Riviera Maya, Mexico — An enormous Arctic air mass has enveloped the entire Yucatan Peninsula, bringing unusually frigid temperatures that have residents waking up to conditions far below what they typically experience. State civil protection officials have warned residents about an extreme drop in nighttime temperatures starting Monday.
According to Quintana Roo’s State Civil Protection Coordination, thermometers in Felipe Carrillo Puerto municipality bottomed out at 4.2°C (39°F) on Monday morning.
Other areas fared slightly better but still experienced unseasonable cold. Cancún residents woke to 11°C (51°F) in the suburbs and 13°C (55°F) in the city center on Monday morning. Riviera Maya (Playa del Carmen) recorded morning temperatures of 9°C (48°F), with similar readings in Sian Kaan in Tulum municipality at 8.0°C (46°F). José María Morelos and Chetumal also registered 9°C.
Cozumel was the only municipality that maintained something close to normal nighttime temperatures, with a pleasant Monday morning reading of 19°C (66°F).
Forecasters predict cool and windy conditions will persist throughout the week across Cancún and the Riviera Maya, with temperatures remaining well below average. Meteorologists say temperatures will stay low through the weekend due to incoming polar air from cold front 33.
On Monday, Mexico’s National Meteorological Service (SMN) issued an advisory about cold air associated with cold front number 32 as well as the incoming cold front 33.
“The Arctic air mass associated with cold front number 32 will move east through the Gulf of Mexico, modifying its thermal characteristics and allowing a gradual increase in daytime temperatures across much of Mexico,” the SMN stated.
“However, cold to very cold conditions will persist during mornings and nights in the Northern Plateau, Central Plateau, and eastern Mexico. Northerly winds will prevail with gusts of 70 to 90 km/h in the Isthmus and Gulf of Tehuantepec and gusts of 40 to 60 km/h in Yucatán and Quintana Roo.”
The SMN says that as cold front 32 moves away, an even colder polar air front—cold front 33—will enter the region. That front will begin arriving on Thursday and “will bring another temperature drop, showers, and heavy rains to the region,” officials reported Monday.
“Very heavy to intense rains are forecast for Puebla, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Tabasco on Thursday along with a very strong to intense ‘Norte’ wind event along the Gulf of Mexico coast, the Yucatan Peninsula, and the Isthmus and Gulf of Tehuantepec.
“Snow or sleet is expected on the peaks of Popocatépetl, Iztaccíhuatl, Pico de Orizaba, and Cofre de Perote starting Wednesday night. Cold front 33, with its polar air, will affect Cancún and the Riviera Maya on Friday, and the entire state will see another temperature drop with its arrival.”
The current Arctic air mass will be replaced by an even colder polar air mass over the weekend. Quintana Roo agencies have been distributing free blankets this winter to those in need. On Sunday, Cancún expanded its general campaign to include 17 suburbs due to the current extreme cold. Hundreds of people turned out for the arrival of Civil Protection trucks with free blankets over the weekend.
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