September Overview –
We spent September waiting (and waiting and waiting) for the storms that normally come our way this time of year, and while waiting we kept hoping (and hoping and hoping) that they wouldn’t show up. Funny how sometimes what you wish for is not necessarily what you need.
Other than the big downpour of rain we received overnight on August 31, there has not been one hurricane, tropical storm, tropical depression, heavy rain, moderate rain, light rain or even a sprinkle of water this whole entire month.
On the one hand, this is great! No major storms mean less worry and no damage to deal with. But on the other hand, because there have been no storms, September has also been our hottest month this year!
Hurricanes are globally necessary for balancing the temperatures between the poles and the equator. In the northern hemisphere, hurricanes form between the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer. As the hurricanes travel north, they leave behind cooler temperatures for us here and push warmer temperatures north to our neighbours in the US and Canada, keeping these areas warmer long into autumn.
In our area, we usually experience major storms early in the month of September which, after they pass, leave our area not only much greener but cooler as well, with a hint of fall in the air. This means our September temperatures have usually been lower than our July and August temperatures. However, this year, without any major storms passing through, our September temperatures are higher than what our July and August temperatures were this year.
In previous years, by the end of September we were spending time outside on the patio, enjoying the view and maybe a nice glass of wine. But this year, it’s just too damn hot yet to even think about sitting outside (check out our Snippets to see what the temperature was outside on the patio September 30th).
So why were there no major storms in September for us to contend with this year? Could it be that we were just “lucky” this year? NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) predicted the Eastern Pacific would have between 7-11 hurricanes, of which 3-5 would be major hurricanes (Cat 3 or higher). Our total so far this year has been 7 hurricanes, of which 5 have been major hurricanes, so maybe our season is finished? Or maybe it’s because we are transitioning from La Niña to El Niño, where the direction of the trade winds along the equator have reversed direction and are now moving west to east? Or maybe we just wished hard enough?
Perhaps wishing and hoping that no major storms would come our way backfired on us. I mean, we are still so happy we didn’t have a massive hurricane blow through here, but maybe it would have been nice to have a small, teensy-weensy tropical storm pass by us a few hundred km offshore that would have given us at least a little rain and some cooler days to start enjoying.
But then again, we still have no idea what October will bring….
In September we had 22 days with temperatures over 35C / 95F, compared with 20 days in August. The hotter temperatures combined with higher humidity, pushed our “feels like” temperatures even higher. We had 16 days in September with “feels like” temperatures over 50C / 122F, compared with only 13 such days in August.
And now, here’s what’s been happening around here in September….
Los Cabos Beaches Closed
Los Cabos is always busy at the beginning of September as many tourists arrive to enjoy their three-day long weekend, but this year many were surprised to find most of the popular Los Cabos beaches closed due to dangerous waves.
Black flags were posted on all the affected beaches, which indicates no swimming is allowed and beach access is also prohibited.
Weather conditions can have a massive effect on Los Cabos beaches, turning them into extremely dangerous places.
Like many countries, Mexico has established an easy to remember colour-coded flag system used at all beaches to warn visitors regarding possible danger at the beach. In Los Cabos, the flag system is monitored by the Municipal Civil Protection Department along with lifeguards posted at the beaches. The basic flags are like a stop light.
A green flag located on beach means no restrictions are in place. It means the beach is safe for water activities, but people should still exercise normal caution when entering the water.
A yellow flag on the beach means caution. Water conditions may be considered dangerous, but those wanting to swim are allowed, at their own risk. Precautions must be taken as the beach is not safe for all levels of swimmers.
A red flag indicates the water is forbidden to enter because of extremely hazardous conditions, however the beach itself is not closed. No one is allowed to enter the water during red flag conditions.
A black flag means the entire beach is closed to everyone. In fact, Los Cabos law enforcement is authorized to cite and possibly arrest those found in the water while black flags are posted on the beach.
A white flag is unique as it is used to warn visitors that jellyfish are present in the water. Although it is a good idea not to swim in the water in white flag conditions to avoid getting stung by a jellyfish, visitors can still swim, but they assume all the risks.
On September 12, most beaches in Los Cabos reopened after restrictions were lifted. The black flags were replaced with yellow flags, although two beaches were still inaccessible due to strong waves and currents and therefore had red flag warnings for a few more days.
Mexican Independence Day
El Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores) is celebrated on September 16 as Mexico’s Independence Day, marking the day when in 1810 a Catholic Priest, known as Father Hidalgo, rang the church bells in the town of Dolores and rallied the people to stand against Spanish rule. This event began the war of independence (lasting 11 years), which eventually led to Mexico’s liberation from Spanish colonial rule.
