Photo: Ernesto J. Torres
The Rain in Puerto, Autumn 2024
IT’S SPRING. IT’S HOT, DAY AND NIGHT. IF YOU DON’T HAVE air conditioning, you wish you could afford it. You may have to go the hospital for heat stroke. The rainy season doesn’t begin until June and is very, very variable. There may be weeks without rain. On the other hand, tropical storms and hurricanes that seem to be headed directly to Puerto, decide at the last minute to hit the coast further east or west. This is most unfortunate for people living in Zipolite and Pochutla or Acapulco. We should not celebrate our good luck.
We did get a taste of Hurricane John on the night of September 21, before it hit land in Guerrero on September 22. After days of sunshine we were hit by torrential rain and strong winds. The new highway to Oaxaca was closed in both directions. Then things got weird. September 22 was overcast during the day with sporadic 5-minute rainfalls. Basically, we had 15 days with very little sunshine, but intermittent heavy showers. Some days no rain at all.
Then things got weird. September 22 was overcast during the day with sporadic 5-minute rainfalls. Basically, we had 15 days with very little sunshine, but intermittent heavy showers. Some days no rain at all.
We were prepared for a major storm. On Monday, September 23, MiniSuper 69 on Rinconada announced it was closing on Tuesday in anticipation of the rain from Hurricane John. We were hit with a torrential rain in the afternoon, measuring 3.7” in Rinconada. The schools were closed for the rest of the week. The municipios were preparing shelters. The dog shelter Huellitas de Acero was completely flooded, and a puppy was lost in a rushing river created by the flood. Electricity was out for a few hours and TelCel connected to WhatsApp but not to the internet.
Big surprise on Tuesday, with just a light rain in Bacocho. But Wednesday morning brought a very heavy rain and a light rain in the evening. Thursday was sunshine until it rained for less than an hour in the afternoon.
Friday, September 27, we had heavy rain in the morning, no wind. TelMex and TelCel were out of operation for a few hours. Sinkholes closed transit on Highway 200 near Río Grande, but the highway to Oaxaca was functioning with few delays. And then it all ended until Tuesday, October 1, when we got torrential rain at 5:30 p.m. that lasted for 45 minutes. Then more rain at 8:30, this time with wind and lightning. On October 3, Bacocho got a heavy rain for 30 minutes in early evening, following a day of low-hanging rain clouds.
And then it all ended until Tuesday, October 1, when we got torrential rain at 5:30 p.m. that lasted for 45 minutes. Then more rain at 8:30, this time with wind and lightning. On October 3, Bacocho got a heavy rain for 30 minutes in early evening, following a day of low-hanging rain clouds.
There was a heavy rain from 10:25 p.m. to 11:10 p.m. on October 5. And that was the end of it, after 15 days. It did rain again in October, one heavy rain on October 20, and a downpour in Bacocho on October 31 measuring 3.45” in Rinconada. But in between there was enough sunshine to put sealant onto damaged roofs and walls.
