Yucatán’s Dry Spell: A History of Drought in a Thirsty Land
Throughout history, Yucatán has grappled with the cyclical nature of drought.
Bees in Yucatán Dying Off in Record Numbers
Among the municipalities on the peninsula worst affected by deforestation over the past decade are Othon P. Blanco and Bacalar, both in the south of Quintana Roo, according to a recent report by Greenpeace.
Climate change and dangers to Yucatán’s cultural heritage
According to a recent NASA report, even conservative estimates project the globe should expect a sea level rise with averages of 25 to 30 centimeters, or nine to 11 inches, by 2050.
Governor to give Yucatan perspective on major ‘Climate’ broadcast
Yucatán Gov. Mauricio Vila enters an international stage tonight when Washington Post Live broadcasts its “This is Climate” series. It’s major exposure for the former mayor of Mérida, who, as a popular governor, has even higher aspirations. Vila, 43, is No. 6 in this week’s Power Ranking index of presidential contenders. If he runs, he…
Rising tides slowly destroy a fishing village in Mexico
A once-thriving fishing village in Mexico is being slowly eaten away by coastal erosion and residents are up in arms about failed promises to relocate them. The families in El Bosque, Tabasco, are examples of climate displacement, said Greenpeace. While 15 remain in imminent danger, another 30 have already pulled up stakes. Although Tabasco Gov….
Wipe your watery eyes and look up: Sahara dust skies are back
The Sahara desert may seem far away, but trade winds have again delivered dust all the way to Yucatán. Another plume of Saharan dust is expected to reach the Gulf of Mexico by today. Its particles in the sky play with the sun’s rays. As a result, sunrises are a little more vibrant. People with…
As droughts ravage northern Mexico, could Yucatán be next?
Droughts are particularly dire in northern states such as Nuevo Léon, where potable water has been reduced to a trickle.
Most severe heatwave of the year in the coming days
Health authorities in Yucatán are warning residents to take precautions in the face of increasing temperatures.
Environmental group to call for meaningful action at upcoming forum in Yucatán
The environmental collective Va por la Tierra is planning a series of events to raise awareness among Yucatán’s population on issues regarding water quality and climate change.
Sea turtles in Yucatán are hatching late. An expert explains.
Marine Biologist, Jesús Manuel Cuevas Medina answers our questions about the health of Yucatán’s sea turtle population and how we can help.
Yucatán Congress passes a new law to fight climate change
Yucatán’s congress passed a new climate-change law Thursday to reduce auto emissions and safeguard the environment.
Sargassum and the Sahara dust phenomenon — are they connected?
The sargassum on the coast and the Sahara dust in the sky might have a connection. The stinky seaweed first sprouted in 2011 in the tropical Atlantic and has been plaguing beaches ever since. Sewage and farmland runoff have been blamed. But there’s another possible culprit — Africa’s Sahara dust, which blows over the ocean and…
Activists call on Yucatán to declare climate emergency
A group of student activists led by Greta Thunberg has called upon Yucatán’s government to declare a climate emergency and start to take more serious and proactive moves to combat climate change.
AMLO suggests ‘visas for plants’ in new initiative
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador suggested that the United States should offer work visas to workers taking part in his new reforestation program. Under the suggested plan, laborers who have worked in the program for at least three years would be able to apply for a special temporary work visa to the United States. After…
Yucatán government commits to being carbon neutral by 2030
Yucatán has become the first state in México to take on the Net Zero Commitment. The ambitious plan seeks to convert all state government buildings into carbon neutral spaces by the year 2030. The plan also involves government buildings at the municipal level, but in this case, the date has been pushed back another 20…
Cooler weather, rains threaten Yucatan drought
Scattered showers are slightly possible today, and light breezes from the Gulf of Mexico will bring a relatively refreshing 35C / 95F. In Yucatan that’s considered refreshing this time of year. Morning lows could drop as far as 20C / 68F. More long-term, May could see above-average rain and an end to a historic drought,…
Showers come after more than 2 months without rain
The showers this evening won’t bring an end to the drought, and it’s not likely to break the heatwave, but it will end a 65-day rainless streak in Yucatan. The showers, which are riding along with scattered thunderstorms, were previously thought to be coming in May. Thunderstorms are due in Merida after 5 — already…
Air in Yucatan fouled by smoky fires near and far
The haze that settled over Yucatan on Thursday is not necessarily from your neighbor burning trash this time. Winds from the south are bringing smoke from fires as far away as Guatemala and Honduras, said State Civil Protection Coordinator Jesús Enrique Alcocer Basto. The haze has caused eyes to sting, and deprived Yucatan from the…
Fires consume 7,062 hectares of green areas in Yucatan
Since Yucatan’s fire season began March 1, 7,062 hectares of mature woodland, grass and shrub have been consumed, said the director of Yucatan Civil Protection, Enrique Alcocer Basto. The fires broke amid the worst drought since at least 1986. It hasn’t rained in Yucatan in about two months. The most hectares — 42 — were…
It’s been 59 days since Yucatan has experienced rain
Rain — a barely remembered phenomenon in which drops of water fall from clouds in the sky — hasn’t occurred here for 58 days. Three years of below-average rainfall are merging, and groundwater levels are already dropping to minimum levels. And then there’s the heat. A string of 58 rainless days has come with 55 days with…
Drought in Yucatan could become most severe in 3 decades
Day upon day of sunshine has a downside: Yucatan is heading towards it most intense drought in 34 years. According to the weather forecast models, this year’s critical situation is comparable to the droughts of 1986 and 1962, said UADY meteorologist Juan Vázquez Montalvo. When the Peninsula goes dry, wildfires are a higher risk, and…
No, Al Gore isn’t part of Mérida’s climate change forum
Contrary to some headlines, a forum on climate change will not include former U.S. vice president Al Gore.
Pioneering scheme insures coral reef off Quintina Roo
A special insurance policy covers endangered reefs off the Yucatán Peninsula against hurricanes, storms and other natural disasters.
‘Adopt a Tree’ program takes root in urban Mérida
The city’s “Adopt a Tree” program accounts for more than half the plantings completed under the municipal green infrastructure plan.
End of content
End of content