Video | A snowstorm in the height of summer, where did this happen?

2024-05-27 2024-05-27T09:51:01Z

ArabiaWeather - A cold storm covered a Mexican city with a thick layer of ice in the midst of an intense heat wave, surprising the local residents, and hailstones accumulated until they reached several feet in some areas, turning the streets into glaciers.

The storm caused widespread damage to homes, cut off roads and toppled trees, and residents were seen after the storm shoveling snow and mud in amazement at this unusual weather phenomenon.

More footage of flooding after heavy rain and hailstorm yesterday in Puebla, #Mexico
Via @DisasterTrackHQ
▪︎ May 24, 2024 ▪︎ #Mexico #PUEBLA
pic.twitter.com/swdrs4rrqb

- World_Weather (@Arab_Storms) May 25, 2024

Heat wave in Mexico?

This storm comes in light of the third heat wave hitting Mexico, with temperatures expected to exceed 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius) in nine states nationwide.

The impact of climate change in Mexico

Mexico City, with a population of more than 10 million, has broken temperature records three times so far this summer season, amid an ongoing drought that is testing the country's water reservoirs and power grid.

In the colonial city of Puebla, which is about 80 kilometers from the capital, an unusual hailstorm and rain were recorded this week, causing widespread destruction, flooding, falling trees, and wind gusts reaching speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour, according to local authorities.

“Due to the continuation of the third heat wave of the season over the national territory, maximum temperatures are expected to exceed 45 degrees Celsius in Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Guerrero, Northern Hidalgo, Jalisco and Michoacan,” the National Water Authority (Conagua) predicted.

This week, researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) warned that over the next 10 to 15 days, “the country will experience the highest temperatures recorded in history,” which will worsen pollutant levels in areas affected by the presence of ozone.

The heat further exacerbates the effects of drought, which already affects more than 70% of the country to varying degrees, according to data from the National Water Authority (CONAGUA). Nearly a third of the country suffers from severe drought, which can be fatal.