Weather and Climate in Mexico
Mexico is a top winter and summer destination not only for its attractive beaches but also for its enviable climate. The weather in Mexico is probably the main reason why over 20 million visitors from all over the world travel to this unique country annually. Anytime is a good time to visit Mexico although the scorching heat which is sometimes felt may not be everyone's cup of tea so choosing the right season for you is important.
For a real summer holiday, the best time to visit Mexico would be during March and April, the hottest months of the year in general. June to September are very hot months also but expect plenty of humidity as these months coincide with the country's rainy season too. If you are travelling from Europe or other northern hemisphere countries, visiting Mexico during the months of November to February is probably your best choice as temperatures are much more mild; the so called not too hot and not too cold season. These months will certainly offer you glorious sunrays to heat up your bones as well as brighten up what can usually be very dark and gloomy seasons back home.
Weather patterns in Mexico tend to be consistent year to year meaning you should know what to expect during your trip although types of climate will vary depending on elevation and closeness to the various Mexican coastlines which are brushed either by the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean or the Caribbean Sea.
Mexico's geographical features range from swamp to desert, alpine vegetation and jungle so depending on your location, you should pack appropriate clothes for either dry or wet weather. The central plateau of the country is marked by tall mountain ranges and valleys containing large cities. This is where you'll find some of the coolest of temperatures in the country. On medium elevations between 1000 m and 2000 m, average annual temperatures may range between 16 and 20ºC. In the north, such elevations will experience a drop in temperature to about 8 to 12ºC whereas southern elevations will offer more comfortable temperatures from 16ºC to 20ºC. Mexico City, however, which lies at the heart of the country at 2,300 m above sea level, offers a yearly median temperature of 15ºC. The truth is, the lower you go the hotter the temperatures. Depending where you are, lowland areas can experience temperatures ranging from 15ºC to a blistering 48ºC depending.
The Tropic of Cancer is what divides Mexico into what are known as temperate and tropical zones. To the north, in direction of the United States, is where cooler temperatures can be experienced whereas the south offers quite constant tropical temperatures year round averaging between 24 and 28ºC. As an example, average southern temperatures may differ in around 5ºC in winter and summer. Despite the better temperatures of the south, climatic conditions can vary greatly with higher levels of rainfall and humidity than in the north.
Mexico's rainy season which runs from May to October, is quite long-lasting with periods of showers occurring during anytime of the day and with little warning. Rainfall, however, is heavier during the night in the majority of cities. In general, Mexico suffers from a lack of adequate rainfall. Its most wet section is the south which receives between 990 to 3000 mm of rain on average annually. The majority of cities lying in the north have in fact on average between 35 and 60 days on average of rain compared with central and southern cities which have on average over 100 days of rain.
