Cold wave paralyzes schools in Mexico: Extreme weather affects Xiutetelco and other regions

The third winter storm of the season, called ‘Fern,’ caused multiple entities across the country to implement contingency measures in 2025. Four main states decided to suspend school activities due to the adverse weather conditions forecasted. Tamaulipas, Puebla, Chihuahua, and Nuevo León were the first to announce the closure of classrooms, especially at preschool, primary, and secondary levels. The National Water Commission’s Weather Service (Conagua) warned of a temperature drop affecting 23 states, with temperatures ranging from -15 to 5 degrees Celsius, along with expected heavy rainfall in Veracruz and Oaxaca.

What is the weather situation in the affected states?

Educational and civil protection authorities evaluated the climate in each region to determine the scope of preventive measures. Warnings for extreme cold extended across different latitudes of the country, prompting varied responses depending on the severity of the forecasted frosts. While some state governments opted for complete cancellation of classes, others allowed flexibility for parents to decide whether their children would attend school.

Nuevo León and Chihuahua: Different responses to the cold

Samuel García, governor of Nuevo León, announced that after coordinating with Civil Protection, temperatures were expected to be near 0 or 1 degree, with possible nighttime drops to -1 to -2 degrees. Therefore, he ordered that in-person classes be optional, allowing parents to decide whether to send their children. “School facilities will be prepared, some even with climate control systems; however, the final decision will be in the hands of families,” García clarified.

In contrast, Chihuahua adopted a more restrictive stance. The Secretary of Education and Sports of that state confirmed the total cancellation of activities for two consecutive days, arguing that the measure aimed to “safeguard the integrity and health of the student population.” The local government emphasized that this preventive action reduced exposure to extreme weather conditions and limited vehicular circulation on roads, decreasing health risks and strengthening community safety.

Puebla and Tamaulipas: Preventive measures due to extreme temperatures

Puebla joined the contingency by suspending classes in more than 5,800 schools across the northern and northeastern mountains. Conagua projected minimum temperatures of -5 degrees and torrential rains of up to 75 millimeters in those areas. Municipalities like Xiutetelco, located in the northeastern mountain range, were particularly affected by the adverse weather characterizing this cold wave. Other at-risk localities included Cuetzalan del Progreso, Hueytlalpan, Zacapoaxtla, and Zaragoza, along with fifty additional municipalities in both mountain ranges that required school day cancellations.

Tamaulipas implemented a gradual system based on temperature severity. If minimum temperatures reached 0 degrees or below, closures were automatic. Between 1 and 5 degrees, classes became optional at parental discretion. Municipalities such as Nuevo Laredo and Guerrero experienced drops from -4 to -2 degrees, while Reynosa and Matamoros recorded -2 to 0 degrees, resulting in different restriction levels depending on each locality.

Xiutetelco and other communities on weather alert

The community of Xiutetelco, representative of Puebla’s most vulnerable municipalities to winter weather, faced one of the most critical situations. Its geographic location in the northeastern mountains exposed it directly to the forecasted frosts, fully justifying the decision to suspend in-person education. Dozens of municipalities in the same region adopted similar measures, recognizing that extreme weather posed a potential danger to students traveling to schools.

The accumulated experience from previous years showed that these decisions are established protocols when weather reaches critical thresholds. Meteorological authorities continued monitoring the evolution of storm ‘Fern’ to adjust measures as necessary. Balancing economic activity and population safety remains essential in contexts where extreme weather defines state governance priorities.