Meteorologists at the University of Guadalajara’s Institute of Astronomy and Meteorology (IAM) acknowledged this week that the 2024 rainy season (temporada de lluvias) “officially” began on June 22.
Heavy rains on June 24 caused flash flooding in several Guadalajara metro-area colonias, with reports of some homes being flooded out.
A handful of cars were washed away by rushing waters, while firefighters had to rescue a few drivers who found their rigs rapidly filling up with flood water.
Meanwhile, municipal and state Civil Protection agencies attended to around a dozen reports of fallen trees. No injuries were reported.
The current wave of humidity entering Mexico from the Pacific Ocean will bring rainfall every day during the rest of June in the states of Jalisco, Colima and Michoacan, Mexico’s National Weather Service (SMN) forecast this week.
Heavier rainfall is expected during July and August as a direct effect of the La Niña climate phenomenon, IAM Operational Meteorologist Mauricio López said this week.
Temperatures in metro-area Guadalajara have also dropped significantly, falling from highs of 36-37 degrees Celsius in the first weeks of June, to 23 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, June 25.
A recent study published by World Weather Attribution, a group of scientists that analyzes the impact of climate change on weather events, surmised that the recent spell of intense heat in the United States, Mexico and Central America is the result of human-caused climate change.
The study showed that the current heat wave is four times more likely to happen now than it would have been in 2000.
Last week, the Sonoran Desert hit 51.9 Celsius, the hottest day in Mexican history, according to study co-author Shel Winkley, a meteorologist at Climate Central.