Mexico City is preparing to face five heat waves and up to 11 environmental contingencies during the year 2025, according to estimates from the National Meteorological Service of Conagua and the Secretariat of the Environment of Mexico City (Sedema). This figure represents a decrease compared to the year 2024, which, along with 1993, ranked first in the number of contingencies due to ozone particles since records began.
In a press conference, Fabián Vázquez, General Coordinator of the National Meteorological Service of Conagua, mentioned that 4 to 5 heat waves are expected during the dry season in the Valley of Mexico, covering the months of February, March, and April, with an average duration of 6 to 7 days. Over the past decade, an increase in the number of these heat waves has been observed in the region, but it is considered unlikely that a situation similar to that of 2024, a year that was exceptional in environmental terms, will occur again.
Víctor Hugo Páramo, Executive Coordinator of the Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis (CAMe), reported that according to forecasts from Sedema, the activation of between 3 and 11 environmental contingencies is expected due to ozone concentrations exceeding 154 parts per billion (ppb) during the heat season. This amount corresponds to Phase I of environmental contingency for the Metropolitan Zone of the Valley of Mexico, which will result in a lower number of contingencies compared to 2024.
Regarding preventive measures to protect against ultraviolet radiation, Martha Alejandra Morales Sánchez, from the Dr. Ladislao De la Pascua Dermatological Center, emphasized the importance of reducing outdoor activities during peak solar radiation hours, wearing long-sleeved clothing and sunscreen, and checking the ultraviolet index through websites that provide air quality information.
To avoid environmental contingencies, it is advisable to reduce the use of solvent-based products, repair LP gas leaks, refuel gasoline at specific times to reduce evaporation, avoid burning materials and waste, work from home whenever possible, and use digital communication means to manage procedures and purchases. If going out, it is recommended to walk, use a bicycle, or public transport.
