Hurricanes frequently happen in Mexico. The National Hurricane Center in Miami, USA, is responsible for maintaining historical records of tropical cyclones and has jurisdiction over Region IV, which also includes Mexico.

In the past, Mexico has been hit by five major category 5 hurricanes along its Atlantic coast. This means that not only did the recent Hurricane Otis leave its mark, but there were 5 other major hurricanes even stronger than Otis.

• Beulah (1967)
• Anita (1977)
• Gilbert (1988)
• Janet (1995)
• Dean (2007)

While there were only 3 hurricanes of such category in the Pacific Ocean:

• Patricia (2015)
• Otis (2023)
• Milton (2024)

These hurricanes caused severe damage and significant economic losses on the Mexican Atlantic coast. However, they also had positive impacts, such as replenishing aquifers and reservoirs vital to livestock and agriculture.

Hurricane Patricia

However, the most powerful hurricane to hit Mexico was Patricia in 2015. It was the strongest hurricane ever observed in the Western Hemisphere and the strongest one in terms of sustained maximum winds in the world.

Patricia originated from a tropical disturbance and quickly gained strength, reaching category 5. Initially considered the deadliest hurricane for Mexico, it was later classified as the world’s deadliest hurricane in recorded history.

Patricia quickly lost her strength after making landfall on the Mexican coast.

Hurricane Otis

On October 25, 2023, Acapulco was hit by Hurricane Otis in the state of Guerrero. The cyclone surprised the international community by transforming from a tropical storm into a category 5 hurricane in less than 12 hours.

Unexpectedly, wind speeds changed from 64 km/h to an incredible 270 km/h. This atypical behavior shattered the country’s historical intensification records and was considered statistically incredible by Mexican authorities.

Hurricanes continue to be an ongoing problem in Mexico.

Understanding hurricane intensity and behavior is critical to disaster preparedness and mitigation. Hurricanes Patricia and Otis serve as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and effective response to extreme weather events.

However, there is always a certain percentage of uncertainty in estimates.

What is a Hurricane Otis?

On October 24, it was a tropical storm, and the next day, Hurricane Otis unexpectedly went from category 1 to category 5. The hurricane’s impact on Acapulco’s infrastructure was devastating and unprecedented.

There is no record of any hurricane of this intensity in this part of Mexico – states the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, an agency dependent on the Office of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Where did Hurricane Otis impact?

At noon on Tuesday, October 24, Otis was a tropical storm. It took 9 hours for its intensity to reach its maximum point and become a category 5 hurricane. The devastating cyclone made landfall on the Acapulco coast.

Hurricane Otis went from category 1 to category 5 in just 24 hours.

Hurricane Otis was the first hurricane on the Mexican Pacific coast to make landfall at category 5 intensity and surpassed Hurricane Patricia in 2015 as the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the Pacific on record.

The highway bypass at Pie de la Cuesta, in Acapulco, Guerrero, was split into a section 8 meters wide after the passage of Hurricane Otis

The passage of Otis caused great devastation in the state of Guerrero, being one of the strongest hurricanes to have hit the coasts of the Mexican Pacific. It caused a widespread electricity outage in Acapulco, which was cut off.

What happened in Acapulco with Hurricane Otis?

Otis arrived on Wednesday at 12:25 with winds of more than 250 km/h and hit Acapulco as a category 5 hurricane. Acapulco, one of the tourist gems of Mexico was left without electricity, water,  internet, and gasoline.

Acapulco was unprepared for such a disaster. Hurricane Otis disabled the airport and destroyed the Princess Hotel on Revolcadero Beach. The hurricane damaged the stadium where the Mexican Tennis Open was played.

Hurricane Otis also dismantled the yacht club and the fishing fleet of Acapulco.

Hurricane severely damaged hotels on the Costera Miguel Alemán, but above all, it devastated the homes of tens of thousands of people and burst the electrical service networks, which left the Acapulco without water.

Otis impacted Acapulco bringing death and destruction.

Hurricane Otis downed power lines, uprooted trees, and unleashed torrential flooding and mudslides. Beyond its devastating impact on human life and property, the hurricane damaged the surrounding rainforest area.

