Unfortunately that is not always what we get once the rainy season arrives. It's hurricane season and out in the Pacific tropical depressions and storms are continually forming. Most past harmlessly by, others give us a good soaking. But hurricanes happen.
May 15 marks the beginning of 2004 Hurricane Season. The state Civil Protection agency, based on an analysis of ocean temperatures, currents and atmospheric conditions, is forecasting a relatively normal season.
We can expect a total of 15 weather fronts significant enough to get a name. Of these, three could reach the intensity of force 1 or 2 hurricane (with winds between 118 and 177 Km per hour) and three could develop into intense 3 to 5 force hurricanes (winds up to 250 Km/h); The remaining nine would fall into the category of tropical storms.
Since Hurricanes Paulina and Rick smacked into the Oaxacan coast in 1997, the state of Oaxaca has aggressively fostered a culture of civil protection.
During hurricane season (May 15 to Nov. 30), an elaborate system of storm tracking, using all the national and international meteorological resources, goes into permanent effect.
Data gathered is transmitted to the National System of Civil Protection which issues bulletins to the news media every six hours, if there's a tropical depression more than 500 Km from the Mexican coast. Once a storm develops within that 500 Km, bulletins are issued every three hours.
The most intense storms tend to threaten here towards the end of the season. Sudden, dramatic squalls are not uncommon, however, in the early weeks of the rainy season.
Be aware that during these storms, huge amounts of rain can fall in a very short period of time and those previously dry creek beds can convert into raging torrents. Be very careful in crossing these on foot; even if you don't get swept away, they frequently carry heavy debris that can cause serious injury.
If you are driving, take it slow and watch out for washouts and mud slides.
If a potentially dangerous storm the local Emergency Action Plan will go into effect, evacuating areas susceptible to flooding and providing emergency shelter.
Radio Esmeralda, the local FM radio station (at FM 94.1), will broadcast bulletins in English in case of a hurricane alert. Meanwhile, pray for rain.
The names assigned to this year's tropical storms in the Pacific:
| Ágata | Blas | Celia | Darby | Estelle |
| Frank | Georgette | Howard | Isis | Javier |
| Kay | Lester | Madeline | Newton | Orlene |
| Paine | Roslyn | Seymour | Tina | Virgil |