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Weekend Sees Temperatures Soar After Weeks Of Chillier Climates
Cancun and the rest of Quintana Roo can expect hotter temperatures in the coming weeks, after a scorching weekend that saw weather warnings for the state. Visitors to the region should be extremely careful with their sun exposure during these times.
Although Quintana Roo has been seeing milder temperatures over the past few weeks, a heat wave has been striking the country this weekend with warnings of up to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit).
Although Cancun itself didn’t appear to get as high as the mid-forties, the temperature was considerably hotter than in previous weeks. As crowds build into the approaching Easter break, emergency service are expected to be on high-alert for any instances of sun-stroke or severe dehydration.
With so many people in the area, and many of them drinking on all-inclusive packages, it’s a worry that there may be some problems, especially if the temperatures continue to soar. All along the coast of the Mexican Riviera, the temperatures have climbed, with Merida in Yucatan seeing as high as 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit).
Over 3 million visitors are anticipated to be passing through Cancun over the Easter period, and the Government is working to ensure the holiday goes smoothly on a number of fronts.
From a security standpoint, it’s hoped that organized crime will not rear its head in the vicinity of any of the tourists. Recent months have seen multiple incidents involving local gang violence in the middle of popular tourist areas. Two sets of assassinations took place at the Xcaret Hotel and a popular Tulum restaurant, four bodies were found in Playa del Carmen just days after a British ex-pat was murdered, and last year saw two tourists killed in the cross-fire between rival gangs.
The problems have spurred international headlines questioning the safety of Cancun and Quintana Roo, leading to the government developing multiple new initiatives. The Tourist Security Battalion was installed in November and has now been bolstered by reinforced numbers. The local police are now linked in with hotel and restaurant security systems. Finally, regular patrols are taking place on the beaches and in popular zones to help deescalate any potential violence that may occur.
On a general safety level, the government will be stressing to all local businesses to ensure all protocols are being followed. Diving boats recently received some bad press after two Americans were killed when another company’s boat sailed through a no-pass zone, striking them both in the head. Playa del Carmen also saw a tragic gas explosion at a local restaurant that killed three people.
Lifeguards will be on full alert, especially with the huge crowds on the beaches. At least two swimmers have died in the past month after being dragged out to sea or drowned while caught in a current. Tourists should be aware of the flag system which designates how dangerous the water is at that moment, but these signals are often ignored leading to catastrophe on multiple occasions.
Sargassum continues to plague the beaches of Quintana Roo. Dealing with the seaweed will persist as a priority for many years to come, and with temperatures soaring, it’s likely that the macroalgae deposits will increase further. The Navy is currently installing barriers at strategic points around the state, but it will still be some time before they are all in place. Until then, hotels and other organizations will be leading clean-up efforts in the most popular areas. Unfortunately, many beaches have been neglected and tonnes of the sargassum are being left to sit on the usually pristine sand of the Mexican Caribbean.
Anyone hoping to travel to Cancun in the near future should continue to check on all the situations listed above and make plans to cope with the massive amounts of tourists in the vicinity. Preparing well ahead is the best way to ensure there is no disappointment during the vacation.
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