Unusual Year-End Rainfall Forecast for Northern Quintana Roo

As 2024 draws to a close, the northern towns of Quintana Roo, including Cancún and Playa del Carmen, are bracing for an unusual bout of rainfall. This follows the recent rains that disrupted mobility in these areas.

According to Luis Antonio Morales Ocaña, a meteorologist with the Secretariat of Civil Protection Prevention of Risks and Firefighters of Solidaridad, this unusual weather pattern is due to the absence of cold fronts that usually bring maritime air from the Caribbean Sea.

"We are expecting the rain to continue at least through this weekend, similar to what we've seen in the past few hours. This is due to maritime air, which is unusual as we would typically expect cold fronts at this time of year," said Morales Ocaña.

He predicts that these conditions will persist until January 1st, when a cold front is expected to bring a significant drop in temperature.

In Solidaridad, heavy rainfall on Thursday afternoon resulted in severe flooding in several areas, including the Misión de las Flores subdivision. The local government had to undertake extensive operations to unclog gutters as homes in the surrounding areas were affected.

Morales Ocaña noted that this level of year-end precipitation has not been seen for over a decade. "Unfortunately, the temperature of the Caribbean Sea has not dropped as expected. It remains warm, which could have significant implications for us during the hurricane season," he explained.

Following the recent rainfall, Morales Ocaña urged residents to sweep in front of their houses to prevent drainage systems from collapsing. He also encouraged the public to stay informed through official statements from authorities and to avoid spreading rumors on social media.