Index

---

• Introduction
• The mild coast - Rosarito
• Sonoran desert - Los Cabos, Mexicali, Hermosillo
• Chihuahuan Desert - Ciudad Juárez
• Eastern Plains - Tampico
• Tierras frias - Mexico City
• Tierras templadas - Guadalajara
• Tierras calientes - Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Yucatán, Cancún
• Mountains
• Hurricanes
• When to go
• What to pack

Introduction

---

Mexico is a vast country and has different types of climate, however, it is generally arid on the west coast and in the central-northern highlands, it is moderately rainy in the mountain ranges and in the southern plateaus, while it's very rainy in some tropical southern areas. Summer is the rainiest season almost everywhere.
The temperature increases gradually from north to south, so that the south has a purely tropical climate. Altitude plays an important role as well: there are many cities located at high altitude, including the capital, which have a cooler climate.
During winter, a cold wind from the United States, the "Norte" can blow, able to lower the temperature abruptly, especially in the centre-north. Because of this wind, the northern inland areas (and a little less the northern coastal areas) during winter may experience cold waves, especially in hilly and mountainous areas.

The mild coast

---

In the peninsula of Baja California, nearly a continuation of California, the climate is very mild on the west coast, where daytime temperatures go from 19/20 degrees Celsius (66/68 °F) in winter, to 24/25 °C (75/77 °F) in summer in the northern part. The sun shines throughout the year, and the rains, poor, fall from November to March; total rainfall is around 200/250 millimetres (7.8/10 inches) per year. Here, as in California, a cold current flows, which makes the sea cool and causes some fog, but in return it provides sun, little rain and a pleasant climate. However, the temperatures can suddenly increase, even surpassing 40 °C (104 °F), when the wind blows from the interior. A city that is located in this area is Tijuana, just south of the border with the United States, a short distance from the greater San Diego area.

Rosarito

Here are the mean temperatures of Playas de Rosarito, on the coast near Tijuana (in summer the centre of the city is slightly warmer because of its distance from the coast).

The rainfall is scarce and amounts to 260 mm (10.2 in) per year, and follows the Mediterranean pattern, in fact it is concentrated in autumn and winter. Here is the average precipitation.

In this area the sun shines all year round, although in spring and summer fog can sometimes form, especially in the morning. Here are the average daily sunshine hours in Tijuana.

The temperature of the sea in this part of the coast is very cool even in summer, as we can see in the following table.

Moving towards the south, the sea becomes progressively warmer. In the southern part of Baja California, the sea temperature reaches 21/22 °C (70/72 °F) from August to October, while in Baja California Sur, the sea is decidedly warmer.
East of the coast, in the mountain ranges of Sierra Juárez and San Pedro Mártir, the winter temperature decreases because of altitude, and there are frequent night frosts. On the contrary, owing to the distance from the sea (in which as mentioned a cool current flows), the summer is hot, although above 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) nights get cool.

Sonoran desert

---

The Sonoran Desert, the westernmost of the Mexican deserts, is characterized by an increase in rainfall in the latter part of the summer, a kind of "little monsoon" from July to mid-October, which may bring some thunderstorms and an increase in humidity. The central-southern part of Baja California (administratively divided in the states of Baja California and Baja California Sur) can be included in this area, although the climate along the west coast is milder than that of east coast overlooking the Gulf of California and of the interior.
In fact, continuing south on the aforementioned west coast, the temperature rises gradually, to the point that highs in Baja California Sur reach 20/22 °C (68/72 °F) in winter and 30 °C (86 °F) in summer in the northern part, and 25 °C (77 °F) in winter and 32 °C (90 °F) in summer in the far south.
On the eastern side, the cold current doesn't arrive on the coast of the Gulf of California, and being a closed gulf, in summer it heats up a lot, so the summer is much warmer than on the western coast. Here, the daytime temperatures in summer are around 35/36 °C (95/97 °F), while in winter they are around 20 °C (68 °F) in the north, 22 °C (72 °F) in the centre, and 25 °C (77 °F) in the south.
Baja California is a barren, almost desert peninsula: along the coasts, annual precipitation is around 100/150 mm (4/6 in). But in the hills of Baja California Sur, the little monsoon brings additional rainfall, so that total rainfall exceeds 400 mm (16 in) per year. This area, known as Sierra de la Laguna, is covered by woods (and therefore should be excluded from the desert area, as indicated by the small circle in the map).
As part of the little monsoon, from late June to October, and with a maximum in September, Baja California Sur (more rarely Baja California) can be affected by low pressure areas and tropical cyclones that form in the Pacific Ocean off the southern coast of Mexico. These disturbances, usually less intense than those that form in the Gulf of Mexico, can also penetrate in the continent, affecting the northern part of Sinaloa and the state of Sonora.

