Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Rains that began early Sunday morning hovered over the region for most of the day. Ports were closed and highways slick as the rains continued throughout much of Sunday.
Some areas were hit harder than others. Several key Playa del Carmen streets were left slightly flooded with the arrival of the early morning rains. City crews were out unclogging drains at daybreak Sunday to help drain standing water.
On Sunday morning the SPC (Secretaría de Protección Civil, Prevención de Riesgos y Bomberos de Solidaridad) reported “due to the heavy rains that occurred in the early hours of this Sunday, operational elements carried out tours of different parts of the city to support the cleaning and drainage of absorption wells to prevent an accident.”
Sunday evening, they reported that crews were still working to locate and clear waterlogged areas. “We continue to carry out tours throughout the city to locate waterlogged areas, clean and drain absorption wells. Please support us by keeping your sidewalks clean and avoiding littering in the street.”
In Isla Mujeres, authorities released a notice to the entire Maritime Port Community with the temporary suspension of smaller vessels. According to the report, navigation to smaller boats as well as trips to Isla Contoy were suspended as of 1:00 p.m. Sunday.
“Only passenger and mixed cargo ferries will continue to provide service, from Isla Mujeres to Punta Sam/Gran Puerto, hotel zone and vice versa, and as far as weather conditions allow,” they said in their notice.
Other areas such as Puerto Morelos carried on with a planned water marathon. On Sunday, although conditions were wet, they were not cold. The town moved forward in hosting a planned sporting event that was attended by hundreds.
“Puerto Morelos is the destination chosen to carry out different sports activities. Today is the perfect setting for the XIX Open Water Marathon. Welcome to all the competitors of this international event that positions our Puerto Mágico among the favorites of sports tourism,” City Hall wrote.
“It was a competition that saw the participation of 700 swimmers from all over the Mexican Republic and countries such as Germany, France, the United States, Canada, Guatemala and Belize, who, accompanied by their families, took part,” Mayor Blanca Merari Tziu reported.
Through the rains, the town also hosted Ruta del Arrecife and the XI Ceviche Festival.
In Cancun, the weather did not stop a large group of protesters. Tránsito de Cancun had a road block in place for the nearly 400 people that were out in the rain during a March for Democracy.
“There are approximately 400 protesters in the North – South Glorieta who are heading towards the esplanade of the Municipal Palace. We carry out partial preventive closures on surrounding roads to guarantee the safety of attendees,” the city department posted Sunday.
At least two non serious inner-city accidents were also reported, one near the Cancun Hotel Zone and another on Colosio Boulevard. Cancun Public Services Directorate were out clearing clogged drains to relieve streets of standing rain water.
The rains continued throughout Sunday, affecting each area differently. The rains were the effect of the entrance of cold front 35 that fully entered the region early Monday morning, leaving most residents to wake to chilly temperatures.
