Christina

so I'm going to Mexico City and Guanajuato in a few weeks and have been watching the weather on weather.com to keep up with the latest. Sometimes it says "haze" for Guanajuato, which I was afraid meant pollution, I wasn't sure, but I don't think it's that, kind of misty but not really fog.

However, I have noticed before and today for Mexico City the weather description is "smoke." What?? I have never seen that as a weather description for a city before. What is that all about? Is that volcano smoking, or does that mean pollution or are there forest fires around the city blowing that direction or what's up?

volcanogirl

We get a smoky haze in the air sometimes from agricultural burning in Mexico. They always mention it on the news.

PuraAventura

Hello Christina!

I'm currently in Mexico City and there isn't any forest fire over here. Also, the Popocatepetl volcano is still in Yellow Alert (since years) as it is smoking sometimes. By the way, you can follow the latest report on the volcano here: http://www.cenapred.gob.mx/es/Instru...anica/MVolcan/

However I agree that outside it is very 'smoky' and I don't know why! It has been raining a lot for the last couple of weeks, so I would say that it is smog but according to Mexico City's contamination report, the city looks quite clean (see here: http://www.calidadaire.df.gob.mx/cal...x.php?opcion=1).

So anyway, if you come visit Mexico City in a few week this could be different, so keep an eye on it! However if it's still like this I'd recommend not visiting the panorama buildings we have in the city (Torre Latinoamericana and Monumento a la Revolucion). And stay up-to-date on the calidadaire.df website to see the contamination report. But one advise: the city is huge (sometime it rains in the South and in the North there is sun) so try to be more specific when looking at the weather forecast by searching the 'Delegacion' (borough) you are staying at.

Laurent

Christina

thanks, Laurent-- I saw the same forecast again today (smoke). So it is smoky there and you don't know why!! I imagine it is air pollution but that isn't usually bad after it rains. How can the city look clean if the air is smoky? And you even notice it is smoky, don't they talk about it on the TV weather report as to what is going on. I'll be staying in Condesa.

I hope it is better when I am there the second week of July. Well, there is nothing I can do about it. I used to live in Los Angeles and the smog would get bad there on some days, but the weather forecast never called it "smoke."

PuraAventura

Christina,

The weather is pretty special here in Mexico City during the rain season, and it can be quite unpredictable too. But don't expect to have a gorgeous weather in July, I'm sorry.

But well, have a look at this! It was yesterday in the afternoon from my roof-deck... not that bad: http://ow.ly/i/5RUoS

Hope you'll have a great time in Mexico, anyway!

Laurent

Christina

I'm not asking for gorgeous, just pleasant enough. I know it is the rainy season, but not the worst of it, I hope. I think it may be like it is where I live (Washington DC), there are a lot of late afternoon thunderstorms in the summer, but it's not that bad. it doesn't usually rain all day.

PuraAventura

Christina,

Yes don't worry it is manly late afternoon thunderstorms, however I don't think our drainage systems is as good as yours in Washington DC so depending on where you are in the city, streets can sometimes look like rivers (the historical center is awful for that! I remember you that Mexico City used to be a lake so sometimes nature takes over again). But well, really, don't worry too much as it doesn't last too much - most of the time it is about 30 minutes and then the rain stops.

Laurent