Los Cabos

Cabo San Lucas is located at the southern tip of Baja California. Here, as in the rest of the peninsula, the climate is arid; winter is sunny, with cool nights, around 12/13 °C (54/55 °F), and pleasantly warm days, around 26/27 °C (79/81 °F). Spring is warm and sunny: daytime temperatures reach 29 °C (84 °F) already in April. Summer is hot, with highs around 32/34 °C (90/93 °F), but in the second part, from mid-July to October, owing to the little monsoon, there's some chance of showers and thunderstorms, sometimes intense, especially in September.

Since as we mentioned the rains are concentrated in late summer, in this southern part of Baja California the rainfall pattern is opposite to that of the northern part. Here is the average precipitation.

In Los Cabos the sun shines all year round, but you can see a certain decrease in the hours of sunshine from July to September.

Here the sea is very warm in summer, while in winter it is a bit cool, but not impossible for swimming.

Mexicali

In the north-east of the state of Baja California, we find the Yuma Desert, where the town of Mexicali is located: it is an area of developed lands and recent settlements, where summer temperatures reach extremely high values: even more than 55 °C (131 °F)! This is the hottest place in Mexico, as well as one of the hottest places in the world.

Rainfall is very low, below 100 mm (4 in) per year, and the increase between mid-summer and autumn, here is also very low. Here is the average precipitation.

In Mexicali the sun reigns supreme all year round.

Southeast of this desert, we find the Altar Desert, a sand desert whose appearance resembles the vast areas covered with dunes of the Sahara.



The western area of the state of Sonora is part of the Sonoran Desert itself, and as we said with regard to Baja California Sur, it experiences an increase in precipitation from July to October. From July to October, the wet winds lower a bit the temperature, to the point that the hottest month is often June, but they also raise relative humidity.

Hermosillo

In this area we find the important city of Hermosillo, which has a dry winter, pleasantly warm during the day (even though nights can be cold), and a very hot summer, with average highs around 40 °C (104 °F) in June.

From July to October, the little monsoon brings some rains and thunderstorms, sometimes strong, which, however, do not last long, so that soon the sun will shine again. The rainiest month is August, with almost 100 mm (4 in) of rain. Relative humidity increases as well, rising from 33% in June, to 55% in July and 51% in August and September, so that the heat becomes sweltering. Here is the average precipitation.

In Hermosillo, as in Los Cabos, there is a slight decrease in the hours of sunshine from July to September.

Chihuahuan Desert

---

The mountain range called Sierra Madre Occidental, which separates the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, and continues south to the states of Sinaloa, Durango and Nayarit, experiences a period of monsoon rains quite long (mid-June to early October), and intense, so that precipitation exceeds 400 mm (16 in) per year (July is usually the rainiest month), so the climate of these mountains is semi-arid rather than desert. Above 1,000 metres (3,300 feet), rainfall is even higher, and it exceeds 700/800 mm (27/31 in), so the landscape is green. In the southern part of the Sierra Madre Occidental, even winter is quite rainy, and rainfall exceeds 1,000 mm (40 in) per year.



