This article shares practical tips and insights about how to live well and enjoy the rain season in Mexico, helping you to make the most of what is an extraordinary season that brings dramatic rainstorms and renewed life and vibrancy to the entire natural environment that surrounds you here.

Eagerly awaiting the return of Tlāloc

Tlāloc, the Aztec god of the rain, water, and fertility (from the Náhuatl, ‘He who makes things sprout’) was worshipped as guardian of the divine gift of rainfall that refreshes and brings life and continuity to the land and all depending on it.

Most people who live in Mexico eagerly await Tlāloc’s return after the long dry season that begins around October and can be seen and felt in earnest by January. By late April or early May, when the dearth of moisture makes the air feel brittle, and the occasional storms that roll in —albethey welcome— fail to bring substantial relief, the anticipation levels heighten, especially in the years when the rains may arrive ‘later’ than expected.

The seasonal tipping point

You might notice subtle shifts in the atmosphere in weeks and days leading-up the return of the rains: an elusive smell of moisture, a slight dip in temperatures, a sweeter fragrance in the early morning air before the sun’s heat takes hold.

The reappearance of the rains may also be preceded by a series of ad-hoc windstorms. And then a day arrives when the rains return in earnest. When they do, another transition period begins from dry to wet, although the flora respond much more quickly to the return of the rains than they do to their departure.

Typically, seasonal rainstorms are introduced by claps of loud thunder rolling-in over the mountain tops as heavily laden storm clouds gather overhead.  The wind picks up and drops abruptly, yielding to dramatic torrential downpours that gift immediate respite to the land.  In the early part of the rainy season, these storms help to return corn-yellow grass to emerald green and saturate the air with moisture that comprehensively settles the dust and dander, causing the flora to flourish with a joyful energy in a way that all the gardeners’ hoses, watering cans, and sprinklers can never accomplish.

For those who have lived in Mexico for a while, experiencing this tipping point between the dry season and the return of the drenching rains helps to bring into focus the natural cycles which greatly influence these lands far beyond the dust and flora, and serves as a reminder to all that we must pass through the challenges and irritations of a long dry spell to better appreciate the divine gift of refreshing rain.

The feel of a remarkable change in the air

The dust and dander, which are virtually unavoidable during the dry season, become almost immediately settled after the first two or three major rainstorms of the season.

The landscape changes color from yellow and brown to varying bright hues of green, orange, red, blue, violet, pink and white as trees redress their branches, shrubs blossom, and their flowers burst open to reveal the full splendor of their being.

The unmistakable scent of moistened soil is a sure sign that the dry season is passing; the early morning air —that felt mostly dry for months— now smells refreshed and carries sweet and subtle scents of the flora in its light breeze, especially after the drenching night rains, which tend to arrive midseason, sometime in July in most places, and pass leaving most mornings to break bright, sun-filled and distinctively refreshed.

When an afternoon rainstorm passes, the evening or night air is typically left fresh and cooled. It’s unusual for a heavy daytime rainstorm to last more than two or three hours —prolonged rains are usually caused by a tropical depression temporarily passing through the region— and most evenings unfold feeling fresh and accompanied by lingering subtle fragrances of flora in the air.

An ideal season to enjoy the great outdoors

Mexico offers visitors and residents a unique opportunity to enjoy different perspectives during the rainy season, especially when you’re visiting areas of outstanding natural beauty, for example, the Copper Canyon. the southern state of Chiapas, and the Yucatán region.

The rains bring color and vibrance to landscape, cause the flora bloom, and the to rivers to swell abundantly with rainwater that also feed some spectacular waterfalls.

Learn more about nature and adventure experiences in Mexico.

Gardeners rejoice in the rain season

As we mentioned in the article about living well in the dry season, gardeners spend a lot of time between January and May watering their plants in an effort to keep them from wilting and dying; some also attempt to keep their grass from turning corn-yellow, perhaps by means of a sprinkler system.

When the rains return, you’ll notice that the flora respond quickly.  Corn-yellow grass, thinned and made sparse by months without water, turns emerald green within a couple of weeks; and by summer the grass recuperates its full form and volume.

For those who have homes in Mexico situated on larger properties with tended gardens, or condo units with extensive landscaped areas surrounding them, the rains alleviate the constant call for manual watering, and replenish water cisterns that for months were being constantly drained, and requiring replenishment with additional water delivered by truck using local ‘pipas.’

