Is it Safe to Visit Baja California, Mexico? Of Course!

The worst is the recent warning issued by the US government in a press release advising its citizens to avoid Baja California – again based on old reports of past crimes. This is very damaging to our image.The reality is that visiting Baja California is safe. Yes we have to deal with the same kinds of crimes that occur in any big city, but really, is there any place that is completely safe?

Is it Safe to Visit Baja California, Mexico? Of Course!
Also see: Mexico Travel Warning in Perspective

URGENT ALERT Intense Thunderstorms headed for tip of Baja peninsula

A large cell of intese thunderstorms has developed quickly and is headed for the tip of Baja California Sur. Although this system is being generated by a tropical wave, it is not yet a tropical cyclone. Residents of the southern most portions of Baja California Sur should prepare for heavy rain and wind within the next 6-12hrs.

Smoking Ban Reaches into Mexico

A new Federal Anti-smoking law has gone into effect throughout Mexico. Smoking is now banned from restaraunts, bars, hotels and nightclubs with stipulations even more stringent that those in California. Smoking even in outdoor restaurants is banned, except in specified and isolated locations in the facility.
Similar to the way the enforcement of the California law took time to phase in. Certain establishments are ignoring the edict. However, the establishment is subject to fines are well as the smoker. In line with not providing an opportunity to 'get messed with' by authorities, it is probably a good idea for travelers to acknowledge the ban.
http://www.yumasun.com/news/law_44549___article.html/algodones_mexico.html

Baja Insider Makes Press Stateside

With all the negative news floating about in the states, we try to bring a bit of sanity to the issue of driving in Baja. Lots has been done to inprove security for travelers in Baja, Mexico is well aware of what side the tourist dollar bread is buttered on. JAmes Glover and Tomas Zyber, founders of the Insider take every opportunity to express thier feellings on the fun and secure ways to continue to enjoy the Baja California peninsula
Travel Q&A: Using a boat trailer in Mexico is doable - Reading Eagle Newspaper

Felipe Ehrenberg present Manchuria in Tecate

One of the most controversial and important Mexican artists in the past 50 years.Felipe Ehrenberg visit Tecate presenting his book: Manchuria. Visión Periférica.
A presentation will take place at Laura Castanedo´s home, promoted by the International Cultural Association Terra dell’Arte, El Centro de Humanidades de Baja California, El Sótano de Rita y el Instituto de Cultura de Baja California, Delegación Tecate.
Click here for full story

Baja California Peninsula Weather

Monday, 09/08/2008 9:56 AM MDT Tropical Storm Lowell (red arrow) lost a little steam overnight, but forecasts still call for a tropical storm landfall on the Pacific coast of Baja Sur late this week. A large cell of thunderstorms, (yellow arrow) not associated with Lowell is moving NNW from the mainland and will bring mostly cloudy skies, rain and even some thunderstorms to much of the tip of the Baja peninsula today. Wind in the Sea are forecast to be light and variable through today, increasing to 35-40kts as TS Lowell approaches in 48hrs.

The 24hr end point of Hurricane Ike (white arrow) can be seem moving onto the eastern side of our map. Ike's destination in the Gulf is yet unclear, when Ike enters the waters NW of Cuba on Wednesday it is expected to re intensify and head for the US Gulf coast. There is an area of thunderstorms covering the Gulf coast of Mexico, moving north which may deflect Ike into a more northward pattern. Further south in our hurricane basin strong upper level winds are impeding development of any additional tropical activity. Today's SST Surface Chart is animated to show the changes in the sea temps since last Monday. It looks like we are on the back side of our hurricane season as the entire basin has cooled significantly. Note the reduction in area of the +28° & +29°C waters along the Pacific coast of Mexico. There are currently no areas of +30°C in our basin.

Click for Baja Weather – Click for Hurricane Watch Weather- Click here TS Lowell

Baja Weather - Tropical Storm Lowell to Turn for Baja California Sur

Sunday, 09/07/2008 10:56 PM MDT Tropical Storm Lowell (red arrow) has continued to strengthen slowly throughout the day today. TS Lowell is still not forecast to do any better than tropical storm intensity, but forecasts seem to be solidifying on a Baja landfall late next week, after Lowell executes a 90° turn to the NE. We will continue to monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Lowell.
There are some intense cells of thunderstorms (yellow arrow) off the coast of the mainland. These may drift west enough to influence Baja Sur in the afternoon, but usually these cells dry up before reaching Baja. W are just seeing the edge of Hurricane Ike, now a Category 3 Hurricane as it is forecast to move along the entire NE coast of Cuba. Where Ike will make landfall along the Gulf coast is still anyone's guess, but intensification will be possible again when Ike moves NW off the island of Cuba.

Tropical Storm Lowell may threaten Baja Next Weekend

09/07/2008 9:43 AM MDT Tropical Storms Lowell has strengthened slightly overnight as it moves WNW some 280 miles WSW of Manzanillo or about 410 miles SSE of Cabo San Lucas. Early forecasts anticipate that Lowell will remain a tropical storm as it moves NW into the Pacific and long range forecasts indicate this morning the TS Lowell may turn to the NE and head toward a rendezvous with Baja California Sur next weekend.

Baja California Weather - TS Karina Forms

Tuesday, 09/02/2008 11:00 AM MDT We have a new Tropical Storm in the Eastern Pacific, Tropical Storm Karina (red arrow) has formed some 265 miles SSW of Cabo San Lucas. Upper level winds have not been conducive to to storm development and will likely impede the growth of Karina. The storm is forecast to move west into the Pacific and at this time will probably not affect Baja weather. We have added the forecast storm track to our SST Surface Chart on the Hurricane Watch page, we hope you find it useful in placing the storm and its path. On the same graphic the SST temperature change over the last week is animated. The +30°C water has all but disappeared from our basin but the 28°-29°C water has expanded dramatically. Further south we will be keeping an eye on some developing thunderstorms in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. This area of disturbed weather is forecast at this time to remain off the southern coast of Mexico and not develop further, but that is what they said about Karina.

Today is going to be very warm and very humid across much of Baja. Overnight lows, because of the humidity, will also not drop like last week. Winds in the Sea are forecast to be light and variable, around 10kts, except in the vicinity of thunderstorms. We have a thermal Low (green arrow) over the Baja California/US border region of little significance, except to raise the threat of afternoon thunderstorms, which exists along the entire east coast of the peninsula.

The remains of Gustav (white arrow) is delivering rain and some wind to Louisiana and will move NE brining much needed rain as it does. It will be a busy week in the Atlantic, as two additional hurricanes and a tropical depression forecast to develop further will threaten the leeward islands later this week. Those forecasters at the NHC will earn their pay this week!
Click for Baja Weather – Click for Hurricane Watch Weather- Click for TS Karina