To the east of the Sierra Madre Occidental and to the west of the Sierra Madre Oriental, ie between the two ranges, we find the Chihuahuan Desert, an area dominated by highlands, and located in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila and north-eastern Durango. Here the climate is characterized by a wide daily temperature range, and also by a humid period from mid-June to mid-October, when the sun frequently shines, but it alternates with rains and thunderstorms. Winter is sunny and dry, with possible night frosts. Summer is hot, but because of the altitude, the summer heat is less intense than in the lower areas of the Sonoran Desert, however, sometimes the temperature can reach or exceed 40 °C (104 °F).

Ciudad Juárez

An important city of this region is Ciudad Juarez, located in the far north, at 1,100 metres (3,600 feet) above sea level, on the border with Texas; here the average in January is 7 °C (45 °F), that of July is 28 °C (83 °F).

Average annual precipitation is 245 mm (9.7 in), and August is the rainiest month. Here is the average precipitation.

In Ciudad Juarez the sun shines all year round, but here too, as in the Sonoran desert, the sunniest month is June.

Other cities are Chihuahua, 1,400 metres (4,600 feet) above sea level, where the average is 9.25 °C (48.7 °F) in January, the hottest month is June with an average of 26 °C (79 °F), 450 mm (17.5 in) of rain fall per year, and August is the rainiest month; Torreon, 1,100 metres (3,600 feet) above sea level, with a January average of 14.5 °C (58 °F), a June average of 28 °C (82 °F), 230 mm (9 in) of rain per year, and September as the rainiest month; Saltillo, 1,700 metres (5,600 ft), January average of 12 °C (53.5 °F), June average of 23 °C (73 °F), 370 mm (14.5 in) of rain per year, and September as the rainiest month. During winter, cold spells can be intense especially in the north: in Ciudad Juarez the temperature can drop below -15 °C (5 °F).

Eastern plains

---

In this eastern area, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico (including the state of Tamaulipas, the east of Nuevo Leon, the south-east of San Luis Potosi, the north-east of Hidalgo, and the north of Puebla and Veracruz), along the coast, and in plains and hills below 500 metres (1,600 feet) of altitude, winter is very mild, sometimes pleasantly warm, but we can not exclude some brief cold spells, while summer is hot and humid. Annual rainfall generally ranges from 500 to 1,000 mm (20 to 40 in), and increases gradually from north to south and near the highlands, where it even exceeds 1,000 mm (40 in) per year. The rainy season runs from May to October. In this area we find the city of Monterrey, 500 metres (1,600 feet) above sea level and 280 km (175 mi) away from the coast, where the average temperature of January is 14.5 °C (58 °F), that of July is 29 °C (84 °F), and rainfall amounts to 590 mm (23 in) per year, including more than 50 mm (2 in) per month from May to October, with September as the rainiest month.

Tampico

Another city is Tampico, located on the coast, which has an average of January of 19 °C (66 °F), and of August of 28.5 °C (83.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Tampico receives 1,150 mm (45 in) of rain per year, including more than 100 mm (4 in) per month from June to October. Here is the average precipitation.

In Tampico, the sun does not shine very often in winter, despite the fact that it is the least rainy season, while in summer, apart from the tropical showers, the sun shines for a few hours a day.

Near Tampico, the sea in the Gulf of Mexico is warm enough to swim in all year round, although in winter the water temperature drops to 23 °C (73 °F).

Let us now talk about central and southern Mexico, where the difference between winter and summer decreases because of the low latitude, and the temperature varies mainly with altitude, so that we can distinguish among the tierras calientes, from the plain to 1,000 metres (3,300 feet), the tierras templadas, between 1,000 and 2,000 metres (3,300 and 6,600 feet), and the tierras frìas, above 2,000 metres (6,600 feet).

Tierras frías

---

In the plateau above 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) there is a considerable difference in temperature between day and night, especially in the dry season, and sun's rays are very strong, even though the temperature is not so high. As for the rains, there is a dry season from November to April, and a rainy season from May to October.