Within a month of the first major rainstorm of the season, gardens become transformed in ways that hosepipes, watering cans, and even the most sophisticated sprinkler systems can never match. Gardeners’ attentions then turn to pruning, cutting, and trimming what appears to be unbridled growth; accompanied with a regular mowing schedule for those with grass lawns.

Water supply in the rain season

The ways in which water is supplied to your home in Mexico will depend on where the property is situated.  Many regions across Mexico experience some form of water scarcity during the dry season, although the scarcity is relieved almost entirely when the rains return.

Water deliveries

The dry season is the high trading period for the “Pipas”—tank trucks selling potable water.  When the rain season returns, these trucks are usually parked-up and left largely unused between June and September.

Properties that are not supplied by some type of mains water system and rely heavily on water delivery from the pipas, are especially grateful for the return of the rainy season, that dispenses with their need to buy copious amounts of water brought by trucks, and the rains also quickly refill water storage cisterns situated on the property.

Refilling water cisterns

Regardless of whether your Mexican property is served by a mains water system, a local communal water network, or by a combination of water truck deliveries and rain collection, it’s likely to have a cistern onsite that stores water on the property.  This water is either pumped up to a roof tank (to create a ‘gravity pressure’ system) or properties might have a hydro-pneumatic pump installed that pressurizes the water in the pipes without the need for it to be pumped to the rooftop.

Properties that are fed by mains or communal water systems don’t tend to collect rainwater (some might); however, all properties that rely on water from truck deliveries ought also to have a rain collection system in place.  When the rains return, they are so are so abundant that two or three heavy storms will easily refill 100,000-liter (c.26,000 US gallon) cistern with the help of a suitable rain collection scheme installed on the property.

Practical issues related to the rain season

Some tourists choose to avoid Mexico during the rain season, and ‘snowbirds’ —part-time residents who overwinter in Mexico— tend to miss the rainy season, which is lamentable in our view as the rain season brings life and abundance to the local environment that you’ll never experience in the dry months.

The rains also bring with them some challenges, especially for residents.  These are readily mitigated and, while they can cause some inconvenience, the challenges are easily outweighed by the benefits the rain season brings.

Proliferation of mosquitoes

Although mosquitoes don’t vanish entirely during the dry season, they do proliferate, and noticeably so, during the rainy season—as the females need a combination of moisture and iron from animal blood to breed.

A key matter to be mindful of during the rainy season is to ensure that you don’t allow stagnant pools of water to accumulate on your property, as these provide perfect breeding places for mosquitoes. Our article about dealing with mosquitoes in Mexico offers additional detailed and practical advice.

Managing your swimming pool

If your property (or condo complex) has a swimming pool, the rain season and summer high-temperatures can be the cause of additional algae and other living organisms to form and grow inside the pool.

Well-tended natural pools (those that use salts and flora instead of chlorine and other chemicals) ought not to be affected when they are properly managed.  Most people however use chlorine and other chemicals to regulate the pool’s water and keep it clean, clear, and free of algae—and algae spores which filtering alone cannot eradicate.

The period between the dry and wet seasons (April and May) can be especially challenging to maintain swimming pools. Pool owners tend to see the proliferation of algae build-up at this time and usually need to use a combination of chemicals and vacuuming to keep the pool crystalline clear.

If you hire someone to tend your pool, they may have the knowledge and experience to manage this; if you are maintaining your own pool, you may refer to resources online for advice if the algae build-up overtakes your pool—or hire someone locally to assist you.

Our article about enjoying and managing your swimming pool in Mexico contains further detailed insights and advice.

Electricity power cuts

The onset of a rainstorm is often preceded (or accompanied) by wind, and some of these windstorms, which might also be accompanied by lightning storms, can cause issues at local electricity sub-stations, or hit transformers and cables—which are most usually strapped to poles, not buried underground.  Thus the rainy season can bring an increase in the frequency of power cuts, which can also affect communications, especially internet services.  Our article about dealing with electricity power cuts in Mexico offers additional insights, and practical tips.

Drying laundry in the rainy season

Although some people use a tumble dryer (that requires a combination of electricity and natural gas to operate) Mexico’s exceptionally good weather makes it ideal for air-drying clothes and laundry.  During the dry season, it’s easy to become complacent with laundry routines as most days are warm and bright, and clothes dry in a short time, especially if there’s a light breeze, anytime of day you hang them.