Acapulco is located at the foot of the mountains, surrounded by forests. This image shows the city and its surroundings before and after Otis’ attack. The landscape near the city changes from lush green vegetation to brown.

Images of Acapulco and the bay taken by the OLI sensor on Landsat 8 on September 21, 2023 (before Hurricane Otis passed), and the OLI-2 sensor on Landsat 9 after the passage of Hurricane Otis on October 31, 2023.

Hurricanes affect and disturb temperate and tropical forests in the coastal regions. Strong winds strip leaves from trees and break branches, and heavy rain combined with wind makes it easy to uproot trees from wet soils.

The damage to vegetation in the mountain area outside Acapulco is especially. Trees at high elevations and on steep slopes are more likely to suffer damage during storms because they are more exposed to high wind speeds.

Mexico is susceptible to hurricanes, primarily affecting regions along its coasts. Hurricanes occur in the Caribbean and Pacific coastal regions. With less risk of destruction, hurricanes also occur in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane formation is influenced by high sea surface temperatures, exceeding 26 C, providing the necessary heat for storms to form. Hurricanes bring strong winds, intense rainfall, and changes in air temperature.

Lightning also can occur during storms, but it’s not a primary concern compared to other hazards like wind and rainfall. However, it’s always advisable to exercise caution and avoid open areas during thunderstorms.

Specific hurricane impacts can vary based on the storm’s intensity, trajectory, and local topography. Staying informed through meteorological updates and following local authorities’ guidelines is crucial for safety.

The hurricane season usually lasts from early June to late November.

Hurricane season conditions

Conditions during the hurricane season may vary depending on time and region.

Early Season (June-July): Early in the hurricane season, typically June and July, activity may be more moderate, but tropical cyclone formation is possible. Winds and rain may be less intense but remain vigilant.

Peak Season (August-September): The frenetic activity of hurricanes usually peaks in August and September. During this period, major hurricanes with strong winds and intense rain are more likely to occur here.

Late season (October-November): Towards the end of the season, in October and at sunset, hurricane activity usually gradually decreases, but tropical storms and hurricanes may still be present with less activity.

Specific conditions may be considered each year and not all effects may be negative. Hurricane season is a period of increased risk, and travelers are advised to monitor forecasts, especially during the peak season.

Hurricane-prone regions in Mexico

While Mexico is known as a paradise for beachgoers, it’s important to note that certain regions within the country are prone to hurricanes. These areas face a higher risk of hurricanes due to their geographic location.

The Caribbean Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Coast, and the Baja California Peninsula, are known for their high risk of hurricanes. These regions frequently experience hurricanes between June and November.

With that being said, however, hurricane season should not be a deterrent to enjoying a well-deserved getaway in Mexico, especially in a destination like Puerto Vallarta!

Puerto Vallarta is situated along the glittering waters of Banderas Bay, this charming city is fortunate to remain relatively unscathed when most hurricanes threaten the region’s coastline.

Banderas Bay is a natural barrier to hurricanes and storms

The Banderas Bay, as well as the lush mountains that envelop Puerto Vallarta, provides an extra barrier of natural protection that makes the city one of the safest places to visit on the Mexican Pacific coastline during hurricane season.

Hurricanes typically run in this area from June through November. Storms in the area should always be taken seriously, but they generally do not pose any major risks for tourists.

For example, when Hurricane Kenna struck the Pacific coast in 2002, the powerful storm did cause flooding in Puerto Vallarta which led to some structure and vehicle damage.

However, the hurricane was not dangerous for visitors who were cautious and did what was asked of them to stay safe.

Benefits of traveling during hurricane season

Many tourists who visit Puerto Vallarta frequently actually base their vacations around hurricane season because they can usually score amazing travel deals.

Most resorts have lower occupancy rates during these times, so they are often happy to give travelers room upgrades, free nights, or discounts around their property on everything from dining to SPA treatments.

With fewer people around, travelers can look forward to a relaxing atmosphere where they can truly unwind.

Although this time of the year does bring a lot of rain to the area, there are noticeable patterns in the rainfall, making it possible to plan most activities in advance, most days see sunshine until mid-afternoon when scattered showers often pass through.

Taking proper precautions

Due to the incredibly advanced technology now available to help meteorologists predict and track storms, locals and tourists alike have plenty of warning long before any storm activity could actually strike land.

