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Waterspout forms over Caribbean Sea as thunderstorms hit Cancun, Riviera Maya

Cancun, Q.R. — The heavy rainfall that took many by surprise in the Cancun and Riviera Maya region Monday evening also arrived with a waterspout.

More than 100 city workers took to the streets of the municipality to meet the demands generated by the rainfall after several city arteries began to flood. Ricardo Montiel of the city of Cancun explained that 110 employees were activated to attend to the cleaning of grids in the urban center and the most remote regions of the city.

He said the sudden arrival of the thunderstorm was due to the entry of Tropical Maritime Air with moisture content from the Caribbean Sea associated with a low-pressure channel. He also noted the calls received about the waterspout that was seen around Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

“We had the report of the formation of a waterspout which formed over the Caribbean Sea,” he added. Numerous calls regarding the impressive waterspout were reported during the afternoon hours Monday as it made its way over the Caribbean Sea.

Antonio Morales, head of the Department of Meteorology of Solidaridad said that it is a usual phenomenon, but always striking to witness. The waterspout was seen in Playa del Carmen at Punta Maroma and in several areas around Cancun including Punta Nizuc. Morales said that the formation is the result of high temperatures generating clouds of vertical formation.

“At the base of these clouds these eddies come off, which begin to rotate in strong winds,” said the expert. “They descend on the sea, scattering water.”

Yesterday’s thunderstorm hit the region around 5:00 p.m. and lasted for several hours. Cancun and Riviera Maya have more forecast thunderstorms during the remainder of the week.