Hello All,

The Mexican Caribe from the Northern Yucatan Peninsula south through the Riviera Maya to Tulum continues under cooler than normal temperatures thanks to Cold Front #22.  These last 2 days we enjoyed clear skies and sunshine to warm you a bit but not back to normal by a long shot.  Daytime temperatures are barely hitting 70°F and nighttime lows are getting down to 55° although it feels like around 49° sometimes. Locals of course are more affected by the lower temperatures and can be seen walking the dog or exercising outside with warm clothing like heavy winter sweaters and wool hats.

The 14^th of January we are expecting cold front #23 to begin affecting northern Mexico and continue to cause snow and freezing temperatures that have taken lives in the northern areas of Mexico all the way down to Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico. We can expect that our area continue with lower than normal temperatures for at least another week without much change in temperatures and for Thursday and Friday 14^th and 15^th of January we are expecting north winds of 40 kph to affect the area which will make the cooler temperatures seem even colder.

If you are coming to the area we suggest that you bring along some warmer clothing for your comfort.  When getting out of the ocean you should have a sweat shirt to pull on and even some sweat pants would be a good idea.  For the evenings out on the town like walking on 5^th Avenue in Playa Del Carmen a sweater or warmer long sleeve shirt.  The ladies have been sporting dress boots and not so dress boots as well as jeans and nice looking sweaters and tops with long sleeves reminding me of autumn in Manhattan. Be sure to have warm sweat cloths to put on after water activities and forget the swimming pools at the hotels, the water is coooold.  Only 2 hotels in the entire area have heated pools and they are the Ritz Carlton in Cancun and Le Meridian in Cancun.

Regards

Kevin James Stolz

admin at travel2rivieramaya.com

Riviera Maya

Cancun

Playa Del Carmen

Mexico Travel Magazine

Hello!

Well yes it is happening, Arctic Air is moving in across Mexico and for the first time in the 15 years I have lived here in Cancun and the Riviera Maya have I felt temperaturas so cold.  I did a little weather report on our new online travel magazine that we are beginning for Mexico (this year we will begin doing photos and reports from all around Mexico and videos as well) http://www.mexicotravelmagazine.com.

Anyway, a Cold Front bringing Arctic Air down through the US and into Mexico has been dumping snow, high winds and severe cold across much of Mexico. States where Snow is not a normal occurrence have been paralyzed and schools have been closed.  Even here in Quintana Roo from Cancun to Chetumal the government was talking about closing schools but that is an over exaggeration. 

Overnight temperatures locally here in Cancun and the Riviera Maya have stayed in the 50’s, daytime temps got up to around 70 to 74 most days but today our high for the day was at 8AM a whopping 22° C or 68° F but with the 40 kph winds and cold rain (I wanted to say freezing rain because when it hit you in the face your face was freezing but I didn’t want people to confuse it with real freezing rain that actually froze on the ground or trees.

The current temperature here in Playa Del Carmen is 59°F or 15°C and it is 4PM and we have been seeing the temps drop all day.  Tonight the cold air is supposed to come in full blast and treat us to real COLD weather.

Cancun is reporting 1°C warmer than us here in Playa right now with a wonderful 60° F, so right now it is wait and see but if you are coming to the area for vacation this week it is important to bring sweatshirt or sweater and jeans.  Locals can be seen bundled up like they are walking in Manhatten at Christmas time while the snow birds are here in shorts and tee shirts WHAT A CONTRAST…

Here are 2 photos from another typically tropical state in Mexico about 11 hours from the Riviera Maya in Veracruz; could this be Cancun?  No, I think not.

Warm Regards?

Kevin James Stolz

Riviera Maya

Cancun

Mexico Travel Magazine

admin at travel2rivieramaya.com

However you say it I just wanted to stop by and say Merry Christmas to all of our loyal readers here at Stormcarib.com.

The Weather in Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and the Riviera Maya from Playa to Tulum for this Christmas day 2009:

Yesterday we came out of 3 days of a cold front that pushed its way down from Canada and through most of Mexico where we were enjoying temperatures 10 to 15 degrees below the normal for this time of year, we had some daytime temperatures in the high 60’s to low 70’s with cloudy skies and windy conditions.  Visiting the local supermarkets like Walmart in Playa Del Carmen we found the big contrast between local residents and tourists in the way they were dressed.  Locals with Sweatshirts and sweaters, long pants and even the occasional girls with jeans and BOOTS, something that we only see occasionally here during the day and tourists in shorts, no shirts or tank tops and sandals.

