Mexico Offers Something for Everyone

PHOTO: Puerto Vallarta combines art, culture and food with sun and fun.

travelpulse.com

BY: CLAUDETTE COVEY

Mexico offers an astounding number of vacation options, with each region boasting a unique set of tourist attractions. Visitors can take in the pristine beaches of Cancun and Riviera Maya, visit ancient Maya ruins or travel to Acapulco, a city known for its legendary nightlife and La Quebrada cliff divers who leap from heights of 148 feet into the water.

Travelers can also choose to visit Huatulco’s nine gorgeous bays, with 36 beaches, and inlets and coves, or take in the myriad festivities of Carnival in Mazatlan. There’s also Puerto Vallarta, which offers exquisite dining and a unique blend of city and beach attractions.

Following is a snapshot of 10 Mexican destinations, which feature a wide-ranging appeal for an eclectic array of travelers.

1. Acapulco
In 2012 the state of Guerrero launched the Sun Triangle initiative, which promotes the state’s three top tourism destinations: Acapulco, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo and Taxco.

For its part, Acapulco is undergoing a major tourism renaissance, thanks to citywide urban renewal and private development investment. For starters, the corridor from the airport into Acapulco has been transformed into a polished, landscaped boulevard.

Comprising part of the Playa Revolcadero and a swath of the adjacent Puerto Marques, Diamante is one of Latin America’s most ambitious lifestyle projects and serves as the heart of modern Acapulco. This area sports Acapulco’s finest golf courses (four), luxury condos and resorts, and La Isla Shopping Village. It also includes Mexico’s premier performing arts venue, the Forum Mundo Imperial, which features live performances throughout the year.

In tandem with the Diamante development, infrastructure improvements are underway, including a new Acabus system that will run from the Traditional Zone to the Diamante area. A Macrotunel project is creating a roadway through the mountain that separates Acapulco Bay from the Diamante area.

A new advisory council has been charged with protecting, rehabilitating and revitalizing Traditional Acapulco. The council has proposed initiatives ranging from a marine museum, road and sidewalk improvements and new hotel developments. The cruise ship terminal has already been remodeled.

2. Cancun
Cancun is probably best known for its 14 miles of immaculate beaches. The destination, however, features a rich Mayan history and plenty of activities both in and out of the water. Although Cancun’s history is ancient, the city itself is relatively new, dating back to 1967 when the Mexican government began developing the area as a tourism destination.

PHOTO: Cancun is best known for its 14 miles of beaches.

Here, travelers can snorkel in an underwater museum, swim with whale sharks and climb Coba’s Nohoch Muul Pyramid, the tallest in the Yucatan Peninsula. Coba is not the only Maya site in the mix. Travelers can also take excursions to Tulum or Chichen Itza as well. They can also visit picturesque Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, which are short ferry rides away.

There are plenty of beach-based activities as well: swimming, snorkeling, diving, sailing, fishing, water-skiing and parasailing. Travelers will also find plenty of top-notch golf courses and excellent shopping options.

Cancun is home to hundreds of varieties of protected flora and fauna. The wildlife refuge Isla Contoy harbors 114 species of protected birds and marine and land animal life. Travelers can also visit the Cancun Underwater museum, which features 500 life-size sculptures in the waters surrounding Cancun and Isla Mujeres. At the eco-parks Xcaret, Xel-há, Xplora, and Selvática, they can spend the day swimming through underwater caves or with dolphins.

3. Huatulco
Set in the state of Oaxaca at the edge of the Sierra Madre Mountains, Huatulco stretches along 20 miles of Mexico’s Pacific coastline between the Coyula and Copalita rivers.

Fonatur, the government tourism development agency, targeted the area for resort development in 1980. By 1988 the Bahias de Huatulco (Bays of Huatulco National Park) was designated as a protected reserve. Today, it is home to a wide array of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, discos and golf courses.

The centerpiece of Huatulco’s appeal is the area’s nine bays, comprising 36 beaches, and inlets and coves. A three-hour boat ride, which can be arranged by local operators, will introduce travelers to the area’s beaches, and flora and fauna.

Huatulco’s placid bays are a perfect setting for an array of watersports, including swimming, snorkeling, jetskiing, windsurfing, sailing, diving and snorkeling. Tangolunda and Santa Cruz boast the best watersports facilities of the nine bays.

Travelers may want to consider taking an excursion to the verdant hillside town of Puerto Escondido, located about 68 miles up the coast from Huatulco. The destination has also earned a reputation for world-class surfing due to the formidable waves found at Zicatela Beach.

4. Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo
Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are often visited in the same trip but offer travelers decidedly different experiences.