Mexico City

The huge capital, Mexico City is located in the southern part of the plateau, at an altitude of 2,200 metres (7,200 ft); administratively it belongs to the Federal District. Winter is dry and sunny, with cold nights: in January and February lows are around 6/7 °C (43/45 °F), but sometimes they can drop a few degrees below freezing (0 °C or 32 °F), while days are pleasant, so that highs are around 21/23 °C (70/73 °F). In spring the temperature rises gradually until April and May, which are the months with the highest daytime temperatures, around 27 °C (81 °F), while night-time temperatures are still pretty cool, around 11/12 °C (52/54 °F). In June, owing to the summer monsoon, which brings clouds and rains from June to September, the daytime temperature does not increase any further, in fact it drops by a few degrees, to around 23/24 °C (73/75 °F). In a typical year, 710 millimetres (28 inches) of rain fall, with a maximum of 160 mm (6.3 in) in July.
The Mexican capital is polluted, and is wrapped in an almost constant mist.

Tierras templadas

---

In the lands of south-central Mexico that are located at intermediate altitudes, the average temperatures are mild, although sometimes it can get cold on winter nights, while sometimes during the day it can get hot.

Guadalajara

In this area, we can mention a city like Guadalajara, at 1,500 metres (5,000 feet) above sea level, in the state of Jalisco, whose average temperature is 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) in January, and 25 °C (77 °F) in May. Here are the average temperatures.

Rainfall amounts to 970 mm (38 in) per year, with a long dry period, and a rainy season from June to early October. Here is the average precipitation.

In Guadalajara the sunniest season is spring, before the summer rains.

In the southern highlands, the temperatures are slightly higher and rainfall is more abundant, as happens in the Chiapas highlands, where in addition even October and November are rainy.

Tierras calientes

---

In the plains and hills of the south, the climate is hot all year round, with a dry season (December to April or November to May, depending on area), and a rainy season (May to November or June to October). The warmest period is the one that precedes the rainy season, usually the months of April and May. But then with the arrival of the rains, the humidity increases, and so does the feeling of sultriness. Usually the rains come in the form of thunderstorms, sometimes strong, in the afternoon. In addition, the rains tend to become more abundant as you move south. In the interior of the southern states, precipitation exceeds 2,000 mm (80 in) per year, but in some cases it even exceeds 3,000 mm (120 in). The south of the state of Veracruz, the south-east of Oaxaca, the state of Tabasco and northern Chiapas (see Palenque, Yaxchilan) are very rainy areas: here there are moderate rains also in winter, and therefore there is no real dry season.

Acapulco

In Acapulco, along the coast of the state of Guerrero, the climate is hot all year round, but the dry season, from November to May, is sunny and it almost never rains. The sea is always warm, not going below 28 °C (82 °F) in winter.

The mountains located north of the city protect this coast from cold winds (while this does not happen on the coast on the Gulf of Mexico, see below). However, in the rainy season, from June to October, the rains are abundant and sometimes torrential. Here is the average precipitation.

As mentioned, in Acapulco the sun shines more often in the dry season, from November to May.

Here, and in general along the southern coast of Mexico, during the rainy season tropical cyclones, called cordonazos, can form, which are able to cause gale force winds and heavy rains. Traditionally, El cordonazo de San Francisco is a storm that occurs on October 4, the day of St. Francis.

Puerto Vallarta

Further north, in Puerto Vallarta, in the state of Jalisco, the climate is similar to that of Acapulco, but during winter nights are cooler, and they can occasionally get pretty cool, around 10 °C (50 °F), and this can still happen, though more rarely, in March and April.

In Puerto Vallarta the sunniest season runs from February to May, before the summer rains.

The sea in Puerto Vallarta is warm enough to swim in even in winter, since it doesn't go below 24 °C (75 °F).

Yucatán

In the east, in the Yucatán Peninsula (states of Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo), the climate is generally warm or hot all year round, but winter is not as dry and sunny as on the south coast: the months of December and January, when highs are around 28/30 °C (82/86 °F), are quite rainy; besides in winter, from December to March sometimes the cold wind from the United States, the Norte, can blow, so that the minimum temperature can drop to 10 °C (50 °F), and even below.

Cancún

In Cancún, the least rainy period runs from February to April, and the driest month is April, so it is an advisable destination for Easter holidays, when the Norte is less likely to blow.

The Gulf of Mexico in Cancun and the Riviera Maya is warm enough to swim in all year round.