The current conditions in the area:

Cancun 21° C / 72° F Raining

Playa Del Carmen / Riviera Maya 22° C / 72° F Mostly Cloudy, Winds 25 to 30 kph with gusts to 40 kph.

Tonight for the area we are expecting rain, heavy at times with very little overall rainfall in general all a result of the Nor’easter that is pushing into the area and the cold front that is all the way down into the Gulf of Mexico.  At least 20 states in Mexico are under a severe COLD warning for today, really just a continuation of the freezing temperatures and snow that Mexicos Northern and North Western states have been receiving this past week which has resulted in loss of life.

For those of you planning to come to the Caribbean Coast of Mexico we can promise you that you won’t need those winter gloves or woolen hats to enjoy the days or nights but bring at least a light sweater or jacket for the evenings and if you are going to be doing any water activities like scuba diving or snorkeling bring along a warm sweatshirt for getting out of the water the cooler temps and gusty wind will really chill you.

Without anything new right now Merry Christmas from Abril and Myself from here in the heart of Mexico’s Riviera Maya.

The current conditions in Cancun are Clouds, dark clouds at that, not raining although we have had some Light showers during the day.  As someone else mentioned over the last couple of days we had more rain leading up to IDA passing off the coast of Quintana Roo but seems that Cancun, Cozumel and the Riviera Maya escaped the worst of IDA but Quintana Roo has raised the alert to RED and has implemented Civil Defense measures.

There is still some isolated flooding in Cancun and Highway Flooding in Playa Del Carmen as a result of all of the rain over the last several days.

Some of the most affected areas in the hotel zone of Cancun is the Beach area of Plaza Forum north toward the center of Cancun, typically the rocky area of the beach behind plaza forum comes right to the back of the mall.

Police and Civil Defense personnel are supervising activity at the Playa Delfines area also known as El Mirador which is in the south of Cancun’s Hotel Zone right next to the Hilton Hotel and Golf Resort where the waves and undertow are the most notorious during bad weather.  Hotels all along the hotel zone have deployed their anticyclone curtains facing the ocean and ASUR is reporting that there were only minor airport delays and that only 2 flights from a small charter group were cancelled today by the carrier.

Isla Mujeres has cancelled school classes for Monday in anticipation of cleanup that may be needed after the storm passes.

Punta Allen is being reported as the most affected in Quintana Roo at this time (thanks Julio Leal)

Ferry Crossings which were suspended yesterday at 4PM between Playa Del Carmen and Cozumel will begin at 3PM today although the Captain of the Port opened the crossing at 1PM Ultramar is reporting that they will begin at 3PM.

Holbox Island evacuated 1600 people to the mainland and Chiquila some 16 people.

Not much more to say at this time, we will see what the back end of IDA has now as she is a Cat. 2 hurricane.

Kevin James Stolz

Travel 2 Riviera Maya

Member of The Mexico Travel Network

Cancun

Playa Del Carmen

Riviera Maya

admin at travel2rivieramaya.com

Nextel: 01-984-155-4579

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Just an update, in between the rain and the well rain out to the store to get something sweet and see what is happening around the area.

Looking at the Navy’s Track of the storm and data from the NHC it appears that Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and most of the Riviera Maya will be safe from the impact of IDA as it seems since she has not turned as yet toward the north west she will indeed pass between Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula on route to Florida as it seems right now.

Cozumel will most likely see the worst of the rain and Cancun as well will continue to get hammered as the storm continues moving north in the Caribbean and intensifying over the next 12 hours.  Sometime before midnight I expect that IDA will become a Cat. 1 Hurricane since she is out over the open Caribbean.  The Cayman Islands seem like they should be getting heavy rain as well but last report from that island doesn’t mention rain.

Here is an image from Cancun showing the flooding along Tulum Ave not far from Plaza Las Americas.

