Wild Storm in Cozumel Right Now!

[cowboyneal]

We're having a wild storm right now. The surf is way up, the wind crazy and the rain is just a torrent with thunder and lightening! Lights are going on and off at Casa Mex (although now we're back on). I was in Especias whn it kicked up and I had to run home all full of Adrian's Crab Fingers and Grilled Mero...lol...I was pretty wet when I got here, and that was BEFORE the real eavy stuff came in; good thing for me I got inside before the full force hit. Lots of boats were still on the water too (there was a fishing contest today) and I am sure the "concert stage" they had set up on the Malecon by the eagle and flagpole for a concert tonight took a direct hit...but all the trashy chicks "with the band" came running in to Casa Mex (where the whole entourage is staying) like a Latina conga-line wet t-shirt contest with black eyeliner running down their faces (kind of "under the Westside Highway"-ish)...that was fun...lol....ok, more later! CN

[cowboyneal]

It's over!

[Christi]

THAT was wild! I swear at times I thought Wilma was haunting us! I just got power back at home...it went off during the storm and just came back on.

A few boats that were moored off the waterfront are under water...but everything in the Caleta is fine...went and checked on both boats.

A big antenna of some sort is down behind San Francisco on 30th...it fell on top of one of the local cantinas.

I'm glad it's over :)

[ScubaTexan]

It took awhile, but that sounds like the same system that hit us the other night.

[Fish_Whisperer]

Hahaha...

Christi, please: The "W-word" is off-limits!! :no ;)

Glad to hear that the storm was brief. :)

[Coz Sally]

Here's my translation of a local story that is on Por Esto's website, with apologies for the gaps:

COZUMEL, 12 of May.- Just after 6pm on Saturday, a squall that formed between Puerto Morelos and Cozumel touched down on the island causing severe “encharcamientos” in the streets, sinking of boats and even a fire. The storm launched canvases and sheds, and the subsequent flooding covered the drains with a large quantity of trash that had been washed down. The electricity failed in extensive zones of the city, causing serious floods on the streets and neighborhoods of the island.

The storm took the island by surprise, approaching from the west, where the city of San Miguel of Cozumel is located. The city’s central zone received the first onslaught.

The strong storm demolished young trees in medians of the island’s main avenues, such as 65th Avenue.

Some of the fallen trees were planted by the city following the destruction of Hurricane "Wilma" in 2005.

The rain, fueled by horizontal winds, destroyed the outdoor stage that was still in place following performances by Susana Zabaleta and Arming Manzanero two days prior.

The battery flew, as well as the “cortinajes” and covers for the audio equipment, which was subsequently damaged.

Neighborhoods such as the 10 of April [this is the name of the neighborhood] reported severe “encharcamientos” and fallen trees, in addition to damage in weak dwellings.

According to the harbor authorities, the port was closed to boats of 14 meters or less during the time that the storm lasted.

The waterspout damaged the entire city, bringing down a telecommunications antenna in the centro, and even the “varamiento” of a small dive boat that crashed against the sea wall in the central zone of the island. At the same time, firemen were nearby trying to put out a fire in the kitchen of the local Pizza Hut.

The waterspout put the city on alert and mobilized of the services and teams of firemen, civil protection, public security and even the armed forces, all of which were standing by in case intervention was required. As of the closing of this edition, this intervention had not yet been necessary.


By Antonio Rea

[Fish_Whisperer]

MAN!! That was a ferocious storm, then!! Yikes!! Thanks for the translation, Sally! Hopefully, no injuries, and the damage can quickly be cleaned up and mended. Thanks again!

P.S. Glad to hear that you're okay, Christi.

[Christi]

And to think...I was in the middle of this wonderful massage by Sally when it all started...beginning with the firetrucks (obviously on their way to Pizza Hut)...then the thunder...then the HEAVY winds and rain...and then it stopped just in time for the end of my massage...haha! Yes Sally, that was the most adventuresome massage I've had...haha! :) Coming home to no electricity (I live in 10 de Abril) was not pleasant since it was already dark. Finding the lanterns and the batteries was a chore :) We got power back just before 9:00.

[Chris Walrod]

Wow, glad to hear it was brief.

We were blessed with the weather while there last week. Arrived May 4th and just got back last night.

We dove Cozumel the 9th, 10th and 11th. Everything was great and I truly feel very lucky given the forecast of rain three of those days.

I am really going to miss the diving there in Cozumel! Hope to be back next year.

[DandyDon]

"...waterspout"...? Y'all get thunderstorms there? Sounds like a small tornado...?

[Christi]

Wow, glad to hear it was brief.

We were blessed with the weather while there last week. Arrived May 4th and just got back last night.

We dove Cozumel the 9th, 10th and 11th. Everything was great and I truly feel very lucky given the forecast of rain three of those days.

I am really going to miss the diving there in Cozumel! Hope to be back next year.

Glad you had a good trip and enjoyed Cozumel.

Keep in mind that this wild storm did not last all day by any means. As I always say...it lasted all of 45 minutes to an hour. The rest of the day was gorgeous...with scattered clouds.

A forecast of rain doesn't mean anything.

[scubamgb]

I was in Cozumel May 5-12. Our flight back to Toronto left on May 12th at 8:45pm so we all were in the airport when the storm hit. As we drove to the airport through town all you could see in the Western skies was darkness and lightening. We just made it into the airport when the winds and rain started. Looking out onto the runway, you could not even see the trees/bushes just on the other side of the runway. Storm lasted maybe about an hour - I didn't time it. We aslo got a few power outages at the airport but they last only seconds.

On the good side, our plane landed no problem, dropped off passengers then loaded us on for a safe and on-time trip back home to Toronto. The weather the entire week was perfect and so was the diving. To be honest, Cozumel did need a little rain fall but I hope as I write this that the weather is again perfect for all those on the island right now!!!!