Tropical Storm Raymond hits Mexican Pacific coasts

The Mexican Pacific is preparing for a complicated weekend with strong winds and precipitation that require maximum caution.

Raymond arrives to ruin your weekend plans (and possibly your cell phone with so much alert)

It seems that nature decided that our weekend plans on the beach were too basic and added a touch of low-cost climate apocalypse. In the next few hours, Tropical Storm Raymond, which sounds more like the name of a boring accountant than a devastating natural phenomenon, will maintain its particular drama over the Mexican Pacific. Prepare for heavy rain in Jalisco, Colima and Michoacán, and “very heavy” rain (meteorologists’ favorite euphemism for “they’re going to need an ark”) in Nayarit.

But wait, there’s more, because what would a storm be without a gale that challenges your hairstyle? Wind gusts of 70 to 90 km/h are forecast on the coasts of Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco. To give you an idea, it is the speed at which they drive on the road, but applied to the air and with the bonus that it can throw a palm tree in your face. In Nayarit and Sinaloa they will be more modest, 40 to 60 km/h, enough to blow away your umbrella and your dignity.

RelatedTropical Storm Raymond advances off the Mexican coast

The sea is also bad and it is not because of its existential problems

In its afternoon report, the National Meteorological Service (SMN), which is like your friends’ chat group but for natural disasters, warned that the swell will be between 3 and 4 meters on the coasts of Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco. Basically, waves the size of a city bus. Perfect for surfing if your life plan includes ending up in the hospital. In Nayarit and southern Sinaloa, the waves will be 2 to 3 meters, what surfers call “a boring day” and mortals “a reason not to leave home.”

To give you precise coordinates of our undesirable “guest”: at 3:00 p.m., central Mexico time (that time when you should already be at home and not wondering if you go out), the center of tropical storm Raymond was located 150 km west-southwest of Playa Pérula, Jalisco. It’s moving northwest at 17 mph, faster than you’re running when you see the truck coming. Its maximum sustained winds are 85 km/h with gusts of 100 km/h, enough power to justify staying home watching a series without guilt.

Meanwhile, in this hurricane season’s spin-off, we have Priscilla, which has already become a post-tropical cyclone (the climate equivalent of when your ex becomes spiritual). It was located 170 km south-southwest of Punta Eugenia and 355 km west-northwest of Cabo San Lázaro, Baja California Sur. With maximum winds of 55 km/h and gusts of 75 km/h, it’s like the “economy” version of Raymond, but still capable of ruining your day. Due to its dissipation, this is the latest information on the system, which in colloquial language means: “Priscilla, it was nice while it lasted, but please go away now.”

The remnants of Priscilla will cause heavy rains in Baja California Sur and intervals of showers in Baja California, along with wind gusts of 40 to 60 km/h and waves of 2 to 3 meters. Basically, an unpleasant but manageable day, like when you have to go to a mandatory family gathering.

The authorities ask for caution (and we ask that you listen to them)

The SMN will maintain surveillance in the prevention zone for the effects of tropical storm winds from Manzanillo, Colima, to Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, including the Marías Islands in Nayarit, and from Los Barriles to Santa Fe, Baja California Sur. That is, if you live in these areas, perhaps you should consider that today is not the best day for your photo session on the beach.

The authorities asked for extreme precautions because the rains could come with electric shocks (lightning, for friends) and cause puddles, landslides and flooding in low areas. In other words: if your house looks more like a pool than a home, perhaps you should have listened to the recommendations.

Predicted winds could blow down trees and billboards, meaning that “For Sale” billboard that’s been there for years could end up in your living room. The call is to heed the notices of the National Water Commission, follow the recommendations of Civil Protection and take extreme precautions. In other words, now is not the time to get creative with the preparation.

In short, Raymond arrived to remind us who’s boss in the Pacific, while Priscilla makes her discreet exit through the back door. The combination of heavy rain, hurricane force winds and high waves creates the perfect cocktail for a weekend of voluntary confinement. Maybe it’s a good time for that series marathon you had pending, away from windows and any object that the wind could turn into a projectile.

Have you checked your emergency kit yet? Do you have your important documents at hand? The batteries in your radio? Take advantage of the fact that you surely have an internet signal (for now) and share this information on your social networks so that your contacts in these areas stay informed and take precautions. And if you want to always be prepared for whatever the weather brings, explore more content related to weather phenomena on our site. Because better safe than sorry, especially when nature decides to get dramatic.

Kenia López Rabadán criticizes the INE for not stopping early campaigns

The PAN deputy demands that the electoral authority act without subordination in the face of anticipated acts.