Kevin James Stolz

Travel 2 Riviera Maya

Member of The Mexico Travel Network

Cancun

Playa Del Carmen

Riviera Maya

admin at travel2rivieramaya.com

Nextel: 01-984-155-4579

Radio: 62*350794*2

Toll Free US & Canada 1-800-811-9551

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Well I figured it was about time to get an update out there, been crazy in Playa.  We have been having a week or so of Rain, Rain and more rain so throwing IDA in the mix with more rain and wind will surely make things interesting.

It has been raining off and on (mostly on) since yesterday even since a few days ago, we haven’t opened the restaurant or beach club now since a few days ago.  Most of the area from Cancun to Puerto Aventuras is experiencing some level of flooding and increase in the number of traffic accidents as well as injuries.

Mexico has issued a Hurricane Watch for the coast of Quintana Roo from Tulum (modified from before where Punta Allen was in there) to El Cuyo on the northeast corner of the Peninsula of Yucatan and Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect from Punta Allen to Cabo Catoche.  We see that IDA continues on her northerly course and we are of course waiting to see if and when she makes that jog toward the northwest to have a better idea of where she will come ashore if she does in Mexico or Cuba.  

No matter where she heads we will no doubt enjoy 48 to 72 hours more of Rain heavy to torrential most of the time with severe flooding and some wind damage.  We can expect damage to the already damaged beaches in Playa Del Carmen and Cancun but part of natures plan. 

On an odd note, Cancun’s Mayor Greg Sanchez told the public and press that they were prepared in case something happens but that there was nothing happening that it is not even a tropical storm and that there was no danger… I need some of what he is taking because he either has a crystal ball or his swami is giving him the inside tips.

Regards

Kevin James Stolz

Travel 2 Riviera Maya

Member of The Mexico Travel Network

Cancun

Playa Del Carmen

Riviera Maya

admin at travel2rivieramaya.com

Nextel: 01-984-155-4579

Radio: 62*350794*2

Toll Free US & Canada 1-800-811-9551

Toll Free Mexico 01-800-823-1077

Well the last couple of days we have had some shower activity here in the Riviera Maya area, Cancun has been clear as has Tulum to the South.  The Thunderstorm and Rain activity has been very localized to the Playa Del Carmen area, we were treated to an incredible display of cloud to ground lightning this afternoon around 1PM over the Jungle as well as over the Caribbean to the south southeast of Playa Del Carmen.  

That same pattern of afternoon and overnight thunderstorms and rain, heavy at times will continue in the area for the next couple of days.

The Mexico Govts. Meteorological office has a Severe Thunderstorm warning in effect for the entire Yucatan Peninsula for this evening and overnight as we are experiencing hot and humid conditions. 

Tropical Storm Erika is developing in the Tropical Atlantic but at this time conditions are not favorable for her to make it into the Caribbean and she should follow most models taking a turn to the north on the east side of the Dominican Republic and Cuba heading for the US Atlantic Coast.

The area has had an extremely dry summer almost no rain and we have some forest or jungle fires in the area that the national forestry firefighters are fighting on the Peninsula but now as we enter September and October these are the wettest months of the year.

Hopefully things will stay as they are and there will be nothing but beautiful weather to report.

Regards

Kevin James Stolz

Travel 2 Riviera Maya

Member of The Mexico Travel Network

Cancun

Playa Del Carmen

Riviera Maya

admin at travel2rivieramaya.com

Nextel: 01-984-155-4579

Radio: 62*350794*2

Toll Free US & Canada 1-800-811-9551

Toll Free Mexico 01-800-823-1077

Hello All

Well the Caribbean has been quiet as all of you know and the Cozumel, Cancun and Riviera Maya section is no exception. We have been experiencing very warm weather and changing winds daily as well as some evening and early morning rain showers.

Today (Friday) we had mostly cloudy conditions all day and very weird wind conditions from No wind at all then southerly winds with warm humid air, then no wind and then winds from the north northwest coming in and bringing rain and thunderstorms to the area.  We had periods of rain during the day nothing heavy at all but enough to drive our beach goers off the beach and into the restaurant all of which is the result of Tropical Wave #20 located in the Gulf of Mexico pushing down through the entire Yucatan Peninsula.

It exists the possibility because of that same tropical wave #20 Saturday all of the Yucatan Peninsula can expect partly to mostly cloudy skies with chances of heavy to intense rains during the day.  As I write this we are getting a great lightning show over Cozumel Island and thunder is rolling off the Caribbean.