Although Puerto Vallarta is rarely affected by hurricanes in a major sense, local officials always like to err on the side of caution and make sure that everyone in the area is safe and sound.

This can lead to mandatory evacuations to ensure that both residents and visitors are out of harm’s way, although these occasions are infrequent.

As tropical storms and hurricanes build over the Pacific and move towards land, Puerto Vallarta can receive significant rainfall and high wind speeds, which sometimes leads to flooding.

However, these situations are normally not dangerous as long as the proper precautions are taken.

Hurricane Nora in Puerto Vallarta 2021

On August 28th, 2021, Puerto Vallarta was put to the test once again with Nora, a level 1 type of hurricane. Nora hit the shores of Puerto Vallarta that night, causing heavy rains, winds, electrical and water problems, as well as floods.

However, its citizens, their homes, and touristic areas are mostly safe.

Mother Nature truly did her part in protecting Puerto Vallarta again. Local citizens and tourists visiting the area followed the guidelines, rules, and recommendations of the government, which also helped to avoid a bigger disaster.

Downtown Puerto Vallarta was closed because it was the most damaged part of the city along with the area surrounding Río Cuale. But soon both places were already open to the public again.

In Mexico, the risk of hurricane strikes is usually highest in August and September, and there are some Mexican regions that get hit by hurricanes more often than others ones.

In Puerto Vallarta, the rainy season falls between June and mid-October and sometimes extends into November. Puerto Vallarta is one of the locations that is often spared from the destruction of these tropical storms due to its geographic location.

Hurricane season in Banderas Bay

If you are planning on traveling to Mexico during the summer, consider a visit to Puerto Vallarta. Situated on the Pacific coast in Banderas Bay, it is sheltered by both the shape of the bay and the Sierra Madre mountains.

This specific geography results in hurricanes rarely striking this area. Storms that move up the coast often divert out to sea before hitting land, leaving this little piece of paradise intact.

Banderas Bay is not immune to a bad storm once in a while. During the summer months, there can be some fabulous rainstorms, but the weather in Puerto Vallarta is fairly predictable and easy to plan around.

Most days you will wake up to blue skies, warm sun, and crystal-clear waters.

You can plan your activities in the morning when it is warm and sunny, as it is usually not until the late afternoon that the cloud bank begins to form on the horizon and slowly makes its way inland.

After a day of seeing the sights in Puerto Vallarta, you can relax on your terrace with a drink and experience the clouds bringing their own special entertainment.

You can watch the wonders of nature unfold as the dark skies light up with a 3-D show of lightning flashing in between the massive cloud layers. It is truly mesmerizing!

Top reasons to visit Puerto Vallarta in the summer

Puerto Vallarta in the summer months offers a different experience than what one can expect in the winter high season.

Many tourists might shy away from visiting the tropics in the summer, but the low season is a great time of year that offers many excellent advantages to take into consideration.

One of the first things you may notice is that there is a little bit more humidity than you will find in the winter months. With the humidity comes eye-popping vibrant colors and extra lush foliage everywhere you look.

The evening rains combined with the warm sun bring life to areas that looked brown and brittle during the dry season. Vegetation grows by leaps and bounds over this handful of months creating an incredibly rich and thriving landscape.

You can find amazing offers and promotions on accommodations due to the lower occupancy rates that Puerto Vallarta experiences in the summer months.

Many resorts offer free room upgrades or special discounts during certain periods, so once you decide on a hotel, keep checking their website to see what special deals they are offering.

You can partake in holiday living and be treated like royalty and pay less than you might during other times of the year.

Fewer people mean quieter adventures. You will notice no lineups at popular restaurants. When you walk the beaches there is hardly anyone in sight, and private excursions will cost you less, sometimes with 2-for-1 promos.

There will be some dreamy days when you feel like you have been given a piece of paradise all to yourself.

Beautiful warm weather during the day and spectacular lightning show by night.  It’s truly the best of both worlds!

From July to September, the ocean waters are the warmest and clearest, providing the best underwater visibility of the year.  This makes it a perfect time for snorkeling and scuba diving.

If you would like to see tropical fish, you will be delighted with a visit to Marietas Islands or Los Arcos.

