Mérida, Mexico is bracing for an extended period of unusually cold weather, wiht temperatures plummeting to levels not seen in over two decades. A powerful cold front, dubbed “Sac Nicté,” has descended upon the Yucatán Peninsula, bringing with it frigid air and prompting safety concerns for residents [[2]]. School officials have already responded by delaying class start times in an effort to protect students from the unseasonably low temperatures.
Mérida, Mexico is experiencing some of its coldest temperatures in over two decades, with a reading of 5.5 degrees Celsius (41.9 degrees Fahrenheit) recorded Monday morning. The frigid conditions are a stark contrast to the region’s typically warm climate and have prompted school officials to delay start times.
The temperature reported by the weather station at the Autonomous University of Yucatán’s Faculty of Engineering is the lowest recorded in Mérida since 2002, when a temperature of 4.9 degrees Celsius (40.4 degrees Fahrenheit) was registered. Similar temperatures of 5.3 degrees Celsius (41.5 degrees Fahrenheit) were also recorded in 1999 and 2006.
Meteorological data indicates clear skies contributed to the unusually low temperatures. A strong cold air mass associated with Cold Front 32 continues to impact the Yucatán Peninsula, bringing with it 89% humidity and a high barometric pressure of 1,029.6 hectopascals. The high barometric pressure is indicative of the intensity of the cold air affecting the region.
Further south in the state, the municipality of Hunucmá reported a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius (39.2 degrees Fahrenheit) at 5 a.m. Monday, while Akil registered 5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit) and Chacsinkín recorded 7 degrees Celsius (44.6 degrees Fahrenheit), according to Meteorología Yucatán.
In response to the cold weather, the Yucatán State Department of Education (Segey) announced that all basic, middle, and higher education institutions will delay the start of classes until 8 a.m. until further notice, depending on prevailing weather conditions. The delayed start times are intended to protect students from exposure to the cold during their commutes.
