SMN) issued weather warnings for various threats, including life-threatening surf, high winds, monsoon-related intense rainfall, and a heat wave. However, detailed mentions of heat waves or monsoon rains specifically in Mexico during that month are not directly found in the search results.
Tropical Storm Grace was active in the Atlantic basin during mid-August 2021, affecting nearby Caribbean areas but not making direct landfall in Mexico. Tropical storm watches and warnings for coastal areas in the region, including Mexico's neighboring areas, were issued due to Grace's progression.
The Mexican monsoon, a seasonal weather pattern affecting northwestern Mexico, also posed a threat. The monsoon brings significant rainfall, with the SMN warning coastal residents of the states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Colima, and Baja California Sur of heavy rains and high winds. Jalisco could see upwards of 75 mm (3 inches) of rain on Friday.
The Mexican monsoon is characterized by warm, moist air moving inland from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This year's monsoon has caused atmospheric instability and generated intense rains in the northern states of Durango and Sinaloa, with surf swells of up to 3 meters (10 feet) expected in Oaxaca and Chiapas. Electrical storms and hail are also in the forecast for areas affected by the Mexican monsoon.
State and local authorities in the region have implemented measures to mitigate the heat, setting up hydration stations and air-conditioned shelters. Despite these efforts, a heat wave scorched northwestern Mexico, with Mexicali, the capital of Baja California, setting a new record high temperature of 52.7 degrees C (127 degrees F) on Thursday.
The Mexican General Directorate of Epidemiology issued a report on this year's heat waves, highlighting that through the end of July, extreme temperatures were responsible for 49 deaths in Mexico, including three in Baja California and 14 in neighboring Sonora.
In conclusion, while August 2021 saw Mexico's weather warnings mainly centered on tropical storms such as Tropical Storm Grace's activity in nearby regions, the Mexican monsoon also posed a significant threat, bringing heavy rains, high winds, and intense surf swells to various parts of the country.
- Scientists in the field of environmental science are closely monitoring the impact of the Mexican monsoon, as it brings significant rainfall and surf swells, potentially reaching heights of 4 meters (13 feet), to Mexico's southwestern coast.
- The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the National Meteorological Service of Mexico (SMN) have issued weather warnings for various threats, including life-threatening surf, high winds, and the Mexican monsoon-related heavy rains, affecting coastal areas in the states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Colima, and Baja California Sur.
- Amid the ongoing tropical storm threats, such as Tropical Storm Ivo, the focus of weather-related news during August 2021 also includes the effects of heat waves, precipitated by the Mexican monsoon, in northwestern Mexico, where Record high temperatures could potentially lead to further environmental and public health concerns.
