Mexico City Weather: Heavy Rain Activates Yellow Alert and a Cultural Recommendation for These Days
Have you seen the sky? If you're in Mexico City, you've probably noticed the afternoon has turned serious. A yellow alert has just been activated due to a forecast of heavy rain for several boroughs. It's no wonder, because the air is thick and those grey clouds we've seen since morning were giving us fair warning. I was over in Roma and suddenly a downpour started that looked like it would wash everything away, but that's just how it goes here, isn't it? You never know when you'll have to make a run for shelter in a café or under the arches in the Centro Histórico.
To give you an idea, the thermometer is hovering around 21 degrees at its peak, but with the rain, the real feel drops sharply. The advice is the usual, but it's worth repeating: if you don't need to, it's best to leave the car behind; roads like Periférico, Insurgentes and Viaducto are getting tricky. If you're on foot, don't be fooled, because in five minutes a puddle can turn into a stream. Honestly, I'd rather watch it from my window, with a coffee in hand and a good book.
And speaking of books, with this weather that invites you to stay in, there's no better plan than getting stuck into a gripping read. Everyone's talking about Monstrilio: Novela / a Novel by Gerardo Sámano Córdova right now. If you haven't seen it, it's one of those stories that starts with grief and gets right under your skin, just like this dampness we're feeling. Perfect for a rainy afternoon when you want something that takes you out of the everyday. It's no wonder it's on everyone's lips, because the narrative has a strength that stays with you long after you close the book.
And if reading isn't your thing, but listening to music is, 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). That bootleg, that live recording circulating among those in the know about good music, has a special energy. Listening to that version, with the echo of the 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 chance of rain will continue for the rest of the day. So, it's wise to have a plan B ready. If you're staying home, here are a few ideas to make the most of this rainy day in the capital:
- Set up your reading nook: Monstrilio is a safe bet, but people are also raving about Primero estaba el mar by Tomás González, whose prose and narrative strength make you feel the vastness even from an apartment in la Nápoles.
- Catch up on independent cinema: Don't miss Safari accidental, a film that's been creating quite a buzz in the alternative circuit. Its pace and that blend of reality and fiction will keep you glued to the screen while thunder rumbles outside.
- If you do brave going out, bring a proper umbrella (the disposable ones won't hold up against this wind) and check official channels to know when it might clear up.
The truth is, in this city you learn to live with these changes. One day dawns sunny and the next moment you're looking for shelter. But we also learn to enjoy it. Whether it's with a novel like Monstrilio that rips you apart, with that live track that gives you a moment of calm, or simply watching the water run down the pavement, the key is to make room for the rain. So there you have it, if you're going to give yourself time, do it calmly and with a good plan. Mind the water, don't risk crossing avenues with currents, and above all, enjoy this respite the city gives us amidst all the chaos.