The rainy season runs from May to November, and is a hot and sultry period. The rains are abundant especially in June, and between September and mid-November. The sun still shines quite often, in fact the rains generally occur in the form of downpour or thunderstorm, so they don't last long. A similar situation is found in Isla Mujeres and the Mayan Riviera south of Cancun (Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel, etc..): here March and April are the driest and sunniest months, and April is the best month.
During the rainy season, Yucatán and the coastal area bordering the Gulf of Mexico may be affected by hurricanes, especially in the period from August to October; however, the hurricane season runs from June to November. Hurricanes come from the south or east, and sometimes can be destructive.

Mountains

---

In high mountains and volcanoes of south-central Mexico, the climate is Alpine, although given the low latitude, this happens at very high altitudes. For example, in the volcano Nevado de Toluca, southwest of Mexico City, at 4,300 metres (14,100 ft) above sea level, the average temperature in January is 2 °C (35.5 °F), while that of April and May, the warmest months, is 5 °C (41 °F).

The rainy season runs from May to October, and July and August are the rainiest months, but with these temperatures it can snow even in summer. Here is the average precipitation.

The three highest volcanoes of Mexico, Citlaltépetl, Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl exceed 5,000 metres (16,400 ft), and perennial glaciers are found at the highest elevations.

Hurricanes

---

As mentioned in the text, Mexico may be affected by tropical cyclones, both those from the east, from the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, which affect the east coast and the Yucatán, and those that are formed on the Pacific and affect the western and southern coasts. The hurricane season runs from June to November, although they are more likely from August to October.
Cyclones can penetrate inland for several kilometers (or miles), even though they tend to weaken.
In the following image, the trajectories followed by the tropical cyclones that have affected Mexico from 1980 to 2005.

When to go

---

To explore the northern regions of Mexico (coasts and deserts), October is a good month, and in general spring and autumn are the most advisable (March-April and September-October).
Even in the tierras frìas, spring and autumn are preferable, but here the main purpose is to avoid the summer rains, rather than the heat: here you can also avoid September, which is still a rainy month. The tierras frìas can be visited also in winter, bearing in mind that it can get cold at night.
The tierras calientes can be visited from December to February in order to avoid both the heat and the rains of summer, and also because in some areas the months of October and November are still very rainy. In spring, in April and May, the rains have not arrived yet, but the weather is usually hot.

As regards to the sea, for a beach holiday the southern coast (see Acapulco) is warm and sunny in winter (eg Christmas and New Year), with a warm sea, around 28 °C (82 °F). In Acapulco the good season is long, from November to April.
The coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and Yucatán (see Veracruz, Cancun), during winter do not have an ideal climate, at least for a beach holiday: the sky is often cloudy, sometimes it can rain, and the Norte can lower the temperature. So the spring is better, from March to May, with a preference for April: in March sometimes some cool air can still arrive, especially in the first half of the month, while in May it begins to get hot, with the first thunderstorms.
Spring is fine also in Cabo San Lucas and the southern part of Baja California. On the northern coast of Baja California, where the air is mild even in summer, in this season you can sunbathe, even though the water is a little cold.

What to pack

---

In winter: for the Chihuahuan desert and the mountains, warm clothes, a jacket, a hat, gloves. For Baja California, eastern plains and tierras templadas, clothes for spring and autumn. For Mexico City and tierras frìas, clothes for spring and autumn during the day, a warm jacket, wool cap for the evening. For the highest mountains, warm clothes, such as a down jacket, gloves, cap.
For the tierras calientes, light clothing, a sweatshirt for the evening in Yucatan and Riviera Maya. When going to the reef, you can bring snorkeling equipment, including water shoes or rubber-soled shoes.

In summer: light clothing, sunglasses, sunscreen, a light raincoat. For the Chihuahuan Desert, a sweatshirt for the evening. For Mexico City and tierras frìas, a sweatshirt or sweater for the evening, a jacket and umbrella. For the highest mountains, warm clothes, a warm jacket, a wind jacket, gloves, a hat, hiking shoes.