Mexico City Weather: Heavy rain triggers yellow alert, plus a cultural recommendation for these days

Have you seen the sky? If you're in Mexico City, you've probably noticed things have taken a serious turn this afternoon. A yellow alert has just been activated due to a forecast of heavy rain for several boroughs. It's no surprise, really – the air is thick, and those grey clouds we saw this morning were a fair warning. I was in La Roma when suddenly this downpour started, looking like it was going to wash everything away. But that's just how it goes here, right? You never know when you'll have to make a run for it and take shelter in a café or under the arches in the Centro Histórico.

To give you an idea, the temperature is hovering around 21 degrees as a maximum, but with the rain, the real-feel temperature drops suddenly. The advice is the usual but it never hurts to repeat it: if you don't need to, it's best to leave the car at home; thoroughfares like Periférico, Insurgentes and Viaducto are getting tricky. If you're walking, don't get complacent, because a puddle can turn into a stream in five minutes. To be honest, I'd rather watch it from my window with a coffee and a good book.

And speaking of books, with this kind of weather that's perfect for staying in, there's no better plan than grabbing a read that hooks you in. Monstrilio: Novela / a Novel by Gerardo Sámano Córdova is doing the rounds at the moment. If you haven't come across it, it's one of those stories that starts with grief and gets right under your skin, much like this humidity we're feeling. Perfect for a rainy afternoon when you want something that takes you out of the everyday. It's no coincidence everyone's talking about it – the narrative has a strength that stays with you even after you've closed the book.

And if reading isn't your thing, and you prefer listening to music, let me tell you there's a gem that fits this atmosphere perfectly. I'm talking about Vamos a darnos tiempo (En vivo desde el Lunario, Ciudad de México, 2010). This bootleg, this live recording that circulates among those in the know, has a special energy. Listening to that version, with the echo of Lunario and the raw vocals, transports you back to that time and sets just the right mood for a rainy night. The city sounds different when there's a storm raging outside and you're inside treating yourself to Vamos a darnos tiempo.

The forecast says this mix of partly cloudy skies and a chance of rain will continue for the rest of the day. So, it's best to have a Plan B ready. If you're staying home, here are some ideas to make the most of this rainy day in the capital:

• Set up your reading corner: Monstrilio is a safe bet, but people are also getting into Primero estaba el mar by Tomás González. With its prose and narrative force, it makes you feel the immensity even from an apartment in Colonia Nápoles.
• Catch up on independent film: Don't miss Safari accidental, a film that's been creating a buzz in the alternative circuit. Its rhythm and that blend of reality and fiction will keep you glued to the screen as it thunders outside.
• If you do brave going out, bring a proper umbrella (the disposable ones won't stand up to this wind) and check official channels to know when it will ease up.

The truth is, in this city, you learn to live with these changes. One day it dawns sunny, and before you know it, you're looking for shelter. But we also learn to enjoy it. Whether it's with a novel like Monstrilio that tears you apart, with that live track that gives you a moment of calm, or just watching the water run down the footpath, the key is to make room for the rain. So there you have it, if you're going to darnos tiempo, do it calmly and with a good plan. Watch out for the water, don't risk crossing flooded avenues, and above all, enjoy this breather the city gives us amidst all the chaos.