BCS Among the Most Affected States
In the last two weeks, the country’s surface area affected by drought conditions has increased from 64.2 to 65.9 percent, according to the Mexico Drought Monitor.
The April 30, 2025 report, issued by the SMN (National Meteorological Service),attributes this phenomenon to anticyclonic circulation in the mid-levels of the atmosphere and low water vapor content, which has significantly reduced rainfall.
This situation has led to an increase in areas with extreme and exceptional drought in the northwest of the country and a rise in areas with moderate drought in the center and south. According to the report, five states now have 100 percent of their municipalities affected: Baja California, Colima, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, and Sonora.
Baja California Sur shows impacts across 80 percent of its territory. The effects are also reflected in the number of municipalities in critical condition.
In March, 452 municipalities reported some degree of drought; the number rose to 468 by the end of April. The most affected areas are concentrated in the north and center of the country.
The threat is growing, and in BCS, the risk is even greater. It is one of the states with the highest water stress in the country, and its municipalities face serious challenges in guaranteeing access to water in the coming years.
The state capital is one of the hot spots; the city has a historic shortage of drinking water, worsened by population growth and the deterioration of its distribution network.
In La Paz, many neighborhoods depend on water rationing or private pipelines, while aquifer levels continue to decline. The aquifer that supplies this municipalityoperates with a significant deficit, extracting water far exceeding natural recharge.
In Los Cabos, the water crisis takes on another dimension. While tourist resorts have irrigation systems and private wells, popular neighborhoods suffer constant water outages and limited access to services.
San José del Cabo experiences a water deficit of 26.41 gal. per second, while in Cabo San Lucas, the figure rises to 47.55 gal. per second.
The situation is becoming critical as eighty percent of Southern California is experiencing arid conditions and water shortages.