Ixtapa boasts high-rise hotels, all-inclusive resorts, air-conditioned restaurants and upscale shopping options. For its part, Zihuatanejo is more low key, with meandering streets replete with galleries and folk art shops, boutique hotels and palapa-style restaurants.

Conceived and developed by Fonatur, Ixtapa was born in the 1970s, and features an ecology-minded master plan that requires half the land in the development be kept as ecological reserve. The destination has matured nicely, with the town appointed in a tropical canopy of verdant tropical foliage. A complex of handicraft stalls, boutiques, designer stores, bars, coffee shops and restaurants run parallel to the Hotel Zone. Taxis are rarely needed to access attractions.

For its part, Zihuatanejo has evolved from a quiet fishing village to a vacation destination. It comprises three side-by-side coves linked by a road that rises over hills and cliffs into the Pacific. The stone-paved streets of

Zihuatanejo’s Paseo del Pescador take visitors past the panga fishing fleet, public art displays and small boutiques and cafés and bars.

Active vacationers can stay busy with watersports, golf, deep sea fishing and boat excursions. The destination also offers eco-adventures and educational tours.

Taxco is an authentic 16th-century Spanish mining town, featuring a hillside maze of narrow cobblestoned streets and red-roofed residences. At every turn, travelers will find stores that sell its locally produced silver jewelry.

The town’ showpiece is the Santa Prisca church, set against the dramatic Sierra Madre Mountains. The surrounding area includes nature parks, waterfalls, caves 16th-century haciendas and rural communities. Travelers here will find a range of eco-adventure activities.

5. Los Cabos
Los Cabos comprises three distinct areas: San José del Cabo, Cabo San Lucas and the 20-mile Corridor, or highway, connecting them.

PHOTO: Unspoiled beaches are a highlight of the Los Cabos Corridor.

On Sept. 14, Hurricane Odile made landfall at the destination, causing serious devastation. Rebuilding efforts, however, have been swift and effective, with many hotels already opened again, along with local businesses, attractions and golf courses. Air service has also been restored to the region.

San Jose del Cabo retains the look and ambiance of a traditional Mexican town, with cobblestone streets, intimate restaurants and boutiques. Cabo San Lucas, meanwhile, features a livelier vibe, with a diverse array of bars and the Luxury Avenue Mall centered around the marina.

Many of the destination’s luxury resorts and championship golf courses are located along the Corridor, which is also home to some of the area’s best beaches for watersports.

Los Cabos is also firmly entrenched as a golf destination, offering courses designed by such notables as Norman and Weiskopf, which can be found along the 25-mile Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo. Big game fishing is another major attraction here, and Cabo San Lucas’ marina has 380 slips accommodating vessels up to 200 feet. Other activities include scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking quiet-riding ATVs, cycling and horseback riding.

6. Manzanillo
Mazatlan serves as a popular weekend getaway for Guadalajara residents and also attracts its fare share of Americans and Canadians. In 1996 its downtown area was restored. More recent renovations include a harbor-side esplanade and a “dancing fountain” robotic water show.

Just a few miles up the coastline is the destination’s resort zone. Bahia Manzanillo to the south carries most of the development, while Bahia San Diego, farther up the coast, is largely undeveloped.

Known as the Sailfish Capital of the World, Manzanillo’s waters are filled with marlin and sailfish, as well as a variety of other marine life. Manzanillo hosts annual fishing tournaments that attract sports fisherman from around the globe. But fishing is not its only draw. Visitors to Cuyutlán beach can snorkel, scuba dive and surf. The destination also has two world-class golf courses.

For scenic touring outside Manzanillo, travelers can head north along the Costalegre and Highway 200, into the neighboring state of Jalisco. The 153-mile highway runs between Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta, and takes in the sites of fruit plantations, deserted beaches and tranquil fishing villages.

Nature enthusiasts can take advantage of Costalegre’s cliff-top trails, which shelter beautiful, isolated beaches. Stringent gentrification campaigns have kept 150 miles of shoreline between Manzanillo, Colima and Puerto Vallarta virtually untouched. The area also offers hiking, horseback riding, tennis, golf and watersports options.

7. Mazatlan
This colonial city on the beach offers guests equal amounts of cultural and outdoor tourism options. The city is the only beach resort in Mexico with a downtown filled with beautifully restored 19th-century buildings. No trip to Mazatlan would be complete without a walk along the 11-mile Malecon, which extends from the beachfront resort district to Old Mazatlan.

