Climate - Oaxaca (Mexico)

The climate of Oaxaca de Juárez is sub-tropical, with a very mild winter from mid-November to early March, during which it can get cold at night, and a warm, relatively rainy summer from June to October.
Oaxaca is the capital of the state of the same name and is located in southern Mexico, on the 17th parallel, at 1,550 meters (5,000 ft) above sea level, in the tierras templadas. We are south enough to be sheltered from the cold waves from the United States that can affect northern Mexico in winter. However, in winter, sometimes the temperature can drop below 5 °C (41 °F), but even in these cases, during the day it generally remains around 20 °C (68 °F).
On the hottest days of the year, between March and May, the temperature can reach 33/34 °C (91/93 °F). In summer it is not too hot, actually it can get cool at night.
The average temperature of the coldest months (December and January) is of 18 °C (64.5 °F), that of the warmest month (May) is of 23.2 °C (73.7 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 655 millimeters (25.8 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 5 mm (0.2 in) in the driest months (January, February, December) to 140 mm (5.5 in) in the wettest (June). The rains are not abundant, because the city is located in a valley, and is protected by the mountains. Here is the average precipitation.

On average, there are around 2,140 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best time to visit Oaxaca is from November to February, but basically you can also go from March to May, since it is not very hot as in other areas of Mexico.

Oaxaca - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Oaxaca is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.9 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 9.4 °C (48.9 °F) and a maximum of 26.4 °C (79.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (86.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 43%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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In February, the weather in Oaxaca is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.6 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 10.7 °C (51.3 °F) and a maximum of 28.4 °C (83.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (43 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90 °F).
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In March, the weather in Oaxaca is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21.4 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 12.6 °C (54.7 °F) and a maximum of 30.2 °C (86.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (45.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 37%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In April, the weather in Oaxaca is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 23.0 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 14.7 °C (58.5 °F) and a maximum of 31.4 °C (88.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 40%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In May, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Oaxaca is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 23.2 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 16.2 °C (61.1 °F) and a maximum of 30.2 °C (86.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (55 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 43% of the time.
The average humidity is 49%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In June, the weather in Oaxaca is usually warm. The average temperature is of 22.3 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 16.9 °C (62.4 °F) and a maximum of 27.7 °C (81.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 13.5 °C (56 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (88.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 140 mm (5.5 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In July, the weather in Oaxaca is usually warm. The average temperature is of 21.4 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 16 °C (60.7 °F) and a maximum of 26.8 °C (80.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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In August, the weather in Oaxaca is usually warm. The average temperature is of 21.4 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 15.8 °C (60.4 °F) and a maximum of 26.9 °C (80.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 105 mm (4.1 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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In September, the weather in Oaxaca is usually warm. The average temperature is of 21.1 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 16.1 °C (60.9 °F) and a maximum of 26.2 °C (79.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (55 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (84.5 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 125 mm (4.9 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In October, the weather in Oaxaca is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.4 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 14.2 °C (57.6 °F) and a maximum of 26.5 °C (79.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 49% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In November, the weather in Oaxaca is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.0 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 11.4 °C (52.5 °F) and a maximum of 26.6 °C (79.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42.5 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (87 °F).
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In December, the weather in Oaxaca is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 18.0 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 9.7 °C (49.4 °F) and a maximum of 26.4 °C (79.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F).
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 46%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).