Headline:
Mexico Braces for Cold Wave and Second Winter Storm as_FILTER_Front 21 Approaches
Subhead:
Extensive cold front to affect large parts of Mexico from Jan 5 to 11, bringing rain, winds, and temperature drops.
Article Content:
MÉXICO, – In a proactive measure to ensure public safety, Mexico’s National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC), under the purview of the Secretariat of Security and Protective Citizenship (SSPC), has issued an urgent call to the populace to undertake preventive measures in anticipation of the approaching Cold Front Number 21 and the country’s second winter storm of the season.
Preparing for Widespread Weather Phenomena
Conagua, the nation’s National Water Commission, has warned that these weather systems will be part of a vast cold wave set to impact a significant portion of the country between January 5 and 11, 2025. The impending events are expected to cause:
- Increased likelihood of rain on January 6 and 7 in Mexico’s east and southeast regions,
- A strong "Norte" weather phenomenon with wind gusts of 70 to 90 km/h along the coasts of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, the Isthmus, and Gulf of Tehuantepec,
- Pronounced drops in temperatures across the northern, northeastern, and eastern states,
- Potential rain, snow, sleet, or frost in the states of Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, Sinaloa (northeast), Zacatecas, Coahuila, and Nuevo León.
Recommended Preventive Measures
Given these conditions, the CNPC advised the public to implement the following preventive measures:
- Dress in warm, layered clothing.
- Avoid sudden changes in temperature.
- Secure doors, windows, and roofs to minimize cold-air infiltration.
- Use space heaters safely, ensuring proper ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Limit outdoor travel, only venturing out when necessary.
- Drive cautiously on icy or snowy roads.
- Assist elderly individuals, children, and vulnerable groups in staying warm.
- Keep pets safe in sheltered areas.
Current Weather Forecast
As Front Number 20 remains stationary over the western Caribbean Sea, the Mexican Meteorological Service (SMN) expects rain to be:
- Very heavy in Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Tabasco,
- Heavy in Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, and Puebla,
- Heavy showers in Querétaro, Hidalgo, Campeche, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo,
- Light in Coahuila and Nuevo León.
Strong winds from the north, with gusts up to 90 km/h, are expected in the Isthmus and Gulf of Tehuantepec. Front Number 20 is forecast to move towards Cuba and lose its influence on Mexico within the first hours of Saturday.
Meanwhile, moisture from the Pacific Ocean will generate isolated rain showers with possible electrical storms in Jalisco, Michoacán, Guerrero, Mexico State, and Mexico City. The Pacific coast (from Sonora to Guerrero) will experience daytime temperatures ranging from hot to very hot. Lastly, a high-pressure system will cause elevated waves up to 3 meters high on the western coast of Baja California.
For Saturday, January 4, temperatures will gradually rise during the day, but mornings and nights will remain cold with frost expected in the mentioned regions. Fog banks may form during the early morning hours in the Sierra Madre Oriental and Mexico Valley.
Temperatures are expected to range from -15°C to -10°C with frost in mountainous regions of Durango, and from -10°C to -5°C with frost in mountainous regions of Chihuahua. Temperatures ranging from -5°C to 0°C with frost will occur in Baja California, Sonora, West San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Mexico State, Morelos, Tlaxcala, and Puebla. Temperatures between 0°C and 5°C will be experienced in Sinaloa, Nayarit, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Querétaro, Mexico City, Veracruz, and Oaxaca.
Stay Informed and Safe
The public is advised to stay updated on weather developments and follow the recommended preventive measures to ensure their safety and well-being.