The Zona Dorada (Golden Zone) was created in the 1960s and is the site of many major hotels, shops, bars and restaurants, along with beautiful beaches. Old Mazatlan or the Centro Historico (Historic Center), is where life hearkens back to another time, as evidenced in the area’s markets, cafés, churches, plazas and traditional neighborhoods. A third area, Nuevo Mazatlan, is where many newer major resorts are found, as well a marina and two new golf courses.

The destination is renowned as one of Mexico’s best fishing venues, with its waters featuring 800 species of fish. Travelers can also explore its jungle-lined canals, kayak and surf.

Mazatlan also plays host to huge numbers of revelers who come to the destination for Carnival in last week of February or the beginning of March.

8. Puerto Vallarta
Last year, the Mexico Tourism Board announced a $10 million advertising campaign to jointly promote Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit. The two destinations, however, are also still promoted individually as well.

Nestled on the shores of the Bay of Banderas, Puerto Vallarta is divided by the Cuale River into north and south.

On the southern end is the charming Romantic Zone and the Playa los Muertos, which draws legions of beach enthusiasts. Further south are seaside villages of Boca de Tomatlan and Mismaloya, where “The Night of the Iguana” was filmed. North of the river is the Old Town with its Plaza de Armas (main square) and Los Arcos amphitheater, featuring daily performances.

The city’s venerable Malecon with is whimsical bronze sculptures runs from the Romantic Zone to the start of the Hotel Zone. Further north, travelers will find the Hotel Zone and marina, the site of many resorts and restaurants.

Virtually every imaginable watersport is available along Puerto Vallarta’s miles of shoreline, including whale watching, surfing, deep-sea fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving and sailing.

On the weekends, the city’s main square and Malecon come alive with artists displaying their works, food stands and strolling tourists and locals. Puerto Vallarta also offers great shopping from local artists and craft fairs. In fact, the city boasts one of the most dynamic art scenes in Mexico.

9. Riviera Maya
The Riviera Maya comprises an 86-mile corridor, located in the northeast coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo. The destination starts in the village of Puerto Morelos, located about 22 miles south of Cancun, and extends south to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere through the town of Punta Allen.

It includes the resort towns of Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, Akumal and Tulum.

More than 2,000 years ago, the Maya built cities, which are still evidenced today in three archaeological sites: Cobá, Muyil and Tulum. Tulum is the most picturesque, as it’s the only Mayan city built seaside.

The Playa del Carmen region boasts excellent venues for zip-lining, scuba and snorkeling, fishing and ATV tours. Other highlights include exploring sinkholes (called cenotes); visiting the theme parks of Xplor, Hidden Worlds and Aventuras Mayas and Xcaret.

Golfers will find a range of championship golf courses in the Riviera Maya, many of which are carved out of jungle, mangroves and beaches and are available for year-round play.

10. Riviera Nayarit

Set between the Pacific Ocean and the Western Sierra Madre Mountains, Riviera Nayarit spans the Pacific coastline for nearly 200 miles, with its southern border just 10 minutes north of the Puerto Vallarta International Airport.

Areas include Sayulita, a popular beach village on the coast; Punta Mita, which boasts a portfolio of resorts of all types, as well as two Jack Nicklaus golf courses; San Blas, a quiet town known for it’s Old-World charm; Nuevo Vallarta, with its myriad all-inclusive resorts; and Litibu, a relatively new resort area that includes a new Greg Norman golf course.

All told, Riviera Nayarit features six golf courses to choose from. The destination also offers adventurous travelers such activities as ATV excursions and canopy zip-lining tours, horse-riding on the beach, 4x4 off-road excursions and the baby sea turtle release, just to name a few.

The region also offers its fair share of pristine beaches and watersports options. Travelers can swim with dolphins, scuba diver, surf and whale watch.

Alaska allows flight changes to more Mexico resorts due to hurricane

Posted by Kristin Jackson

blogs.seattletimes.com

Damage on a Los Cabos beach from Hurricane Odile as seen on Monday.  (Oscar Ramirez photo / EPA)

Alaska Airlines, one of the major carriers to the Mexican resort of Los Cabos from Seattle and California cities,  has extended the no-penalty period for canceling or changing flights through Sept. 19 because of the hurricane that has devastated the area. It’s also dropped the change/cancellation fess for other western Mexico resort cities that will be affected by the massive Hurricane Odile.

On Monday afternoon, Alaska  extended the no-penalty flight-change policy to other western Mexican cities that face heavy rain.  Alaska spokeswoman Halley Knigge said they include Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Manzanillo and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. The Los Cabos airport remained closed Monday, and Alaska has canceled all flights to/from Los Cabos on Tuesday.  Get details at Alaska’s website.

