The drought in Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico

The drought situation in the Yucatan Peninsula in 2020 is shaping up to be worst in the past 34 years. Three years of below-average rainfall are merging, and groundwater levels are already pummeling to minimum levels, making this year's drought projections similar to major droughts that occurred in 1986 and 1962.

Aside from the devastating consequences of a dry period including extraction of water for agricultural use and human consumption, wildfires are also at high risk, with some of it already started.

February to May is Yucatan's dry season-- the time when farmers traditionally burn and clear fields for crops. However, the situation is also an urban crisis.

"The theory of climate change tells us that extraordinary meteorological events will occur in large urban spots," said meteorologist Juan Vasquez Montalvo from the Autonomous University of Yucatan (UADY) Meteorological Center. "Therefore, Merida will be the city where the hot environment and high temperatures throughout the southeast of Mexico will suffer the most."

"Everything indicates that the 2020 dry season will be the strongest since 1986," Montalvo said, adding that the situation is of utmost significance, considering that this year's dry spell ties in with that of 2019 and a part of 2018 when the rainfall was less than average.

Three years of below-average rainfall are merging, and groundwater levels are already pummeling to minimum levels.