Mysterious Calm Sea at Cancún’s Dolphin Beach Explained

The unusual tranquility observed at Dolphin Beach in Cancún was due to a lack of gusty winds, a phenomenon that typically creates waves.

Earlier this week, images of an unusually calm sea at Dolphin Beach in Cancún sparked curiosity among locals and tourists. Known for its strong waves and winds, the beach was eerily quiet around 3:00 pm with no noticeable waves or wind.

This calmness brought back memories of the serene waters before Hurricane Wilma in 2005, leading to speculation about a potential incoming storm. Luis Antonio Morales, a meteorologist from the Solidaridad municipality and a member of the Civil Protection and Fire Department, offered an in-depth explanation of this unusual occurrence.

Morales explained that waves along the coast are primarily caused by winds descending from storms and colliding with the ocean's surface. However, the absence of storms and gusty winds on this day resulted in an unusually calm sea.

"When storms form, with clouds and gusty winds over the coastal sea, this generates waves. These waves are a product of the winds that descend from the storms and collide with the ocean's surface. But in this instance, the situation was calm," Morales elaborated.

Morales also pointed out that there were no predictions of rain or showers in the area that could account for the sea's calmness. "Right now, we have no wind, and this is reflected in the waves. These phenomena aren't persistent; as soon as some clouds begin to form, the waves will return to normal in that area," he added.

Regarding the possibility of this phenomenon being linked to the tropical wave near the Antilles, Morales dismissed this theory. "This tropical wave is very far away, and the area is not influenced by it at all. It's a local occurrence, and it's worth noting because we currently have no forecast of rain and showers in the area," the specialist clarified.

Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation, but at present, there are no indications that this phenomenon is associated with any nearby cyclone formation.