Tropical storms and hurricanes in Puerto Vallarta

There is always a small chance that tropical storms and hurricanes may hit the bay area during hurricane season. Hurricane Kenna in 2002, did hit Puerto Vallarta, but that was the last hurricane to cause significant damage.

Puerto Vallarta is well prepared for natural disasters should they hit, but due to the shape of the bay and the protection of the mountains, tropical storms often get close before veering away.

Since Puerto Vallarta is not on the open ocean, the likelihood of it being directly hit by a hurricane is relatively low and you are more likely to experience lots of rain, strong winds, and high waves.

Should you encounter a tropical storm during your visit, just be sure to follow the advice issued by the local authorities.

Additionally, meteorologists are equipped with advanced technology, and there is a state-of-the-art satellite tracking system that can predict the movement and the intensity of a storm.

These technological improvements provide tourists with plenty of advance notice so that precautions can be taken and preparations made long before the storm ever arrives.

In the rare case that an evacuation needs to occur, the city is prepared with the logistics and infrastructure to manage the situation and temporary shelters are ready year-round to handle emergency situations.

Up-to-date information is also readily available on multiple platforms. There are well-established expat communities throughout the bay area that regularly provide quality information using existing social media groups.

Additionally, all hotels have protocols in place to inform guests of an impending situation and what actions need to be taken.

General Hurricane Safety

Regardless of where you are staying, there are a few general hurricane safety rules you should adhere to:

• Always stay indoors
• Don’t walk on beaches or riverbanks
• Seek shelter that has a foundation and is above ground level
• Go inland if required
• Keep away from windows
• Listen to the local radio and NOAA for updates and instructions
• Have enough bottled water on hand to last a few days

Hurricane Nora in Puerto Vallarta 2021

On Saturday, August 28th, 2021, the shores of Puerto Vallarta were hit by Nora, a level 1 type of hurricane. But don’t worry, Nora did not cause much damage in Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta was once more protected by Mother Nature and while experiencing some minor problems, its citizens, their homes, and touristic areas were mostly safe.

Puerto Vallarta experienced heavy rain, winds, and electrical and water faults in certain locations that are already being taken care of. Downtown Puerto Vallarta was closed until further notice because it was the most damaged part of the city.

Come for a visit Puerta Vallarta

If you’re thinking of summer vacation, the low season is the perfect time to visit Puerto Vallarta. Pack an umbrella and come to enjoy a different season in the tropical paradise of Puerta Vallarta.

You won’t be disappointed!

Home to some of the most breathtaking beaches along the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun was fortunate to avoid much damage from hurricanes.  In fact, the coastal city has only been hit by two major hurricanes (Gilbert and Wilma, respectively), which were 17 years apart.

This means the likelihood that a hurricane might hit during your vacation is very slim.

When is hurricane season in Cancun?

Hurricane season begins in June and runs through November, though storms are more prevalent between August and October. Of course, a hurricane watch should always be noted, and if you are in the area, follow all warnings and evacuation procedures as officials issue them.

One of the smartest precautions you can personally take is to purchase trip insurance in case your vacation plans have to change due to storm activity. With hurricane season comes rain, but it often appears as just a passing shower, allowing you to get on with the fun of your vacation.

Cancun hurricane season preparations

Quintana Roo, along with other states of the Mexican Republic, unfolds many security measures to maintain people’s safety.

Measures include:

• All flights get canceled.
• CFE workers, cranes, and vehicles get positioned throughout the state to attend to any affectation that may occur.
• Constant monitoring of the evolution of the upcoming hurricane.
• Identification of essential workers and users of buildings such as hospitals, gas stations, fire stations, and more.
• Evacuation of civilians if needed.
• Anticyclonic shelters get opened.

Perks of vacationing during hurricane season

As one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico, Cancun can feel a bit crowded at peak travel times.

However, hurricane season is a great time to plan your trip if you are searching for a quieter vacation because occupancy rates are typically lower. You will be able to truly relax with fewer people around.

This also means that there are travel bargains to discover, from room upgrades to discounted rates.

Staying safe in Cancun

With today’s modern advances in technology, meteorologists are able to more accurately predict and track storms. This allows them to warn both tourists and locals far in advance of any storm activity that has the potential to hit land.