The president of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Deputies, Kenia López Rabadán (PAN), questioned the decision of the National Electoral Institute (INE) to remove the debate on the regulation of early campaigns from its agenda. He considered that the authority must act independently to stop these acts, especially those initiated by Morena in its internal process of selecting candidates for governors for 2027.

“The electoral authority must make an objective, clear and evident analysis, and without any type of subordination to anything. Hopefully the electoral authority can soon make a clear definition so that there are no anticipated campaign events,” he declared at a press conference.

López Rabadán warned that processes initiated outside the electoral calendar, even if they intend to be integrated later, are illegal and must be sanctioned. He insisted that pre-campaigns without legal basis generate bad practice for the country.

Position on Councilor Montaño’s project

The legislator also rejected the project of “General Guidelines to regulate and supervise the processes, acts, activities and propaganda carried out in political processes” promoted by counselor Jorge Montaño. He pointed out that any modification to the law should have been made 90 days before the start of the electoral process, and not now.

“If they want to modify the law, they had up to 90 days before the electoral process began to modify the electoral rules. If we get used to the law being violated and no one saying anything, it will be terrible for the country,” he stated.

The PAN member’s call comes amid Morena’s progress in defining its candidates for 2027, which has raised alerts about possible early acts of proselytism. The INE, for its part, has not issued an official position after removing the issue from the agenda.

Continue reading

Law against feminicide: PRI sees it as insufficient, Morena prioritizes it

The presidential initiative against feminicide divides opinions in the Senate: PRI questions impunity, PAN asks for analysis and Morena prioritizes it.

Proposal and reactions

President Claudia Sheinbaum’s initiative to create the General Law to Prevent, Investigate and Punish Femicide generated divided positions in the Senate. Morena will seek to rule it as a priority at the beginning of the next period in September, while the PRI and the PAN expressed reservations.

PRI: the problem is impunity

PRI senator Carolina Viggiano Austria maintained that feminicide cannot be resolved with new laws or increased penalties. “You can put 100 years or 70 years in prison, but if you never manage to investigate or sentence those responsible, what you put is simply propaganda,” he said.

He pointed out that the real reform is in the local prosecutor’s offices: insufficient, poorly paid and unprepared public ministries. He proposed strengthening research, technology and specialized personnel capacities with a gender perspective.

PAN: in-depth review

Mayuli Latifa Martínez, vice coordinator of the PAN, asked to read the initiative before setting a position. “This heinous crime against women should unify us,” she said. But he warned that it is not enough to create standards: prevention and protection actions are required.

He highlighted that before feminicide there is a chain of attacks—familial, psychological, economic—that many victims do not report due to lack of prompt justice and economic dependence. He demanded a detailed analysis of the obligations for the states.

Morena: approval required

Morenoist Verónica Camino Farjat celebrated that the proposal reached the Senate first. He explained that there are currently differences between states in the classification and sanctions of feminicide, which benefits perpetrators in cases that cross borders. “What we are looking for is that the same classification exists in all states,” he indicated.

Camino Farjat announced that the commissions could begin the analysis immediately, even before the regular period, to have the opinion ready in the first week of September. The Morena bench considers the initiative a priority to protect women’s rights.

Continue reading

They dismantle two clandestine laboratories in Michoacán and Nayarit

The Navy located and disabled two laboratories with the capacity to produce 17.5 tons per month.

The Secretary of the Navy (Semar) reported that in recent days, naval personnel located and disabled two clandestine laboratories in Michoacán and Nayarit. In the operations, 11 reactors of approximately 30 thousand liters were seized, as well as 2.5 tons of chemical precursors and specialized infrastructure for the production of illicit substances.

Details of the operation

According to a statement from the agency, both facilities had a production capacity of more than 17.5 tons per month. The estimated value in the illicit market reaches 412 million dollars. Semar stated that this seizure represents resources that stopped strengthening financial structures of criminal organizations.

The laboratories were identified through naval intelligence work, aerial and ground surveillance, operational reconnaissance and coordinated actions between security authorities.

Semar highlighted that under the current administration it has located and disabled a total of 75 clandestine laboratories. This is equivalent to an economic impact for organized crime of 20 thousand 186 million 608 thousand 766 Mexican pesos.

The agency assured that it will continue with these tasks as part of the National Security Strategy. Just on July 14, the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, reported that from October to June the Security Cabinet has dismantled 2,627 clandestine laboratories and methamphetamine concentration areas. In addition, it reported 498.98 tons of drugs seized, including 5 million 546 thousand fentanyl pills.

Continue reading