Hope to update tomorrow.

Kevin James Stolz

Travel 2 Riviera Maya

Member of The Mexico Travel Network

Cancun

Playa Del Carmen

Riviera Maya

admin at travel2rivieramaya.com

Nextel: 01-984-155-4579

Radio: 62*350794*2

Toll Free US & Canada 1-800-811-9551

Toll Free Mexico 01-800-823-1077

Hot & humid, partly cloudy, slight chance of rain or thunder showers in the afternoon or evening.

No much change since Monday, we are in a trough of hot humid air and we are watching the next wave east of the Lesser Antilles moving westward.  The wave seems to have all that is needed to develop into a tropical event sometime in the next couple of days as it moves closer to the ABC islands.

We will keep watching from our post on the beach here at Bliss.

Kevin James Stolz

Travel 2 Riviera Maya

Member of The Mexico Travel Network

Cancun

Playa Del Carmen

Riviera Maya

admin at travel2rivieramaya.com

Nextel: 01-984-155-4579

Radio: 62*350794*2

Toll Free US & Canada 1-800-811-9551

Toll Free Mexico 01-800-823-1077

Hello All,

Invest 93 appears to be a fizzle for us here in the Mexican Caribbean although today has been a day filled with rain and some isolated thunderstorms.

Currently the temperature is 73° F it is raining, heavily at times, distant thunder can be heard and visibility is limited to a couple of miles.  Normally from the Beach Club here we can see Cozumel Island but today it is covered in rain.

Looks like Invest 93 is moving across the Peninsula of Yucatan toward the Gulf of Mexico where it could gain some strength and develop into the first Atlantic Tropical Event for 2009.

Monday is looking a little more promising for sunshine and hot, Hot, HOT.

Kevin James Stolz

Travel 2 Riviera Maya

Member of The Mexico Travel Network

Cancun

Playa Del Carmen

Riviera Maya

admin at travel2rivieramaya.com

Nextel: 01-984-155-4579

Radio: 62*350794*2

Toll Free US & Canada 1-800-811-9551

Toll Free Mexico 01-800-823-1077

After some overnight showers thanks to TW 7 here in the Caribbean better known as “Dave’s Blob” we currently have sunny skies with temperatures 73° F 24° C with a slight breeze off the Caribbean.  We are still watching our little tropical wave there sitting in the middle of the Caribbean waiting to see what she will do.  Yesterday we had movement to the west northwest which put her rain and thunderstorm activity heading straight toward the Yucatan Peninsula.  The Meteorological Office in Mexico has issued a Severe Storm warning for all of Quintana Roo from 21:00 HRS Friday 26^th to 21:00 HRS. Saturday 27^th.  Current images show the system south east of Cozumel Island and moving northwest at 10 MPH with sustained winds of 30 mph.

Looking at the different computer models most seem to have the system bumping into the Yucatan Peninsula and emerging into the Gulf of Mexico (didn’t have GOLF on the brain today) where if not already a tropical storm will surely pick up enough energy to become TS Ana.  Another model has it passing between Mexico and Cuba on a course towards Florida and not sure if the water temps and conditions favor further development but another 24 hours will tell.

So if you are in Mexico on the Caribbean Coast today enjoy the periods of sunshine, we will be seeing rain off and on during the day periods of heavy rain, thunderstorm activity and windy conditions.  We will be heading off to the beach in about an hour, viewing the weather from a beach bed at Bliss Beach Club and Restaurant in Playa Del Carmen.  The have WI FI so we will update from there if needed.

Kevin James Stolz

Travel 2 Riviera Maya

Member of The Mexico Travel Network

Cancun

Playa Del Carmen

Riviera Maya

admin at travel2rivieramaya.com

Nextel: 01-984-155-4579

Radio: 62*350794*2

Toll Free US & Canada 1-800-811-9551

Toll Free Mexico 01-800-823-1077

Well we used to say that all though the hurricane season here was June 1st to November 30 most of our activity or rainy season was isolated to the months of September and October.  The last few years have proven that wrong beginning in 2005 with Hurricane Emily who struck Puerto Aventuras in the middle of July and became an active and rainy season all the way through Wilma.  Over the last few years as well we have had relatively dry springs and wet summers with this year being no exception.