Damage to Los Cabos, a major Mexican tourist resort at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, includes widespread power outages, blown-out windows and roofs, and flooding after torrential rains. Alaska canceled all of its 10 flights Monday (and six flights on Sunday in advance of the hurricane which struck Sunday night). Eight flights also were canceled for Tuesday; it’s unclear when the airport will reopen.

The hurricane churned northward Monday up the Baja California peninsula on Monday, but its effects also are stretching out onto the west coast of Mexico (and resorts there)  and it’s expected to bring torrential rain later this week to Arizona.

Visitors due to travel soon to hard-hit Los Cabos should check directly with airlines and hotels about cancellations and refunds. As of Monday, hotels  and the regional government still were assessing damage, and hotel cancellation policies were not yet set. But visitors due to travel in the coming weeks to Los Cabos should double-check on hotel damage, repairs and possible closure of amenities such as hotel pools or restaurants.

A state of natural disaster has been declared in Baja California Sur (the southern part of the peninsula), according to La Tribune de Los Cabos, a local newspaper, and people were being urged to stay inside Monday because of the danger of downed power lines and hurricane debris that littered streets.

Raimundo Diaz Cruz (left) and his wife Graciela Castillo salvage wood beans and bricks Monday to rebuild their house after it was destroyed by Hurricane Odile in Los Cabos. (Victor R. Caivano /AP photo)

Tourists in Los Cabos spent a long, fearful night Sunday in hotel ballrooms and hallways, or in the bathrooms of their hotel rooms, to be safely away from windows which could and did shatter during the hurricane. Damage was still being assessed in local fishing villages and other communities.

Thousands of tourists, many of them American, were in Los Cabos when the hurricane struck. Alaska said it will “seek to accommodate” its passengers who want to get home as soon as possible.

Outdoor Safety in Mexico

 nc.cdc.gov

If your travel plans in Mexico include outdoor activities, take these steps to stay safe and healthy during your trip.

• Stay alert to changing weather conditions and adjust your plans if conditions become unsafe.
• Prepare for activities by wearing the right clothes and packing protective items, such as bug spray, sunscreen, and a basic first aid kit.
• Consider learning basic first aid and CPR before travel. Bring a travel health kit with items appropriate for your activities.
• Heat-related illness, such as heat stroke, can be deadly. Eat and drink regularly, wear loose and lightweight clothing, and limit physical activity during high temperatures.
  • If you are outside for many hours in heat, eat salty snacks and drink water to stay hydrated and replace salt lost through sweating.
• Protect yourself from UV radiation: use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade during the hottest time of day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
• Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.
• Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

• Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.
• Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.
• Do not dive into shallow water.
• Do not swim in freshwater in developing areas or where sanitation is poor.
• Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.
• To prevent infections, wear shoes on beaches where there may be animal waste.

Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that can be spread in fresh water, is found in Mexico. Avoid swimming in fresh, unchlorinated water, such as lakes, ponds, or rivers.

You Wondered What A Double Barrel Hurricane Looks Like ??

Aug 07, 2014

 

Two storms were spawned in the Cradle of Storms -- which lies due south of Southern Mexico in the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The first named Iselle, and a few days later another named Julio. As always they started as a gathering of clouds, the question then became would they develop into a tropical storm, or maybe even coalesce into a hurricane?

Both not only became hurricanes but tracked not on the usual path to the north or northwest, but virtually straight west. The chances a storm develops into a hurricane and goes that way? Put it this way, Hawaii hasn't had a hurricane in 22 years. The changes TWO consecutive storms not only develop into hurricanes, but track exactly that direction? OK, now we're talking lottery odds.

Mexico dodged a real bullet, as the terrible twins headed away toward Hawaii. Iselle could be making landfall anytime, and while being at one time a Category 4 fortunately it got wrapped by dry air which takes away the fuel (moist hot air and water). With a little luck it could be downgraded into a tropical storm before hitting land.

The other twin Julio isn't running into as much dry air, but thank God it never got above a Category I level in the first place. Even a little weakening would drop it to tropical storm level too. However we're still talking about a lot of wind and a ton of rainfall over a short time. Then Iselle will weaken everything, so Julio could be the nail in the coffin for structures that have been partially damaged.

Like Hawaii, Mazatlan is a very rare destination track for hurricanes. This as opposed to Cabo which gets hit quite often on the typical Northwest track. Visiting Mexico in the summer is unique experience for a variety of reasons, and I recommend everyone try it at least once. When you're there you'll learn to keep one eye on Cradle of Storms.