Many non-Mexicans often think that Mexico’s Independence Day is celebrated on Cinco de Mayo. In reality, they are two very different things. Cinco de Mayo marks the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, a victory over the French by Mexican forces that occurred more than a half century later, on May 5, 1862. Other than the Mexican state of Puebla, the rest of Mexico does not celebrate Cinco de Mayo – instead they honour Mexico’s Independence Day on September 16.
Mexican Independence Day traditions begin the night of September 15 and extend through September 16. The holiday is celebrated with great passion throughout the country. Streets and public spaces are adorned with the colours of the Mexican flag– green, white and red. Families and friends enjoy parties, gatherings, and events in celebration.
Festivities include street fairs and performances of Mexican folk dancing. The highlight of the events is the Mexican Independence Day parade, where participants display their national pride with colourful costumes, music, and floats.
Of course, no Mexican celebration is complete without indulging in delicious traditional foods. Dishes such as “chilies en nogada”- stuffed poblano peppers topped with a rich walnut cream sauce, pomegranate seeds and parsley, is considered to be a national dish of Mexico and is a staple in celebrating Independence Day.
Other favourites include tamales, pozole, and mole. These traditional foods of Mexico not only satisfy the taste buds but also symbolizes the deep-rooted cultural connection and history of Mexico.
Independence Day is a time of joy and unity for all Mexicans as cheers of “Viva Mexico” are heard everywhere. The celebration brings the country together to honour their heritage and pay their respect to the heroes who fought for their freedom.
Five Interesting Facts About Mexico
Mexico is known for its rich culture, ancient ruins, dazzling beaches, and incredible cuisine. But Mexico’s natural and cultural diversity includes much more than that. The list below shows some other aspects of the country that may surprise you.
Mexico is home to the world’s largest pyramid.
Not Egypt, but Mexico – the pyramid of Cholula, also known as Tlachihualtepetl (Nahuatl for “made-by-hand mountain”) in the Mexican state of Puebla happens to be the largest pyramid by volume known to exist in the world today. Standing at a height of 66 meters, with a 400-meter base and a total volume of 4.5 million cubic meters, the pyramid is significantly larger than the pyramid of Giza. The pyramid of Cholula is located approximately 125km / 75mi southeast of Mexico City.
There are 68 different languages spoken in Mexico.
The Constitution of Mexico does not declare an official language; however, Spanish is the de facto national language spoken by over 99% of the population. The federal government uses Spanish in its official proceedings; however, it recognizes 68 national languages in total, 63 of which are indigenous. Of the indigenous languages spoken, the two most widely used are Nahuatl (used by more than 1.7 million) and Yucatec Maya (used daily by nearly 800,000 people).
Mexico is a big time Coca-Cola consumer.
Coco-Cola is the most consumed soft drink in almost every country, but its consumption is the highest in Mexico, with Brazil coming in second and the United States third. And no one in the world drinks more Coke than the residents in Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost and poorest state.
Coca-Cola has become deeply entrenched in Mexican culture because of deliberate marketing in the ‘80s and ‘90s. With the water supply in small, underdeveloped areas not so good, Coke has replaced water and is used even in religious ceremonies.
With a Coca-Cola bottling plant located in the municipality of San Cristobal de las Casas (within the state of Chiapas) locals drink approximately 2 litres of coke per day, or around 800 litres per year. That’s five times higher than the national average of 150 litres per person per year.
Consequently, Mexico is now facing an obesity epidemic, and in Chiapas health offices have declared a diabetes emergency.
The meteorite that wiped-out dinosaurs struck Mexico.
The meteorite that wiped out dinosaurs 66 million years ago hit the Mexican peninsula of Yucatan. A 180 square meter crater (known as Chicxulub crater) with a depth of more than 600 meters was left behind. Employees of the state oil company PEMEX discovered the crater in 1981 while drilling an oil well.
Mexico City was built on a lake – and is sinking.
Mexico City was built on what was Lake Texcoco. The Aztecs chose this place as a sacred location for building The Great Tenochtitlan, their capital city. Later, the Spaniards decided to build their city on top of the Aztec constructions giving way to a new city, New Spain which later became Mexico City.
Texcoco Lake is nearly dry nowadays, however, some of the city rests on the lake bed’s heavily saturated clay and buildings are reminiscent of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, for the capital city underground is muddy and constantly sinking. It sinks approximately 50cm per year, more than the city of Venice in Italy, which sinks around 2mm annually.
ps… Don’t forget to check out the latest Snippets!
Loving the updates Shari!
Thanks Bob!
Such an interesting update! Sad about the Coke consumption and resultant problems. Shame on Coke!
Thanks Jen! And totally, the coke issue is just crazy. And it’s not just coke, but we are starting to see an overall increase in all sorts of packaged processed convenience foods hitting the store shelves now as well. It’s sad, really.