The past 3 days we enjoyed rain, hot temperatures and humidity with Saturday being the wettest.

Today, Monday 23 of June we are looking at a beautiful morning with temperatures currently at 70° F or 21° C and sunny skies. We have some scattered clouds still in the area and there is currently not even a light breeze.

Today we are expecting very hot temperatures with winds straight out of the east near 25kph or 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60% to 80% thanks to the flow of humid and hot air from the golf of Mexico and Caribbean.  Rain could be torrential at times in areas of the Peninsula.

Saw Gerts comment about the report on Hurricane Ivan in 2004 from the Weather Channel so I thought I would post a couple of pictures of the effects in Cancun from IVAN, I took these on Sept. 13, 2004. Obviously IVAN did not hit Cancun but his effects were felt from actual damage to the economic affects from closing down an entire tourist destination for 3 days.

Over the last couple of days the Caribbean Coast of Mexico has been affected by Tropical Wave #6 located off the coast of Mexico in the Caribbean. You knew that so here are the actual conditions and what you can expect today.

Yesterday off and on we had heavy rain, wind, and some patches of sunny skies, the areas of rain heavy at times was isolated to parts of the coast, even while for example the center of Playa Del Carmen experienced heavy rain just 10 minutes to the north skies remained cloudy with patches of sun.

This morning we wake to partly sunny skies (yes clouds continue to dominate the area) light wind coming out of the east right now.  The day is looking to offer patches of sun, heavy to torrential rain at times and winds up to 50KPH during the day throughout most of the coast as well as interior of Yucatan and Campeche.

The Mexico Government Meteorological Office has issued an advisory for the Southeast of Mexico from Chetumal Quintana Roo to Puerto Progreso for Heavy Rain to Intense rain at times with winds possible in excess of 50KPH at times as well as sustained rainfall to 89mm and electric activity in the area.  The advisory is in effect until 15:00 hours today when the advisory will be updated.

Kevin James Stolz

Travel 2 Riviera Maya

Member of The Mexico Travel Network

Cancun

Playa Del Carmen

Riviera Maya

admin at travel2rivieramaya.com

Nextel: 01-984-155-4579

Radio: 62*350794*2

Toll Free US & Canada 1-800-811-9551

Toll Free Mexico 01-800-823-1077

From this quick capture of satelite imagery at around 2AM CST you can see the coast of Quintana Roo from around Tulum north to Holbox Island including El Cuyo and Rio Lagartos got slammed with torrential rain, winds of 45 kilometers per hour and an incredible lightning storm from around 2AM to 3AM.

Sunrise brought us blue skies and an incredible 64°F 18°C and no wind with low humidity.  We are looking at a beautiful day ahead, the system that brought us torrential rain overnight is now over the western tip of Cuba and we have a small band of storm activity to the south of Tulum which might affect us for a short period later in the day.  But overall a great day for a wedding on the Beach.

Kevin James Stolz

Travel 2 Riviera Maya

Member of The Mexico Travel Network

Cancun

Playa Del Carmen

Riviera Maya

admin at travel2rivieramaya.com

Nextel: 01-984-155-4579

Radio: 62*350794*2

Toll Free US & Canada 1-800-811-9551

Toll Free Mexico 01-800-823-1077

Hello all and welcome to the Cancun / Riviera Maya 2009 Tropical Season J

Looks like this year could get off to an early start with that weak low pressure off the coast of Puerto Rico so I thought I would pop in and say hello and comment that we are here ready to report on the conditions.

Unfortunately in the zone right now from Cancun to the Riviera Maya and Tulum is at the same occupancy level as we were after Wilma struck in 2005 because of the Influenza scare.  So please feel free to return to vacation in the areas of Mexico since we don’t have any Flu going on here.

Saludos from Playa Del Carmen

Kevin James Stolz

Travel 2 Riviera Maya

Member of The Mexico Travel Network

Cancun

Playa Del Carmen

Riviera Maya

admin at travel2rivieramaya.com

Nextel: 01-984-155-4579

Radio: 62*350794*2

Toll Free US & Canada 1-800-811-9551

Toll Free Mexico 01-800-823-1077