If you ever wondered what a pair of twin storms looks like -- here are some links that will make you glad you aren't in Hawaii right now. You'll clearly see the twin swirls, then look all the way to the right and you'll notice our latest candidate forming more or less straight offshore from Acapulco. However it's very weak and may not even reach tropical storm level to get a name:

weather.unisys.com/satellite/sat_ir_west.gif

ghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/goeswestpacus.html

ghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/goeswestpacusir.html

How To Travel Safely During Hurricane Season

cntraveler.com

NINO MARCUTTI / ALAMY

This checklist of storm-season advice—some of which Condé Nast Traveler recently shared with AccuWeather—will help you avoid storms entirely and stay safe and up-to-date when foul weather threatens, no matter where your summer travels may take you.

Before you go…
The same rule of thumb that works at home works on the road: Be prepared. Have storm supplies handy, make sure family members know your emergency plan, and share your plans with a friend or relative not traveling with you. Also keep a copy of all your important documents—itineraries, passport ID page, driver’s license, credit cards—in a safe place in case the originals are lost.

The website has good preparation tips, as does travel.state.gov.

As you’re planning…
There’s a reason hotel rates in the Caribbean are cheaper during hurricane season. That said, most of the time the weather is fine. Occasionally, resorts will offer “hurricane guarantees,” which offer refunds or replacement vacations if a storm ruins your trip; confirm these details over email with the property, so you have records of the specifics, before booking.

Cruises are an alternative: Ships can simply plot a course around the storm and avoid it completely, though sometimes that means missing a planned port of call. Also keep in mind that a few islands—Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao—are well south of the usual path of storms but still offer many of the same attractions as other Caribbean destinations.

If you’re going on a road trip…
The FRX2 American Red Cross radio ($45) is a must-have, with weather band as well as AM and FM stations. It’s about the size of a bottle of water and has a built-in flashlight, a hand crank if the power goes out, and can even charge your cell phone.

You’ll also want to pack some drinking water, shelf-stable food, and a surplus of any daily/regular medications you may need, as well as a flashlight, first-aid kit, and flares or warning triangles to be used in the event of a breakdown.

If you’re taking your own car, replace your wiper blades to improve visibility in the event of thunderstorms. Also make sure your spare tire tools are in working order and that your spare tire pressure is correct.

If you’re heading to the Caribbean…
Hotels do an amazing job of taking care of guests in severe weather and often have local insight that can keep travelers safe: In other words, your best bet is often to follow hotel staff instructions about severe weather. At the Andaz 5th Avenue in New York, for example, the hotel has a backup generator, a supply of water, and flashlights readily available for guests, all of which were used during Superstorm Sandy, which hit the city in 2012.

If you’re considering trip insurance…
Not all plans cover hurricanes or other severe weather, so if that coverage is important to you, read the fine print to make sure it’s included in the specific insurance plan you purchase. Reading the specifics of the plan you buy is the only way to be sure of what’s covered and what’s not. (You can compare multiple plans from multiple providers at InsureMyTrip.)

Trip interruption insurance is helpful because severe weather elsewhere can often cause missed connections or other problems getting to your destination, even if you’re not headed into the path of the storm. (Again make sure that your specific plan works when weather is a factor.)

Be sure to buy a policy soon after you make your initial trip deposit and well in advance of departure: Often policies only cover “unforeseen” circumstances, which means you can’t buy a plan after a hurricane starts chugging toward your destination.

If a hurricane is approaching…
Hotel staff are again a great resource—and their job is to keep guests safe and comfortable. Internationally, the U.S. State Department has made great efforts recently to improve its communication with citizens, including about severe weather. Follow the department on social media for updates, visit travel.state.gov, and consider the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, which makes it easier for embassy staff to communicate with you in the event of an emergency.

Wherever you go, download these weather apps…
One of our favorite weather app is the free offering from Yahoo, which shows details as well as beautiful photos that illustrate current conditions.

For severe weather, though, the live updates from the National Weather Service onTwitter and Facebook are a great way to stay on top of conditions.

AccuWeather offers free ZIP code-specific severe weather alerts by email that travelers can sign up for before their trip. The StormWatch+ app ($1) for both iPhone and Android also gives “push” notifications of severe weather nearby.

