Historical Records
This year’s rainy season in Mexico has been one of the most extreme in decades, leaving record-breaking precipitation across various regions and severe impacts in Mexico City.
Official data confirms that this year, the capital and several southern and central states faced unprecedented rains that tested urban infrastructure and drainage systems.
Notable Records
- In Mexico City, July surpassed all recent records by accumulating 298 mm of rain, doubling the historical monthly average of 150 mm.
- June also impressed with 337 million cubic meters of water, equivalent to 226 mm accumulated, making it the wettest month in decades.
- By August 20th, the capital had already recorded 662.18 mm of precipitation since January, far above the historical average of 530.14 mm for that date.
- On August 10th, the Zócalo capital’s rainfall reached 84.50 mm in a single day, surpassing the previous record of 67 mm set in 1952; even September followed suit with an accumulation of 246 mm, 82% above the norm.
- On September 27th, 31.4 million cubic meters of water were recorded in just 24 hours, setting a new maximum for the season and causing disruptions in mobility in Mexico City and Chalco, Estado de México, where streets were flooded with up to 80 cm of water.
- In southern Mexico, hurricane Erick, downgraded to a category 1, caused torrential rains in Oaxaca and Guerrero, raising the risks of flooding and landslides in vulnerable communities.
Causes and Consequences
Meteorological experts point out that the combination of persistent humidity from the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico, along with low-pressure phenomena and the country’s topography, has favored extreme rainfall events. Furthermore, various studies suggest that climate change may be intensifying the frequency and intensity of these episodes, reflected in increasingly marked anomalies in precipitation records.
Consequences include multiple Mexico City alcaldías experiencing flooding, power outages, fallen trees, and infrastructure damage; frequently, vehicular traffic is affected on major avenues while homes in areas like Xochimilco, Iztapalapa, Tlalpan, and Tláhuac suffered leaks and damages to basic services.
Authorities and experts emphasize the urgency of strengthening hydrological infrastructure and maintaining well-functioning drainage systems. Additionally, they propose fortifying early warning systems in at-risk areas and adopting a more resilient urbanism that preserves infiltration areas and avoids construction in vulnerable zones.
Key Questions and Answers
- What makes this rainy season particularly extreme? This season has been one of the most extreme in decades due to a combination of persistent humidity from the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico, low-pressure phenomena, and Mexico’s topography. Climate change may also be intensifying the frequency and intensity of these events.
- Which regions were most affected by the heavy rains? Mexico City and several southern and central states faced unprecedented rains, testing urban infrastructure and drainage systems. Southern Mexico also experienced torrential rains from hurricane Erick, raising flood and landslide risks.
- What are the consequences of these extreme rainfall events? Multiple Mexico City alcaldías suffered flooding, power outages, fallen trees, and infrastructure damage. Homes in areas like Xochimilco, Iztapalapa, Tlalpan, and Tláhuac experienced leaks and damages to basic services.
- What measures are being proposed to address these challenges? Authorities and experts emphasize the urgency of strengthening hydrological infrastructure, maintaining drainage systems, fortifying early warning systems in at-risk areas, and adopting a more resilient urbanism that preserves infiltration areas and avoids construction in vulnerable zones.
