MEXICO CITY – At least six people have died in the cold wave affecting the northern Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua, where two cold fronts converged, pushing temperatures below freezing and unleashing isolated rains, officials said Wednesday.

Isolated rains are expected in the states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, San Luis Potosi, Queretaro, Hidalgo, Puebla, Tlaxcala and Mexico.

Temperatures are forecast to drop to -5 C, with a hard freeze expected in mountainous areas in Sonora, Chihuahua and Durango states, all located in northern Mexico.

The thermometer will dip to zero to -5 C, with a hard freeze, in higher elevation areas in Baja California, Coahuila and Zacatecas states.

Temperatures are expected to fall to zero to 5 C, with a possible freeze, in mountainous regions in Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi, Aguascalientes, Michoacan, Mexico, the Federal District, Hidalgo, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Veracruz and Oaxaca.

Snow and wind warnings were issued a few days ago for the states in northern Mexico, where roads have been cut off and flights cancelled.

The National Migration Institute, or INM, is warning migrants to avoid passing through northern Mexico.