Average Mazatlan Temperatures

mazatlansource.com

Monthly Average High and Low Temperatures and Rainfall for Mazatlan

	HI	LO	Average Rain (inches)
JANUARY	81	67	1.1
FEBRUARY	82	69	0.2
MARCH	85	71	0.1
APRIL	86	73	0.1
MAY	88	77	0.1
JUNE	89	78	1.0
JULY	91	79	8.4
AUGUST	91	78	8.5
SEPTEMBER	90	77	8.5
OCTOBER	88	75	3.7
NOVEMBER	84	71	0.9
DECEMBER	82	69	1.0
"The Mazatlan Rainy Season": "The Rainy Season" starts sometime in June or July, and generally lasts for 3-4 months. Rainy Season means hot (but humid), beautiful days until mid-afternoon, when you'll notice clouds gathering their strength to break across the mountain ridges. When they do, you'll experience an incredible display of lightning and thunder and a deluge that may last anywhere from 1/2-hour to several hours. The rain cools the air and rinses the dust from the streets, and the clouds usually clear away for a beautiful moon-lit night. During Rainy Season, these displays are a regular occurance...at least once every two- or three-days, and not uncommonly nearly every day for several weeks at a time. 'Locals' and regular visitors regulate their days accordingly, wisely planning to be taking a siesta (nap), or safely covered in their favorite establishment with a frosty margarita to enjoy the show!

Hot and Sunny for Semana Santa

by Maureen Dietrich

10 Apr 14 

mazmessenger.com

 

Hugo Nordahl Valdez of the local meteorological service, said they are predicting hot temperatures, some wind, occasional clouds but no rain, and plenty of sun for the weeks of Semana Santa and Semana Pascua.

Temperatures will range between 29 and 31ºC during the day, with a night time minimum of between 18 and 21ºC.

Nordahl Valdez mentioned that the 2014 hurricane season begins on May 15 and according to preliminary predictions, they expect to register five tropical storms, seven moderate hurricanes and three intense hurricanes during the season. (from Noroeste)

Mazatlan Weather Report

THE all time one hit wonder was actually a "B" side recorded under the name Steam.  It was considered so bad, the artists didn't even bother to write lyrics for the last half.  With a catchy tune working, lead singer Paul Leka was stumped for words after a few lines.

As he said later "everything was 'na na' when you didn't have a lyric."  A drum track was lifted from a previous recording to supplement Leka's keyboards, then another band member came up with "hey hey."  Still without finishing lyrics, they called it a day and dubbed in a canned drum "solo," followed by 8,156 repetitions of what became an anthem to say something's over.

See if this doesn't bring back some memories!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZkYGcz1DgI

We've talked before about "The Blanket," which revisited Maz with a mini whoosh entrance chilling Friday night diners.  Then yesterday it created periods of overcast that will linger over into today.  Appropriately for our anthem from Steam, it also brought insulation for night temperatures, and it was already 70 degrees (17 C.) at dawn.

However it time to cue up Na, Na, Na, Na, and say Goodbye to The Blanket, as it leaves overnight and gives us a bright blue entrance to next week!  We'll also be saying hello to our classic offshore breeze overnight and morning.  Remember this pattern typically holds off any strong winds for afternoons.

Expect highs to continue right at our 80 degree (27.7 C.) standard.  While The Blanket will exit, our lows next week will see temperatures only falling off slightly.  Look for about 67 or 68 (20 C.), leaving us with a small day / night variation of only 13 degrees (7 C.).

Fisherman you've got it going for warm water catch, as there's a huge lane of warm currents almost a quarter way up the Gulf.  The ocean is about 76 degrees (24.5 C.) on the beach, with patches easily to 78 (25.5 C.) in the fishing grounds.  Looking to swim in the rollers or try that boogie board?  You'll have that too.

Already in town or coming in for this week?  You're in for the usual wonderful Maz April / May weather.  So get out that hit list and remember the immortal words from The Hombres (in the world's first rap song).

Let It All Hang Out !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWN65nAkk20  

Mazatlan Weather Report

The Busy Sky

Apr 04, 2014

Mazatlan has seen a very long run with no more than two consecutive days of overcast.  In fact even that's been rare, however there's a development I want to show you that could change everything.  A very extensive weather pattern arrived in Mexico a day ago, and it may line up to create a major affect on Maz.
It's a little different from the Intertropical Convergence Zone activity that brought The Blanket last week. Instead it's related to a common theme where a large area of the ocean is covered with moisture and clouds then heads for the mainland, usually near California. In fact this pattern has a name..."The Pineapple Express."
However this time instead of originating near Hawaii then angling toward California / Arizona / Northern Baja...it's taking an unusual track almost straight west. The other thing unique, in fact almost never seen, is the length of this thing. It's stunningly long, and here are links for different angles of what we're talking about:
weather.unisys.com/satellite/sat_ir_west.gif

http://www.weatherimages.org/data/imag6.html
I'm not sure when we've seen anything like this virtually unbroken front, starting in the far western Pacific then reaching all the way past Hawaii to Mexico's interior! Fortunately this will consists mostly of high white clouds, and I don't see it coalescing enough for rain.  However if it stays on the current course (which is too early to call), it could take three or more days to clear Maz.

