In the mountains of Durango, authorities reported snowfall starting Saturday morning, particularly in about five communities in the higher elevations of Guanaceví, where the temperature reached three degrees below zero Celsius.
The reports came from the Meteorology and Hydrology Department of the National Water Commission (Conagua), the state Civil Protection agency, and local residents who began posting videos of the snowfall early in the morning, from Cedros to Ciénega de la Vaca, passing through La Rosilla.
The weather conditions are expected to continue throughout the day in the area, and authorities anticipate snow accumulations exceeding 50 centimeters across the region. In response, the Guanaceví Municipal Public Security Directorate and the State Public Security Secretariat’s Natural Disaster Response Operation are patrolling the mountainous area to provide support to families in the higher elevations of the municipality.
According to Víctor Hugo Randeles, head of the Meteorology and Hydrology Department of the National Water Commission (Conagua) in Durango, snow is forecast for at least five mountain municipalities, some more than others, but as of midday, only Guanaceví was reporting these conditions. The municipalities with a snow forecast, in addition to Guanaceví, are Tepehuanes, Santiago Papasquiaro, Topia, and San Dimas.
This third winter storm has also put the city of Durango on alert, where the city’s two parks and the zoo were closed early Saturday morning due to expected winds of up to 100 kilometers per hour. Motorists have been asked to avoid parking in wooded areas, whether avenues or streets, this Saturday and Sunday because strong winds could knock down branches, trees, or structures, posing a danger and causing accidents.
Meanwhile, the Chihuahua State Civil Protection Coordination (CEPC) reported snowfall in three municipalities of the Sierra Tarahumara region during the early hours.
Snowfall was reported in the town of El Vergel, in the municipality of Balleza, as well as on the Puerto Los Lobos highway and in Largo Maderal, in the municipality of Madera. Similar precipitation was also reported in the Basaseachi area, in the municipality of Ocampo.
These conditions have created a very cold environment in the mountainous region, with snow accumulation in the higher elevations.
Regarding rainfall, accumulations of 16.2 millimeters (mm) were reported in Madera and 4.2 mm in El Vergel.
In Jalisco, cold front number 30 will cause rain and strong winds.
Strong winds are expected starting this afternoon in Jalisco as a result of cold front number 30, warned the Jalisco State Civil Protection and Fire Department (UEPCBJ).
The agency detailed that rain and winds of up to 80 kilometers per hour are expected, especially in the northern part of the state and the Nevado de Colima volcano, and cannot be ruled out in mountainous regions.
It noted that the wind intensity is expected to decrease around midnight, but before then it could cause trees, sheet metal roofs, signs, and branches to fall.
The winds could also cause power and telephone outages due to downed cables or poles; dust storms or clouds of dust may form in open areas, so it recommended securing or storing loose objects in patios, rooftops, and balconies, while on the street, avoiding walking near buildings under construction, old trees, poles, or walls in poor condition.
Source: jornada