Cancun has been very fortunate to receive very few major hurricanes, but it is still crucial to heed any warnings put out by officials in order to keep everyone out of danger. There are times when mandatory evacuations are put into place so that visitors and residents remain as safe as possible.

Even when tropical storms and hurricanes don’t strike land, they can bring heavy rainfall and high winds that can cause flooding. Fortunately, taking the necessary precautions during these situations keeps things from becoming dangerous.

What happens in Cancun when a hurricane is predicted?

This really depends on both the strength of the hurricane and its predicted path.

A minor hurricane that brushes by may mean little to no difference in daily operations. However, aquatic-based tours will usually be canceled as a precaution. There may also be disruption to ferry services to Isla Mujeres.

A minor hurricane direct strike and a major hurricane non-direct strike will mean that precautions are significantly increased. Local businesses and residents will begin boarding up their homes. There may also be panic buying of goods at supermarkets.

Hotels will also board up their facilities and may issue instructions to guests in the event of an evacuation. Alcohol service may be stopped. Usually, evacuation happens only in the most serious of cases.

This has happened only once in the last 15 years, for Hurricane Wilma in October 2015.

Hotel evacuations during the Cancun hurricane season

Although rare this is not to be ruled out. If evacuated from your hotel you’ll most likely be taken to a local school in downtown Cancun. You’ll be looked after by hotel staff until any danger is over.

Although sleeping facilities will be provided they will likely be basic. Grab some bedding and pillows from your hotel! In the case of Hurricane Wilma in 2005 people stayed in emergency accommodation at a local school for 4 days.

A direct strike from a major hurricane will cause extensive damage. There will be floods and power outages for an extended period. Airport and public transport services will likely not be operational for some time.

The best thing to do is to hold tight and comply with instructions from officials. It will be uncomfortable, but you will not be in personal danger. Your chances of being affected really are slim, but not impossible.

You should be wary of traveling during the months of Cancun hurricane season, but don’t be unduly scared. Severe hurricanes really are a rare event, with only two major ones happening in the last 40 years.

Weather stations have been keeping track of a pressure system moving east across the Pacific Ocean for the past week.

Their observations saw the system turn into a tropical storm, and now a Category 1 hurricane. Hurricane Agatha is the first named storm of the season and is expected to be the first of many.

A category-one can be expected to have wind speeds ranging from 74 to 95 miles per hour, and although most homes and other structures will be okay, damage can occur.

The main risk of a category one hurricane comes in falling debris from poorly built structures or tree branches that may break. Storm surges are also a significant risk for towns and cities close to the coast.

We now have Hurricane #Agatha in the Pacific. It will make landfall in Mexico and attempt to cross into the Bay of Campeche. Most likely it fall apart over Mexico’s mountainous terrain and the remnant tropical DNA will attempt to reform in the Gulf by mid to late week.

Currently, the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas are the most affected areas and have been put on a much higher alert, but the movement of the hurricane will most likely impact Quintana Roo in some way.

As it is crossing land, if it does hit Quintana Roo it will be weakened significantly and lose its hurricane designation.

This does not mean the risk is completely gone, and those in the state should anticipate a higher than normal volume of rain, strong and sustained gusts of wind, and some high water levels.

The hurricane is expected to make landfall on Monday morning before moving northwards towards Yucatan and Quintana Roo.

The increased activity of La Niña, the cold side of a complex weather system that helps predict storm season veracity, has suggested that the coming months could be tough for the region. As many as nine hurricanes are expected to form around the Mexicans Caribbean.

Of course, many of these may be small and cause very few problems, but there is always the potential for one to be devastating for the state.

Tourists caught in Cancun or other towns in Quintana Roo when one hit can find themselves stranded for extended periods of time. Flights can become sporadic, large-scale damage can hamper evacuations, and power outages can cripple communication in the region.

For this reason, tourists hoping to travel to Quintana Roo should monitor the weather over the coming months.

If there is a risk of a tropical storm or hurricane hitting Quintana Roo, travel to the region should be avoided. Many weather outlets monitor the progress of storm systems long before they achieve hurricane storm status.

A named storm approaching the coast should be avoided at all costs.

Hurricanes are not the only natural weather phenomenon Quintana Roo has to deal with.

