Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Residents in the seaside towns of Tulum, Akumal and Punta Allen woke up to 15C (59F) Friday. Neighboring residents in Coba recorded a low temp of 13C (55F) and Uh May, 14C. A majority of the center of Quintana Roo woke up to 17C (62F). Other municipalities scored another degree or two, waking up to high teen temps for the first time this winter.
A majority of the country was affected by the mass of U.S. arctic air that began to enter Mexican territory Tuesday. Negative temperatures have been recorded in higher elevations in Mexico’s northern regions.
A mass of arctic air that made its way into Mexico hit the Yucatan Peninsula Thursday. Heavy rain was felt across the region Wednesday ahead of its arrival. The arctic air has caused not only a significant decrease in local temperatures, but also fog.
State Civil Protection issued a dense fog warning Friday morning across the entire state. Motorists were warned to take precautions due to the reduced visibility.
In Tulum, Municipal Civil Protection issued another expected temperature dip for Friday night. “Friday forecast for the next 24 hours in the municipality of Tulum. During the day, the weather is expected to be slightly dry, partly sunny but without the usual heat and without any news. At night and at dawn tomorrow, a significant drop in temperature is expected again.
“Recommendations continue to take extreme precautions with the considerable decrease in temperature that will be experienced at night and especially at dawn tomorrow, dress appropriately,” the agency reported Friday morning.
According to State Civil Protection (Coordinación Estatal de Protección Civil), the cold air mass that drove cold front number 10 will continue to affect the Yucatan Peninsula, keeping clear to partly cloudy skies over the state of Quintana Roo, with little chance of rain.
“Warm weather during the day and mild to cool at night and dawn. Winds with gusts of 50 km/h mainly on the state’s coasts,” they reported Friday.
Mexico’s Meteorological Service, Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN), had forecast the mass of U.S. arctic air to have moved off by Friday, however, the air continues to linger over the state.
Temperatures of between 17C (62F) and 21C (69) were recorded around Quintana Roo with the first real blast of winter weather so far this year. The cold air is expected to move away from the Peninsula for the weekend.
