Nature has a funny way of reminding us who’s really in charge. One moment, the sun shines bright, and the next, the skies open up. Lately, communities have been keeping a close eye on the weather, as two tropical storms have been making their presence known. It’s a busy time for those who track the winds and the rain, and even busier for the folks living in their paths.
Tropical Storm Barry decided to make an early appearance. On a recent Sunday evening, around 7:00 p.m., Barry landed in Tampico Alto, located in northern Veracruz. The National Meteorological Service, or SMN, reported that the storm arrived with strong winds, blowing steadily at 75 kilometers per hour. Gusts were even faster, reaching 95 kilometers per hour. Barry brought a lot of rain with it. Places like northern and eastern Puebla, along with central and northern Veracruz, saw extraordinary downpours.
Understanding the Storm’s Reach
Barry’s influence wasn’t just limited to where it landed. Torrential rains hit central and southern Tamaulipas. Eastern San Luis Potosí and eastern Hidalgo also experienced intense rainfall. Weather experts warned that all this water could lead to some serious problems. Think of landslides, rivers overflowing their banks, and low-lying areas getting flooded. That’s why it’s so important for everyone to pay attention to official alerts and follow what Civil Protection advises.
The impact of Barry was felt immediately. With northern Veracruz under a yellow alert, schools had to close their doors. The government of Veracruz, working with the Secretariat of Education and Civil Protection, announced that classes would be suspended for a Monday. This applied to 51 different towns in the state, both for morning and afternoon students. Safety first, always.
Two Storms, Two Paths
Interestingly, Barry wasn’t the only storm making headlines. On the other side of the country, another tropical storm named Flossie was also active. Flossie was moving across the Pacific Ocean. Unlike Barry, Flossie wasn’t expected to hit land directly. However, its path ran parallel to the Mexican coast, which still meant heavy rains for several days.
According to Conagua, a water commission, Flossie was set to bring torrential rains to the coasts of Oaxaca, dumping anywhere from 150 to 250 millimeters of water. Michoacán and Guerrero also saw intense rains, with 75 to 150 millimeters expected. Because of this, authorities put out a Tropical Storm Watch for the southwest coast. This watch covered the area from Zihuatanejo all the way to Cabo Corrientes. It was a clear signal for coastal communities to prepare for Flossie’s effects. The National Hurricane Center, or NHC, even suggested Flossie might grow stronger and become a hurricane between Monday and Tuesday. It’s a good reminder not to take strong rains, winds, or big waves lightly.
Alerts Across the Map
When severe weather hits, different parts of the country face different levels of danger. An orange alert means there’s a high risk. This alert was in place for northern and southern Veracruz, northern Oaxaca, Tlaxcala, Puebla, and Hidalgo. Other areas, like Chiapas, Tabasco, Guerrero, San Luis Potosí, Quintana Roo, Tamaulipas, Yucatán, and Campeche, were under lower-level alerts. This shows just how widespread the weather’s reach can be.
Mexico City itself saw some serious warnings. A purple alert for rain, which is one of the most serious for the city, went out for the Álvaro Obregón borough. This meant emergency services were on high alert, ready for anything. Shortly after this alert, the San Francisco dam, in the Lomas de Becerra neighborhood, overflowed. Authorities quickly started working in that area.
To help people understand the risks, the Secretariat of Comprehensive Risk Management put out a series of alerts for the capital. A red alert, indicating extreme danger, was issued for Tlalpan and Magdalena Contreras. An orange alert for continuous rain went out for Cuajimalpa, Milpa Alta, Xochimilco, and Miguel Hidalgo. Finally, a yellow alert for moderate but continuous rain was active until 11:00 p.m. for Benito Juárez, Azcapotzalco, Cuauhtémoc, Gustavo A. Madero, Iztapalapa, Iztacalco, Tláhuac, and Venustiano Carranza. It’s all about staying informed and taking care of one another when nature shows its power.