For the past few months, the state has been battling the continued arrival of sargassum seaweed. Spurred on by global sea temperatures rising, the unsightly seaweed has been causing huge problems for hotels, restaurants, and the tourism industry as a whole.

Aside from the masses of seaweed blanketing the typically pristine sand, sargassum produces a terrible sulfur-like smell that drives tourists away from the beaches. Many tourists actively avoid sargassum season and many are known to cancel their vacations when deposits are high.

The state has spent hundreds of thousands on prevention, but even the assistance of twenty-six navy ships has done little to hamper the deposits.

Hectic efforts to clean up in the early hours of the morning are the only option for many businesses, and the added manpower is eating into their profits.

With the threat of hurricanes, however, the sargassum problem may seem far smaller. Hopefully, none of the storms that hit Quintana Roo this year will wreak the type of devastation that could cripple the region for weeks.

On October 4, 2020, Hurricane Delta made landfall at about 5:30 as an extremely dangerous category 2 hurricane with winds of up to 110 mph downing nearly 100 trees and knocking out power along the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.

The Hotel Association of Cancun said more than 40,000 tourists were evacuated from resorts in and around Cancun on Tuesday night as the hurricane’s winds topped 145mph before it weakened as it approached land.

About 50 miles south of Cancun the four-star Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya was transformed into an emergency shelter as hundreds of guests were packed into common-area rooms like sardines.

As of 07:00 Wednesday Hurricane Delta was centered about 25 miles south of Cancun in Puerto Morelos and was traveling northwest at a speed of between 15 and 20 mph as wind speeds decreased slightly to about 105 mph.

The US National Hurricane Center in Miami warned of a storm surge that could raise water levels up to 13 feet and bring flash flooding inland.

There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries, but about 39,000 people had been evacuated in the states of Quintana Roo and Yucatan, and about 2,700 people had taken refuge in storm shelters in the two states.

The storm is expected to continue affecting the Mexican coast through the end of the day before veering north toward the US Gulf Coast.

Thousands of Quintana Roo residents and tourists checked into dozens of government shelters to wait out the storm after everyone in the state was put under a 19:00 curfew on Tuesday.

Since Monday, local residents have formed long lines at supermarkets and hardware stores to load up on food and supplies to protect their homes.

Throughout the day Tuesday evacuations of low-lying areas, islands, and the coastline expanded as Delta exploded over warm Caribbean waters, increasing in strength by 80mph in just 24 hours to become a major Category 4 hurricane.

Much of Cancun’s hotel zone was cleared out as guests were bused to inland shelters. In Cancun alone, the government opened 160 shelters. More than 40,000 tourists in Cancun and neighboring resorts were evacuated, the head of the area’s hotel association.

Early Wednesday, some 300 guests and nearly 200 staff from the Fiesta Americana Condesa hotel awoke in the sweltering classrooms of the Technological Institute of Cancun campus where they had been moved the day before.

All of the windows had been covered with plywood so they couldn’t see what was happening, but they said the howling winds started around 02:00 and there had been heavy rain.

The power – and with it the air conditioning – had been knocked out early Wednesday so it was steamy as tourists awoke from the used cell phone lights to get up and make their way for the first cup of coffee.

State tourism officials said more than 40,000 tourists were in Quintana Roo, a fraction of what would normally be there. Delta’s damage comes on top of months of pandemic-induced lockdown that has devastated the state’s tourism industry.

At the Cancun Convention Center, 400 tourists from hotels and rental properties bunked for the night.

Delta was forecast to spend several hours lashing the Yucatan Peninsula before moving into the Gulf of Mexico and re-strengthening before a strike on the US Gulf Coast later in the week.

Mexico put the commander of its navy in charge of the federal response. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Tuesday that 5,000 federal troops and emergency personnel were being made available in Quintana Roo to aid in storm efforts.

Local and state officials urged residents to move to shelters.

The Yucatan peninsula was hit on the weekend by Hurricane Gamma, a smaller storm that nonetheless damaged property and forced restaurants and attractions to close, including the famed Chichen Itza pyramids.

From high mountains that influence temperature shifts to expansive lowlands with hot and humid conditions, and the moderating impact of coastal regions, the country’s landscape creates a rich tapestry of climatic zones.

