Mexico City Weather: Heavy rains trigger 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 rains for several boroughs. It's no wonder, the air feels thick and those grey clouds we saw this morning were already giving us a heads-up. I was in Roma and suddenly a downpour started that looked like it would wash everything away, but that's just how it is, right? You never know when you'll have to dash for cover in a café or under the arches in the Centro.
To give you an idea, the temperature is hovering around 21 degrees Celsius at its highest, but with the rain, the feels-like temperature drops sharply. The advice is the same as always but it's worth repeating: if you don't need to, it's best to leave the car at home; roads like Periférico, Insurgentes and Viaducto are getting tricky. If you're on foot, don't get too comfortable, because in five minutes a puddle can turn into a stream. Honestly, I prefer watching it from my window, coffee in hand, with a good book.
Speaking of books, with this kind of weather that makes you want to stay in, there's no better plan than getting stuck into a gripping read. Monstrilio: Novela / a Novel by Gerardo Sámano Córdova is making the rounds right now. If you haven't seen it, it's one of those stories that starts with grief and gets under your skin, just like this humidity we're feeling. Perfect for a rainy afternoon when you want something that takes you out of the ordinary. It's no wonder everyone's talking about it; the narrative packs a punch that stays with you even 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 the bill perfectly for this atmosphere. 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 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 era and sets the perfect mood for a rainy night. The city sounds different when a storm is 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 wise to have a Plan B on hand. 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 buzzing about Primero estaba el mar by Tomás González. With its prose and narrative power, it makes you feel the vastness even from an apartment in Nápoles.
- Catch up on independent cinema: Don't miss Safari accidental, a film that's been creating a buzz in the alternative circuit. Its pacing and blend of reality and fiction will keep you glued to the screen while thunder rolls outside.
- If you do brave going out, bring a sturdy umbrella (the disposable ones won't hold up to this wind) and check official channels to know when it might let up.
Honestly, in this city, you learn to live with these shifts. It can be sunny one moment and you're looking for shelter the next. But we also learn to enjoy it. Whether it's with a novel like Monstrilio that tugs at your heartstrings, with that live track that gifts you a moment of calm, or simply watching the water run down the pavement, the point is to make room for the rain. So there you have it, if you're going to give yourself some time, do it calmly and with a good plan. Stay safe from the water, don't risk crossing flooded streets, and above all, enjoy this breather the city gives us amidst all the chaos.