Mexico confronts Sahara dust and intense rains from tropical wave 13

A dense Saharan dust plume entered northern Mexico on 28‑29 June, bringing reduced air quality to states including Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Veracruz, Tabasco and Coahuila. Civil‑Protection authorities warned vulnerable groups – children, elders and people with respiratory conditions – to stay indoors, keep windows closed and use masks. The dust also reached the Yucatán Peninsula, with light residues reported in Quintana Roo, Yucatán and Campeche, while the Dominican Republic reported the plume moving away after a week of presence.

Simultaneously, the National Meteorological Service tracked tropical wave 13 moving westward off the Pacific coast. The system is expected to trigger strong to very strong rain showers, hail and gusty winds across a wide swath of Mexico, from Guerrero and Jalisco in the west to the central states of México, Hidalgo and Puebla, and northward to Sinaloa, Chihuahua and Coahuila. Forecasts call for rainfall totals up to 150 mm in some areas, raising the risk of flash flooding, river rises, landslides and localized power outages. A dry line on the northern border may produce wind gusts exceeding 45 km/h. Authorities advised the public to avoid low‑lying areas, secure outdoor objects and stay informed of local alerts.