Riviera Maya, Q.R. — U.S. winter storm Fern slammed the Yucatan Peninsula Monday with white-out rains and strong winds. The clash in hot moist tropical temperatures with the cold Arctic air mass hit the peninsula hard as cold front 30 Monday afternoon.
The sky over Cancun turned jet black within a few hours as Fern moved in, replacing the sunny blue skies residents had woken up to. On Monday morning, State Civil Protection posted a heads-up regarding the incoming system.
“From 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Quintana Roo time: Showers with locally heavy rainfall are forecast for the municipalities of Othón P. Blanco, Bacalar, Lázaro Cárdenas, Isla Mujeres, Benito Juárez (Cancun), Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Puerto Morelos, Cozumel, Tulum and Playa del Carmen,” they said in a public notice.
“A north event with gusts of 40 to 60 km/h is expected along the northern coast of Quintana Roo, along with waves of 2 to 4 meters in height. Heavy rains could cause flooding and waterlogging.
“Wind gusts may cause trees and billboards to fall. Check with the Port Captains regarding permitted activities at sea. Stay informed and prioritize your safety,” State Civil Protection said.
“A decrease in minimum temperatures is expected with readings between 12C (53F) and 14°C (57F) for the early morning and at dawn on Tuesday 27, Wednesday 28, Thursday 29 and Friday 30 January 2026.
“Lower thermal sensations are possible mainly in the rural areas of the state. Information from the National Weather Service,” they added regarding the anticipated drop in temperatures.
By noon, Cancun skies had turned black as Fern made an appearance. Extremely heavy rain quickly reduced visibility. Winds began to pickup that, within a few hours, had Port Captains closing navigation to small vessels.
Meteorologists reported accumulations of 25 to 50 mm of rain recorded in areas of Cancun down into Riviera Maya and Tulum. Older streets in the center of towns were left under water until drains were able to catch up.
Pablo Gutiérrez, Cancun’s General Secretary, said the flooding was not concentrated in a single area, but occurred in a scattered manner in different sectors of the city. He said main roads and low-lying areas where the absorption capacity of the soil and the rainwater system was exceeded during heavy rains, were the most affected.
He reported that the areas prone to recurring flooding were identified and priority given to addressing those areas to reduce risks and keep motorists, pedestrians and public transportation flowing.
Darwin Covarrubias, the Director of Civil Protection in Playa del Carmen, reported that as soon as the front arrived, municipal public services and operational brigades were deployed to attend to citizen reports and carry out preventive patrols.
“Thanks to inter-institutional coordination and a permanent presence on the ground, we achieved timely assistance and a rapid recovery after the rains,” he stated.
According to local weather reports, it was 29C (84F) when the rain started in Cancun around noon Monday. By the time the rain ended a few hours later, local temperatures had dropped five degrees.
Meteorologists reported Monday mid-day temperatures at 25C (77F). By nightfall, temperatures fell even further from 25C to 19C (66F) due to the official arrival of Arctic air from U.S. winter storm Fern.
On Sunday, Mexico’s National Meteorological Service (SMN) had forecast cold front 30 to move across the southern Gulf of Mexico, southeastern Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula starting Monday afternoon.
The Arctic air is forecast to stay over the Yucatan Peninsula for several days. Some ports around the state remained closed to small boats as of Tuesday morning. Temperatures of around 18C (64F) are forecast for the city of Cancun tonight.
