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Mexico Clarifies 'Tormenta Negra' Term Amidst Heavy Rainfall Forecasts
🇲🇽 Mexico /Disasters & Emergencies

Mexico Clarifies 'Tormenta Negra' Term Amidst Heavy Rainfall Forecasts

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The term "tormenta negra" (black storm) trended in Mexico, referring to intense rainfall, but it is not an official meteorological alert category in the country.
  • The Mexican National Meteorological Service (SMN) has forecast torrential rains, electrical discharges, and possible hail in several states, including Veracruz, Nayarit, and Puebla.
  • While "tormenta negra" is a colloquial term in Mexico for heavy rain, it signifies a high-level, severe rainstorm warning in some Asian countries like China and Japan, potentially causing rapid flooding.

The term "tormenta negra" or "black storm" recently gained traction on Mexican social media, associated with forecasts of intense rainfall across various regions. However, authorities have clarified that this designation is not part of Mexico's official weather alert system, despite the alarming predictions that captured public attention.

The term "tormenta negra" is not part of the Mexican alert system.

— Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN)Clarification on the unofficial nature of the 'black storm' designation in Mexico.

The National Meteorological Service (SMN) has issued warnings for torrential rains, accompanied by electrical discharges and potential hail, in states such as Veracruz, Nayarit, Tlaxcala, Puebla, and Hidalgo, driven by Tropical Wave No. 16. Furthermore, significant precipitation is expected in Zacatecas, Durango, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guerrero, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Mexico City, and Morelos, leading to yellow and orange alerts in these areas.

In Mexico, "tormenta negra" is commonly used as a colloquial phrase to describe persistent, heavy rainfall under dense cloud cover. This differs significantly from its usage in some Asian countries, including China, Japan, and Taiwan, where a "black rainstorm" warning represents the highest alert level for torrential downpours. Such warnings in those regions signify a high risk of rapid flooding and river overflows, necessitating strict adherence to disaster protection protocols.

In Mexico, the "black storm" is known as a colloquial phrase to refer to persistent rains with dense cloud cover.

— El UniversalExplaining the local meaning of 'tormenta negra'.

The intensity of rainfall in Mexico is categorized by the National Water Commission (Conagua) into levels such as "heavy" (25-50 mm), "very heavy" (50-75 mm), "intense" (75-150 mm), and "torrential" (over 150 mm). Civil Protection further classifies alerts by color: green (under 15 mm), yellow (15-29 mm), orange (30-49 mm), red (50-70 mm), and purple (over 70 mm), with purple alerts indicating a need for evacuation due to flood or landslide risks.

In some Asian countries like China, Japan and Taiwan, it refers to the highest level of warning for torrential rains of maximum intensity.

— El UniversalContrasting the term's usage in different regions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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