When the rainy season returns, you’ll need to alter your laundry routines and hang laundry to dry early in the day as afternoon rain storms can be heavy enough to drench your clothes.

There’s more moisture in the air during the rainy season too, so clothes will take longer to dry, and if a tropical storm passes through your region, you might have to hang clothes under shelter, or indoors. Some people keep a tumble dryer for use during the rainy season, although with a little bit of forward planning (wash and hang your clothes to dry early in the day), air drying clothes is perfectly feasible even during the rainy season.

Beware of flooding and structural damage

Some rainstorms during the rainy season can be very intense—enough to cause flash-floods in localized areas.  This can cause flooding in your home, or on roads and local lanes, making driving conditions difficult or treacherous. In exceptional cases, colossal volumes of rainwater falling in a brief period can drench a locality and cause landslides.

An adequate home insurance policy will help you to mitigate the financial costs of dealing with storm damage during the rainy season, including any damage that might be caused to third parties—for example, if a flood undermines a wall on your property, causing it collapse.

Driving conditions in the rainy season

Heavy rainstorms can give rise to a range of risks and difficulties for drivers in Mexico, whether you’re driving through your local village, a city, or on an open highway.

Check your vehicle’s tires

A most common risk for drivers during the rainy season is bald (or balding tires) on vehicles.  During the dry season, when the road surface can remain completely dry for weeks or months on end, a slightly balding tire might not be a big risk; but as soon as the rains start, the absence of tread on a tire can create a potentially lethal risk —for you and others— as the surface water that cannot be displaced in the absence of tire tread creates a skid risk, and prevents you from braking effectively.  Always check your tire tread, especially before the rain season starts.

Flooding risks for drivers

In Mexico’s rural areas, rivers that swell during heavy rainstorms can cause local roads and lanes near those rivers to flood; if you’re caught out driving in a flash flood, your car may be become flooded and stranded or, in extremis, taken by the surge of a temporary river current.

In cities, flooding can be common when a rainstorm overwhelms the drainage systems available locally; power cuts can cause traffic light systems to fail and contribute to traffic jams; powerlines can fall and create blocks on roadways for a time until the emergency services can attend to repair them.

When you’re driving on open highways, in the wilderness, and other remote areas, heavy rainstorms (and hailstorms) can leave you especially exposed; on remote mountainous highways, mudslides and landslides can bring down trees, rocks and soil that cause the road running through a ravine to become completely blocked until road crews can attend and clear it: on tolled highways, this clearing work can happen quite quickly; on less-traveled remote highways it may take days or weeks.

Detailed advice about driving in Mexico

Our free eBook guide to driving in Mexico offers practical advice for driving safely, and we recommend that your vehicle is properly insured when you’re driving in Mexico.

Hurricane season

Some regions of Mexico are prone to hurricanes, a season that more or less coincides with the rainy season—although the most powerful hurricanes that make landfall tend to happen during the hottest weeks of the year: between July and September.

Although hurricanes mostly affect coastal areas, the storms can cause tropical depressions inland, too—in the form of an extended period of rain or unusually overcast conditions.  You can learn more about Mexico’s hurricane season here on Mexperience.

The end of the rainy season in Mexico

Sometime between late September and early November, depending on the region and how the rains manifest in any given year, the rainstorms that began in late spring begin to thin out, and one day, cease altogether—akin to someone switching off a faucet. Tlāloc, having discharged his natural duty to make things sprout, departs, and yields to the onset of the dry season.

The end of the rain season brings a marked change to the landscapes as well as life patterns across Mexico, although the effects of an ending rainy season are far more graduated than those which happen when the rains return.

During October through December, the bountiful amount of moisture that has accumulated in the ground keeps the flora active and the air feeling still fresh for a while.  However, by mid-December, the onset of winter heralds a change that can be sensed and felt; and by mid-January, the landscape and all who dwell upon it begin to enter, once again, into the ‘long dry’ season of the winter and early spring.

The change of season between the rains and the dry, and back again, is all part of a wonderful and divine cycle that contributes to making Mexico one of the most fascinating and enjoyable environments to enjoy being in.

Discover Mexico’s seasons

Mexperience helps you to discover Mexico’s diverse topography and climates as you make your lifestyle and leisure plans:

• The rain season begins in May or June.
• The dry season begins around October or November.
• Browse the latest articles about climate and weather in Mexico
• Discover Mexico’s climate through the seasons
• Learn about how Mexico is a land of three lands
• Check individual location guides here on Mexperience for climate by location.
• You can get full details about the weather by region and season on our guide to climate in Mexico.

