Climate of Mexico

Mexico enjoys beautiful climates in the world.

Common beach resorts across Mexico shorelines

Mexico enjoys some of the most beautiful climates in the world. A little variety for everyone!

Remarkably, the Tropic of Cancer splits the country into both temperate and tropical zones. The land north of the 24th parallel experiences cooler temperatures during the winter months and south of the 24th parallel, temperatures are fairly constant year round and varying only as change in elevation. This makes Mexico one of the world’s most diverse weather systems in the world.

Areas south of the 24th parallel (i.e. the southern parts of both coastal plains as well as the Yucatán Peninsula) with elevations up to 1,000 meters have a yearly median temperature between 24 and 28 °C (75.2 and 82.4 degrees fahrenheit) which are incredibly comfortable for those that have bones that don't like cold winters! Temperatures in these areas remain high throughout the year, with only a 5 °C difference between winter and summer median temperatures.

Low-lying areas north of the 24th parallel are hot and humid during the summer and generally have lower yearly temperature with averages from 20 to 24 °C (68 and 75.2 degrees Fahrenheit).

At 2,300 meters, Mexico City has a yearly median temperature of 15°C (59 degrees Fahrenheit) with pleasant summers and
mild winters.

The seasons of Mexico

View of Sumidero Canyon in Chiapas, Mexico

Mexico has very pronounced wet and dry seasons. Most of the country experiences a rainy season from June to mid-October and significantly less rain for the remainder of the year. The months of February and July generally are the driest and wettest months, respectively. In Mexico City for example, receives an average of only 5 millimeters of rain during February but more than 160 millimeters in July. Coastal areas, especially along the Gulf of Mexico experience the largest amounts of rain in September. Tabasco for example typically records more than 300 millimeters of rain during September. However, places like northwestern coastal Mexico has a Mediterranean climate with mostly coastal fog and a rainy season in winter.

Other examples of rainfall data are: Baja California Peninsula, the northwestern state of Sonora, the northern altiplano, and also portions of the southern altiplano receive averages between 300 and 600 millimeters per year, although less in some areas around Baja California Norte. Average rainfall totals are between 600 and 1,000 millimeters in most of the major populated areas of the southern altiplano, including Mexico City and Guadalajara. In low-lying areas along the Gulf of Mexico receive 1,000+ millimeters of rainfall in an average year, with the wettest region being the southeastern state of Tabasco which receives approximately 2,000 millimeters of rainfall annually.

There is also snow in Mexico! For example, parts of the northern altiplano and high peaks in the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental occasionally receive significant snowfalls.

Mexico lies within the hurricane belt and all the regions of both coasts are susceptible to storms from June through November. Hurricanes on the Pacific coast are less frequent and often less violent than those on eastern coastline. Several hurricanes per year strike the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico coastline bringing high winds, heavy rain which have caused extensive damage and occasional loss of life.

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