Overview

• State Protección Civil confirms two low-intensity tornado funnels formed around midday on September 3 over San Cristóbal de las Casas, striking central and northern neighborhoods including Mexicanos, El Cerrillo, Santa Lucía and the Centro Histórico.
• At least one person was injured by a fallen tree as strong winds tore sheet‑metal roofs, toppled trees, damaged market stalls and vehicles, cut power in spots and were followed by heavy rain and hail that caused localized flooding.
• A preliminary assessment lists 77 affected homes, 25 trees down, two vehicles damaged and four schools flooded, with 250 emergency personnel deployed from state and regional units to assist and clear debris.
• Classes were suspended at several schools, and the governor visited the city as multi‑agency crews from Protección Civil, firefighters, health services, CFE and the Army under Plan DN‑III carried out response and cleanup operations.
• Authorities and local experts attribute the vortices—known locally as culebras—to wind shear from interacting warm surface air and colder air aloft shaped by local topography, with the event categorized as F0 based on observed damage.