Mexico is experiencing its first heatwave of the season, which began on Sunday, April 14. On that day, Mexico City set a new record with a high of 32.9°C, surpassing the previous 32°C record from 1998.
The heatwave is due to anticyclonic conditions that have suppressed cloud formation, causing temperatures to rise significantly. These conditions persisted last week, with temperatures reaching 35-45°C across the country.
However, a cold front moved southwards on Sunday night into Monday, causing temperatures to drop below average and bringing wet and windy weather.
This cold front is expected to develop a prefrontal trough, leading to heavy rain and thunderstorms, particularly in the southeastern regions. This could result in lightning, hailstorms, and potentially tornadoes and whirlwinds.
In the northeastern parts of Mexico, the frontal boundary will bring strong winds and high waves, increasing the risk of localized flooding and landslides.
Meanwhile, southern China is dealing with severe flooding due to torrential rain. Guangdong province has faced significant flooding risks, with concerns of a one-in-50-year flood. Heavy rain on Saturday led to 12 hours of continuous downpours, prompting flood warnings across the Beijiang basin.
By Sunday morning, many towns and buildings were already submerged, and infrastructure damage, including telecommunication and power outages, had been reported. The risk of flooding remains high as more heavy rain is forecast.
In Europe, temperatures are expected to be 7-10°C below the seasonal norm this week in Germany, Italy, France, and the Baltic states. However, temperatures are predicted to return to average or slightly above average by the end of the week and into the weekend.