Mexico Weather & Climate: Monthly Averages

Mexico has a wide variety of climate types. You can find desert-like regions in the north-west part of the country, while the low-lying coastal areas are tropical, hot, and humid. The climate in Mexico City, which is located at an altitude of [2,300 meters] above sea level, is far more moderate. The capital has pleasant summers and mild winters, with an annual average temperature of 18°C (64°F). The city experiences high annual rainfall, most of which falls during summer.

Geographical Differences

Northern Mexico gets very hot during summer, with sudden, violent heavy rain or hail storms. Occasionally, isolated tornadoes can occur within these storms. Seasonal variations in temperature are small, but May is the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest, with night frost even being possible.

Southern Mexico has mostly tropical climates. Most areas have a tropical savanna climate, a smaller portion experiences a monsoon climate, and a few places have a true tropical rainforest climate. During hurricane season (June - November), hurricanes are common in coastal cities, especially those near the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

Best Travel Time

The best time to visit Mexico depends largely on which places you want to explore and what your travel goals are. For a beach vacation, the ideal period is from November to May. However, December and early January can be very expensive due to the high season. In April and May, coastal regions can become very warm, so visitors should be prepared to handle the heat during this time.