Moisture and warm air coming in over the cooler ocean water could create some morning fog, although the ocean is probably warm enough to avoid that.  In addition I don't expect much in the way of temperature changes.  Possibly a couple degrees cooler, but with more humidity to make the air feel about the same.  Also the wind could pick up just slightly, but again just a mild difference.

Hang on, this could get interesting.

Mazatlan Weather Report

From The Blanket...Back To Boring (Weather Update)

 

Mar 28, 2014

 

Over the last two days our temperature variation drew down from the usual narrow gap...to pretty much no gap. Two days ago the high temperature on the beach was 78, and the low 71 (25.5 and 21.7 C.). Yesterday recorded at 78 and 70.5 (25.5 and 21.4 C.), making the difference between day and night more about light and darkness than anything else.



This was caused by "The Blanket," and our last weather update mentioned it will be in force this week. So what exactly is The Blanket, and how does it affect Mazatlan? To answer that question we first need to consolidate and review information discussed over time. (This will be long, but stick with it and considering saving this post. It will help you get more out of future updates)



Maz is uniquely situated, more or less half way between the harsh Sonora Desert, and tropical Southern Mexico. It's also an area where two major weather patterns are reaching their farthest point of influence, and overlap.



1. The fringe of North Pacific storm fronts (which can hammer the U.S. and Canada) just barely reaches Mazatlan. The most active time for this pattern is winter, from very late November through March. However these fronts are unlikely to reach Maz unless they push to the Gulf of California's mouth. This allows token resistance going southward.



Without a La Nina / Jet Stream condition forcing cold air far, far southward, no more than a handful of North Pacific fronts reach Maz each season. During this same winter time period the tropics are in their quiet mode. Consequently in the wintertime Mazatlan's weather is typically quite uneventful, and what we jokingly (and lovingly) call "boring."



2. Conversely the National tourist season from June through October sees our other weather pattern dominate. This coming from the south - southwest, and created by activity in the Intertropical Convergence Zone, just north of the equator. Weather from The Zone can reach northward of Maz depending on ocean water temperatures. Hence the overlap. (Here's an excellent breakdown of The Zone from Wikipedia):



…wikipedia.org/wiki/Intertropical_Convergenc…



In short what we have is an annual battle for supremacy of the skies over Mazatlan.  More dominant from the north in winter, then shifting power the opposite direction for summer. Then during the transition months of November, April, and May, weak fronts will come from both directions.  This create a stalemate calm area, and is the very reason many people say those months have the best weather.



When The Zone sends weather into Maz it takes many forms, from mild (The Blanket) to wild (Hurricanes). During the NOB season we get the mild version, with skies full of clouds containing a lot of water vapor, but flying too high or not carrying enough moisture to drop rain. Instead they envelop the city with a moist warm cover (The Blanket) that insulates the air and suppresses change.



Just as often happens, a high pressure ridge is currently pushing the bulk these clouds to the northeast. As I write this Maz has broken high white clouds and plenty of people on the beach. Meanwhile Cabo is in the cross-hairs, with a dark, dreary, and heavily overcast sky.



That trend will continue with Maz on the fringe, getting mild overcast and The Blanket keeping things copacetic on the weather front. Not too hot, not too cool, not too breezy, and not too overcast. In short not enough to worry about, or affect your vacation.



While the major weather services see today and tomorrow still being cloudy, I'm more inclined to think this breaks up by Saturday afternoon. Then Sunday look for a return to our magical weather season, with nothing but blue skies and fair temperatures through mid next week. The highs will go up a tad, and lows drop off a couple degrees. However the humidity will disappear as The Blanket moves on, so things will feel the same to your skin.



Breeze will continue to be so gentle you'll barely notice it, and likewise the ocean will be calm with small soft waves and water temperatures about 75 degrees (24 C.). In short the weather will be wonderfully "boring" again.

 

 

Mazatlan Weather Report

The True Test (Weather Update)

 

Mar 25, 2014

 

All season Mazatlan has been blessed with beautiful blue skies. Surprise rain fell during Christmas and New Years, yet skies were mostly clear. Rain would come, only to pull back into the mountains and regroup. A southern system was poised to blanket the sky last week, however a high pressure ridge spun that system northward. Only Sunday's International Week Beach Party had clouds.

Another front's headed our way, and this will be THE true test for days bathed in blue. It's not packing much power, so don't expect rain or gusty winds. However the size is massive, and could take several days moving by. This system's incredible length is more than 3,000 miles (4,830 K)!. It's also 1,500 miles (2,415 K) in depth, (roughly the height and length of the continental U.S.), so chances it will be pushed away are nil.