Temperature variations in Mexico

Temperature variations are influenced by latitude, elevation, and regional geography.

North of the 24th parallel, winters have lower temperatures, creating a distinct contrast with the more temperate conditions south of the 24th parallel. This geographical diversity contributes to the climate tapestry of Mexico.

Impact of elevation on climate

Elevation plays a crucial role in shaping the climate of Mexico. Regions south of the 24th parallel, with elevations up to 1000 m, such as the coastal plains and Yucatán, maintain a yearly median temperature between 24 and 28 °C.

The relationship between elevation and temperature creates a unique climate mosaic, with towns and cities experiencing pleasant temperatures throughout the year, while more northerly locations undergo substantial seasonal variations.

As one ascends beyond 1000 meters, a shift in climate becomes evident.

Between 1000 and 2000 m, yearly average temperatures range between 16 and 20 °C.

Towns and cities at this elevation south of the 24th parallel enjoy relatively constant, pleasant temperatures year-round. In contrast, more northerly locations experience sizeable seasonal variations, adding another layer to Mexico’s climate diversity.

Above 2000 meters, temperatures drop further, with an average yearly range between 8 and 12 °C in the Cordillera Neovolcánica.

Mexico City, situated at 2300 m, has a yearly median temperature of 15 °C, characterized by pleasant summers and mild winters. Average daily highs and lows for different months provide a nuanced understanding of Mexico City’s climatic nuances.

Rainfall patterns across the country

Mexico’s diverse topography also influences rainfall patterns.

Arid or semiarid conditions dominate Mexican regions such as the Baja California Peninsula, Sonora, and parts of the altiplano, where rainfall averages between 300 and 600 mm per year.

In contrast, major populated areas of the southern altiplano, including Mexico City and Guadalajara, experience a higher annual rainfall range, typically between 600 and 1000 millimeters.

Low-lying areas along the Gulf of Mexico receive in excess of 1000 mm of rainfall in an average year.

The southeastern state of Tabasco stands out as the wettest region, receiving approximately 2000 mm of rainfall annually.

These variations create distinct climates that residents and visitors must navigate.

Wet and dry seasons

Mexico experiences pronounced wet and dry seasons, adding further complexity to its climate. The rainy season typically spans from June to mid-October, with February and July representing the driest and wettest months, respectively.

Coastal areas, especially along the Gulf of Mexico, receive the most rain in September, while the state of Tabasco typically witnesses over 300 mm of rainfall during the month.

Unique climatic features

Certain regions in Mexico exhibit unique climatic features. Northwestern Baja California, influenced by the California Current, has a Mediterranean climate, with a rainy season occurring in winter and considerable coastal fog.

Interior Sonora, influenced by elevation, also experiences Mediterranean-like conditions, showcasing the intricate interplay between geography and climate.

Mexico lies squarely within the hurricane belt, making it susceptible to hurricanes from June through November. While hurricanes on the Pacific coast are often less violent, those affecting the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico can bring extensive damage.

The historical impact of Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 serves as a poignant reminder of the country’s vulnerability to these natural phenomena.

Read more about the most active hurricane regions in Mexico.

Mexico is a large country and its weather can vary greatly from one destination to another.

When is the best time to visit Mexico?

The weather in Mexico is determined not only by latitude but also by altitude. Mexico has tropical forests, dry deserts, fertile valleys, and snow-capped mountains. Since Mexico’s terrain is extremely varied, so is the weather.

On the coasts regions, the climate is generally balmy year-round, but some months are rainy and others dry, and Mexico City can have days that are quite chilly and nights that are downright frigid.

Rainy and dry seasons

In Mexico, there are two main seasons.

Although there is some variation in temperature over the year, the most obvious difference is between rainy and dry seasons. The rainy season through most of Mexico falls roughly from May through September or October.

During the rest of the year, there is little or no rain.

Don’t be discouraged from visiting during the rainy season, when you’ll see the lush, green landscape, as opposed to the dry season’s parched, brown landscape, and it often only rains in the late afternoons and evenings.

Hurricane season

Hurricanes and other natural disasters can ruin your vacation. Before heading to Mexico during hurricane season (June to November), check the weather forecasts and read up about precautions you can take.