A devastating heatwave has gripped Mexico since mid-March, causing at least 26 deaths, nationwide blackouts and the escalation of an existing water crisis.
Ten cities have registered record-high temperatures, including the normally temperate, high-altitude Mexico City, which hit 34.3C on May 17.
Water shortages have been so severe in the Mexican capital that even the city’s traffic police have led protests over “intolerable” working conditions.
Around 85 percent of the country is expected to see highs of at least 40C this week, with around a third of the country reaching 45C or more.
The aggressive heat has been caused by a heat dome – a persistent and powerful system of high pressure – which has remained over a large area of Mexico.
Meteorologists say it has caused hotter-than-average ocean temperatures across the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico which have, in turn, raised temperatures of adjacent land areas.
The edges of heat domes often generate severe storms.