An area of atmospheric instability in the Gulf of Mexico has prompted alerts from weather authorities in both Mexico and the United States, due to its potential development into a hurricane.
Although the system still has a low to moderate probability of becoming a hurricane, it is already generating significant rainfall in several parts of Mexico.
According to the National Meteorological Service (SMN) of the National Water Commission (Conagua), the combination of this area of instability and an unseasonal frontal system, low-pressure troughs, and tropical wave No.7, is causing heavy to torrential rains in northern and eastern Mexico.
In particular, intense to torrential rainfall is forecast for areas of Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas, with the potential for flooding, landslides, rising river and stream levels, and severe waterlogging in urban areas.
As a preventive measure, authorities ordered ships and fishermen to suspend activities due to the high waves that will affect navigation.
Instability in the Gulf is located off the coasts of Veracruz and Tamaulipas, and although models suggest the system could move northwest across the Gulf and subsequently approach the southeastern U.S., forecasters expect that the main immediate impact for Mexico will be rainfall rather than cyclonic winds.
In contrast, southeastern states such as Campeche and Yucatán, will register very high temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius before the storms.
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon’s capital and a World Cup host city, has been experiencing much of the recent heavy rains, forcing the suspension of the FIFA Fan Fest on Monday. There has been no official announcement regarding any further cancellations.
Civil protection authorities are urging the public to stay informed through official channels and to take extreme precautions in areas vulnerable to flooding and landslides.
With reports from Players of Life and Ambas Manos
