Riviera Maya, Q.R. — UPDATED: Weather chaos continues along a majority of the Quintana Roo coast with unusual cloud sightings and more waterspouts. Swimmers in Tulum captured a spectacular scene of a darkened waterspout spinning out of a black distant sky.
The dark spout was highlighted against the turquoise waters of the Caribbean dotted with swimmers as it traveled over the water Monday. Dozens of people stopped to watch the fast moving waterspout while it lasted.
It was the second one reported this week. Over the weekend, residents saw a large waterspout that formed over the Bay of Chetumal. Waterspouts were included in the local forecast for the region Monday.
Prior to the arrival of the latest rainstorm, an unusual cloud formation was seen hovering over parts of the state’s capital city. The formation was also seen over the Bay of Chetumal. The city was hit for a second time by torrential rain Monday. The rains came on the heels of a city-wide clean up Saturday and Sunday after being left under water from a Friday storm.
Ports around Quintana Roo have been closed to all smaller vessels under 49 feet due to ongoing strong winds. The Administración Portuaria Integral de Quintana Roo (Apiqroo) announced the closure Monday morning while confirming the continuation of island to mainland ferry services. Updates are provided on a regular basis.
“Apiqroo – Quintana Roo Comprehensive Port Administration reports federal passenger routes, Playa del Carmen/Cozumel, Cancun/Isla Mujeres, continue to operate normally. Vessels under 15 meters in length, as well as recreational activities, remain in CLOSED PORT. The next report from the Harbor Master’s Office will be issued at 1:00 p.m.” the agency reported Monday.
“The National Water Commission (Conagua)-SMN reports that for the next few hours, heavy rains are forecast, at times very heavy, electrical storms and possible hail in the municipalities of José María Morelos, Othón P. Blanco, Puerto Morelos, Bacalar, Lázaro Cárdenas, Isla Mujeres, Benito Juárez (Cancun), Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Tulum, Cozumel and Solidaridad (Playa del Carmen),” the Quintana Roo State Civil Protection Coordination reported Monday afternoon.
Isla Mujeres was also left completely soaked and under water. Photos below, taken at around 7:00 a.m. local time Tuesday morning, show a main avenue flooded. At least a meter of water covered several of the island’s main streets, leaving one abandoned golf cart to fend for itself.
Due to the extremely heavy rains, the city of Cancun has activated Operation Storm. The head of the Quintana Roo Mobility Institute (Imoveqroo) Rodrigo Alcázar reported that due to the heavy rains that occurred last Monday night in Cancún, Operation Storm was activated.
The Operation consisted of deploying 10 tow trucks to different parts of the city to provide free service to stranded and/or flooded vehicles.
“The service is designed to tow vehicles stranded and provide support to pedestrians,” he explained.
Rodrigo Alcázar reiterates that the operation is permanent as long as the rains continue and streets are flooded. Imoveqroo is working in coordination with municipal Cancun authorities, especially with the Directorate of Transit and Roads.
The operation covers the areas affected by flooding such as Yaxchilan Avenue, Kilometer Zero of the Cancun Hotel Zone, Bonampak Avenue and the Cancun Hotel Zone near Plaza Caracol, he added.
Citizens of Cancun are being asked to stay at home and avoid going out if not necessary, and that drivers drive with caution.
Photo: June 18, 2024.
The Civil Protection meteorologist clarified that at the moment there is no presence of a hurricane, not even a tropical wave, but rather a low pressure system that formed in the center of the Yucatan Peninsula with an intense trough.
Solidaridad meteorologist Luis Antonio Morales Ocaña says the torrential downpours are the result of ongoing extreme heat. “The intense rains are phenomena caused by the heat absorbed for many months in the Peninsula, which increased with the arrival of tropical waves.”
Morales Ocaña says the rains are forecast to stick around until the middle of the week.
This article has been updated with information and photos of Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Tulum and Othón P. Blanco as the information became available.