You can get a good look at it in the link below, where you'll see an long extended finger reaching for Baja, while the main body mass goes clear to the opposite side of Hawaii:

weather.unisys.com/satellite/sat_ir_west.gif

While it's true there's no rain associated with this system, there is a lot of moisture in it. Expect higher humidity levels as clouds create a classic "blanket effect." Here's a satellite feed that shows water vapor, and you'll see how pronounced it is:

http://www.goes.noaa.gov/browsw3.html

Unless the warden gets a last minute reprieve from the governor...LOL, you can expect this system to dominate skies from Wednesday to possibly Saturday. The ending of this particular movie isn't written yet, and depends how fast the system passes over. Currently it's moving a very good clip, but the main body could stall and extend the time for white skies.

Otherwise things aren't changing much. The small high / low temperature window continues, as well as the trend for slight day to day changes. Expect highs to reach for 80 (26.7 C.) through Friday, with mild lows at 65 or slightly above (18.5 C.). The "blanket" will make you feel warmer. Winds will be mild too, but not our usual offshore night / northwest afternoon pattern. This time winds will move all around the clock, albeit without much velocity.

Overall this is a ho hum weather change which shouldn't affect your vacation at all. We're moving from blue skies to a mixture of white and blue for a few days, and that's it. Besides, consider the alternative. Toronto's headed for a snow / rain mixture, while Edmonton gets snow all week. Chicago has snow on tap for Saturday, then cold rains next week as temperatures drop to the freezing mark!

So maybe a few days with clouds isn't so bad after all.....;^)

Mazatlan weather report

It Was The First Day Of Spring!....Or Maybe Not

 

Mar 21, 2014

 

This was the first day of spring, so how did we fare? Not so good in Calgary and Edmonton, where snow was falling today and it looked a lot like winter. Ontario gets next, as both Toronto and Ottawa look to have white stuff tomorrow or Saturday...or both. Further east Quebec will be blessed with a double dose of "spring." They had snow today, and get a second helping for the weekend.

The other side of the border also saw a lot of what we'll call season confusion. Temperatures ran below normal for the entire Northwest, and along the coast through Seattle and Portland it was about 5 degrees below norms. The eastern parts of Oregon and Washington were more like 8 degrees below their usual temperature.

In the meantime the snow that hit Alberta and Saskatchewan visited areas of Idaho through North Dakota. Maine got hit with sleet again, and they'll join Quebec for weekend snow. The Midwest won't be spared as the Twin Cities get a dose of ice and sleet tomorrow, then catch snow on Monday or so. This is Spring??

I'd like to tell you this was a fluke, and warm sunny days are right around the corner for our beleaguered friends NOB. No can do unfortunately. Remember our last report where we talked about back to back to back to back storms over the North Pacific? Only one of them has made landfall, so we've got at least three more potential named storms to ride out.

Mazatlan also has an oncoming front to contend with, but fortunately this is a warm system. I'll link a couple different types of satellite feeds below this paragraph, so you can see what we're talking about. You may recall this system as the one I mentioned would be coming from south of Hawaii, and expected to end our phenomenal run of beautiful clear skies every day.

weather.unisys.com/satellite/sat_ir_west.gif

http://www.weatherimages.org/data/imag6.html

Notice how deep this front is from front to back...wider than Mexico itself, and a full two days worth to pass by. The saving grace is its' current direction, which may end up largely passing Maz by. I had expected things to develop more or less straight in. However just like our mini-front over last weekend, this system also turned Northeast.

 This morning Cabo San Lucas had a significant overcast working, which looked to be heading straight for Maz. However the clouds moved up toward central Baja throughout the day, and by late afternoon the sky over Cabo was clear. The major thrust of this front is now moving toward central Baja and through Chihuahua into Texas. The key will be if the tail end catches Mazatlan over the weekend, and my guess is it will.

So what appeared to be a noticeable weather change, may now only affect Maz in a relatively insignificant way. Our primarily remaining change will be somewhat higher humidity, with clouds creating what I call "the blanket effect." This will warm up our days a degree or two, and make the nights particularly mild. Look for it to push into the very low 80's (28 C.), with nights at 68 (20 C.) and feeling warmer than that.

Hopefully the southwest to northeast push of this front will also bring warm currents to elevate the ocean temperature back up. It fell a little bit from the mini-whoosh winds the other night. The other primary weather change will consist of periods when clouds dominate the sky, but even that will be a fly by where bands of rather high clouds move through with little fanfare.

In short I'll bet you hardly even notice this one, and Mazatlan will just have to settle for a continuation on some of the best weather in North American!