A U.S. weather alert has put Yucatán on notice after days of heavy rain left parts of Mérida flooded, with traffic stalled and emergency calls mounting. State officials now expect more intense rainfall, especially in the northwest, west, and southwest of the state. Schools have already been suspended for Tuesday, and a temporary shelter has been prepared in Ciudad Caucel as authorities watch another round of storms move across the peninsula.
US alert follows days of flooding in Yucatán
The U.S. State Department issued a weather alert for Yucatán after state civil protection officials warned that strong-to-intense rainfall could continue across the state over the next several days. The alert said accumulations could exceed 100 millimeters, or about four inches, in some areas, with the greatest risk in the northwest, west, and southwest regions.
The warning came after a wet stretch that has already strained parts of Mérida. In earlier Vallarta Daily coverage, Mérida’s May rains had already caused flooded streets, outages, fallen trees, and traffic disruptions before this latest alert pushed the forecast into a higher-risk period.
Procivy expects heavier rain
The Yucatán State Civil Protection Coordination, known as Procivy, said the latest rain pattern is being driven by moisture from the Caribbean Sea, a trough, the nearby passage of a tropical wave, and moisture linked to an upper-level low-pressure system over southern Mexico.
Procivy said very strong to heavy rain was possible Monday in parts of the state, first affecting municipalities such as Tizimín, Sucilá, Buctzotz, and Temax before moving toward Tekax, Izamal, Peto, Tzucacab, and central Yucatán. The forecast also indicated the possibility of rain in Mérida, Umán, Tixkokob, Kanasín, Hunucmá, and nearby areas during midday, afternoon, and evening hours.
The National Weather Service also warned that a broader rain event was beginning over southern and southeastern Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula, with very strong to intense rainfall forecast for the region.
Schools close and shelters prepare
The state’s education department suspended afternoon classes on Monday and all classes on Tuesday, June 2, in public and private schools at every level. The order followed what authorities described as extraordinary rains that had caused problems in Mérida and other municipalities.
Emergency reports from Sunday showed how quickly the rain turned into an urban problem. State security officials said they handled 33 incidents between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., with 32 involving flooded streets and 1 involving a lightning-caused fire at a gas station in the Revolución neighborhood.
Yucatán officials also prepared a temporary shelter at the Carlos Carrillo Vega child care center in Ciudad Caucel. The state said the site was ready to provide safety, food, medical attention, and basic services if families affected by the rain needed to leave their homes.
“The State Civil Protection Council will remain in permanent session to follow these atypical rains that we are having mainly in Mérida, its police stations and other areas of the state,” Gov. Joaquín Díaz Mena said during a visit to the shelter. He said state agencies were ready to coordinate with municipal authorities and support affected communities.
Travel could be disrupted
The U.S. alert urged people to monitor local media, follow instructions from local authorities, call 911 in an emergency, avoid unnecessary travel, and not drive through flooded streets. It also warned that transportation services could be affected and advised checking with airlines or transportation operators before traveling.
The Department of State says it uses STEP messages to send updates and alerts to U.S. citizens enrolled in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program during crises abroad. Its crisis guidance also states that the U.S. government generally cannot provide in-country transportation during a crisis, making local travel decisions and updates on commercial transportation important during severe weather events.
Procivy said rain could continue in the mornings as light to moderate showers, with the heaviest downpours more likely in the afternoon and evening. Winds could reach gusts above 60 kilometers per hour in areas where storms develop.
