Climate general information:

Climate

Almost two-thirds of Mexico consists of plateaux and high mountains with a climate that is warm-temperate; while other parts have a tropical climate with temperature reduced by altitude.

The cold Californian current, which sweeps southwards on the Pacific coast, has the effect of lowering temperatures and reducing rainfall on the west coast as far south as the tip of the Baja California peninsula.

This and the influence of the North Pacific anticyclone help to make much of the north western Mexico desert or semi-desert: This is a continuation of the dry zone of the United States in southern California, New Mexico, and Arizona.

The warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, and the influence of the constant northeast trade winds, make the eastern coastal region a typical tropical coast with a marked single wet season in summer. The weather and climate of this region have much in common with that of the Caribbean Islands.
Most of Mexico has sunny weather for a large part of the year. The drier regions of the interior have high amounts of sunshine: as much as seven or eight hours a day in the drier months to five or six during the wet season.

In the winter, north winds can make inland northern Mexico, plateaux and higher elevations around Mexico City very chilly, with temperatures down to freezing and mountain peaks capped with snow.


 Rainfalls and humidity

The rainy season over the whole country coincides with the period of high sunshine hours from May to October. The rest of the year is not completely dry, but the amount and frequency of rain in the winter season is low.

The wettest part of the country is the lowland on the Caribbean coast and the tropical rain forest area covering the northeast of Chiapas. The north coast of the Yucatan peninsula is relatively much drier than the east coast or the interior. The area around Mérida is wetter than other parts of Yucatan, and the combination of heat and humidity can be rather uncomfortable during the wet season.

The shores of the Pacific and Gulf of California, north of the Tropic of Cancer, are less humid than the Caribbean areas, but rainfall increases southwards and is heaviest where the coast is backed by high mountains.

Both the east and west coasts of Mexico are occasionally affected by tropical storms which develop in the Caribbean or the Pacific and bring two or three days of heavy rain. These are most likely to occur in the months August to October.

Altitude

At the altitude of Mexico City and above, visitors may take a few days to adjust to the lower atmospheric pressure and sudden exertion can lead to breathlessness. On the higher parts of the plateau the sun may at times feel very powerful by day, with a rapid drop in temperature at night.

Summary by regions:

Baja California (North)
Desert landscape, little rain, warm summers and mild winters. The Sea of Cortez side is warmer than the Pacific side.

Baja California (South)
Subtropical desert with cool winter evenings and refreshing sea breezes. Warm summers, cooler on the Pacific side.

West Coast
Warm tropical weather: warm dry days and balmy evenings from November through May, pronounced rainy season from June to October with heavy humidity, brief daily rain showers, and warm temperatures.

Central plateau and highlands
Pleasant spring-like conditions through much of the year, due to high elevations. Rainfall is most pronounced from June to September. From cool to cold evenings during winter.

Low Chiapas and Yucatan
In summer the Gulf and Caribbean coasts stay cooler due to trade winds, while interior jungles are hot and humid. Rainfall occurs from April to May and from September to January. September and October bring the chance of hurricanes and prolonged cloudiness. Winters are very pleasant.

Microclimates and biodiversity
   
    Desert
    Steppe
    Savannah
    Warm Temperate (dry winters)
    Warm Temperate rain
    Tropical rain forest


Average temperatures in Fahrenheit (Max-Min) and rainfall

City/Elevation Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
                       
Acapulco
88/72
88/72
88/72
88/73
90/76
90/77
91/77
91/77
90/75
90/75
90/75
88/73
(1 ft)
Cabo San Lucas
76/58
77/58
79/58
85/60
88/68
93/68
96/74
96/75
94/74
90/69
83/62
76/58
(1 ft)
Cancun
83/67
84/67
86/69
89/72
90/73
90/75
90/75
91/75
89/75
87/74
85/71
83/69
(1 ft)
Chihuahua
64/36
69/39
75/44
82/53
89/59
93/66
89/66
88/65
85/60
80/52
72/42
65/36
(4690 ft)
Guadalajara
74/44
78/46
82/49
86/53
88/57
84/61
79/60
79/59
78/59
78/54
77/48
74/46
(5220 ft)
Huatulco
88/72
88/72
88/72
87/73
85/72
88/75
90/75
90/76
90/75
90/75
86/70
87/71
(1 ft)
Mazatlan
73/63
73/62
74/63
77/66
81/71
85/77
86/78
87/78
86/78
85/76
80/70
75/65
(1 ft)
Merida
82/64
84/64
89/68
92/70
92/72
91/73
91/73
91/73
89/73
86/71
83/67
82/65
(30 ft)
Mexico City
70/42
74/44
78/48
80/51
80/52
77/54
74/52
74/52
72/52
72/49
71/45
69/43
(7240 ft)
Monterrey
68/48
73/52
79/56
86/64
89/68
92/71
94/72
93/72
87/69
81/63
74/55
70/50
(1749 ft)
Oaxaca
82/47
85/50
89/54
91/58
90/60
85/60
83/59
84/59
82/59
82/55
83/50
82/47
(5068 ft)
P. Vallarta
78/64
78/64
79/65
80/66
85/71
86/77
87/78
86/76
86/76
85/76
82/70
76/65
(1 ft)
San Cristobal
68/40
70/40
72/43
73/45
72/48
71/51
71/50
70/50
70/50
69/48
69/44
68/40
(7087 ft)
S. Luis Potosi
71/43
74/45
82/50
86/53
86/56
82/58
80/56
81/56
77/56
75/51
74/47
71/44
(6157 ft)
Veracruz
76/65
77/66
79/69
83/73
86/76
87/77
88/75
88/76
87/75
85/73
82/70
78/67
(1 ft)

= Rainfall

0/5 inches: none
5/10 inches:
10/15 inches:
15/20 inches:


Forecasts

Mexico General Forecasts

Click here to view the general weather condition, pressure and precipitation, temperature, sea temperature and wind forecasts for the next 5 days in all the Central America area.

Cities’ Forecasts:

By clicking on the cities listed below you will have a summary of the local minimum and maximum temperature, sunrise and sunset time, wind, pressure, humidity, and visibility for the next 5 days.

Acapulco Campeche
Chihuahua Cancun - Cozumel
Guaymas (Sonora) Mazatlan (Sinaloa)
Mexico City Minatitlan (Colima)
Progreso (near Merida) Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco)
Salina Cruz (Oaxaca coast) San Juan de la Costa (Baja California)
Tampico (Tamaulipas - North Gulf region) Veracruz (Gulf region)
Villahermosa (Tabasco)  



Cities’ Average Conditions:

For each of the cities listed below you can have a month by month overview of sunlight hours, temperatures, heat, humidity and precipitation, with a graphic showing the average daily

Acapulco Guaymas (Sonora)
Merida Mexico City
Monterrey (Durango) Salina Cruz (Oaxaca Coast)