How mosquitoes feed and breed

Mosquitoes feed primarily on nectar, although females also need the nutrients from animal or human blood to produce eggs and, unlike male mosquitoes, their mouth parts can penetrate skin and draw blood from hosts.

Female mosquitoes find hosts by using their antennae which detect carbon dioxide and other organic compounds expelled when humans and animals breathe out and sweat.  Studies have revealed that mosquitoes prefer some hosts over others: blood type, the bacteria on your skin, and even genetics can influence your attractiveness to female mosquitoes.

While the quantity of blood mosquitoes extract is inconsequential to the host, the saliva in mosquitoes’ mouths can carry diseases which may be passed-on, including Malaria, Yellow Fever, Chikungunya, Dengue fever, and the Zika virus.  According to the US Center for Disease Control, the chances of contracting Malaria from mosquitoes in Mexico is very low, although it advises pregnant women and their partners to take special precautions due to the risk of Zika virus.

Mosquitoes by season and region in Mexico

Mosquitoes are most prevalent in Mexico between April and November, and their numbers swell during the rainy season (June to October).  Sub-tropical regions in the south including the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, and Yucatán experience a higher proliferation of mosquitoes than areas further north.  Mexico’s fertile coastal plains provide the ideal environment for mosquitoes to thrive, but you’ll find plenty of them in places situated at elevation too, albeit fewer the further north you are in the central highlands. Mosquito numbers decline significantly —but don’t vanish entirely— from late autumn and through the winter months and will begin to return around the middle to late half of the dry season.

Practical matters concerning mosquitoes in Mexico

Most mosquito bites in Mexico are an annoyance more than a threat: your risk of contracting a disease is very low.  However, mosquito bites are not pleasant so it’s good practice to defend against them—whether you’re just here on a visit and especially if you live in Mexico or spend an extended period of time here.

Active hours

Although mosquitoes tend to be more active after dusk, female mosquitoes will bite anytime of day, especially in warmer and more humid climates.

Mosquito nets on windows and doors

An excellent way to guard your home in Mexico against mosquitoes is to install mosquito net-screens on your windows and install swinging mosquito net-screens in front of outside doors.  These allow you to enjoy an air flow, keeping your indoor spaces cool and naturally refreshed, while preventing mosquitoes from entering; this is especially helpful overnight during the hotter months when a cool night breeze can help you to rest. If your windows and doors don’t have mosquito nets, close them just before sundown to prevent lots of mosquitoes from entering your home and disturbing you at night.

Bed nets

Even using window and door net-screens, some female mosquitoes will always sneak-in, hide and become active overnight in their search for blood hosts—especially during the peak summer breeding season.  Whether you have mosquito nets on your windows or not, a bed net is one of the best and most effective ways to prevent your night’s sleep from being interrupted.  They are especially useful over children’s beds and cots.  They’re inexpensive, easy to install (simply hang from a hook in the ceiling), and the net can be folded back during the day.  Bed nets are a superior solution to burning incense or using some other artificial repellents in the room while you sleep.

Prevent mosquitoes breeding around your home

Mosquitoes need water to breed and checking your home spaces for possible mosquito breeding habitats will prevent you from having to deal with a swarm in your immediate vicinity.

The most common mosquito-breeding habitats in homes are laundry and utility areas, garden ponds, unused fountains and swimming pools, and any other places on the property where water can accumulate in stagnant pools.

Make it a regular habit to overturn water buckets and bins after use (even small pools of water in the base of a bucket create a breeding opportunity); if you have an unused fountain or swimming pool, keep it clear of stagnant water; if you have a garden pond you can use certain natural plants, fish, and/or essential oils to dissuade or prevent mosquitoes from breeding there; check near drainage areas, and on any flat roofs as well as other nooks and crannies which may accumulate pools of water after it rains: mosquitoes can breed quickly, and preventing them from using your home to multiply is a good first line of defense.

Body lotion mosquito repellents

Wearing insect repellent on your skin is the most common way to prevent mosquitoes from biting you while you’re enjoying the outdoors.  There are two types: the traditional synthetic repellents (usually based on DEET as the active ingredient) and repellents made using natural oils.

Repelente de insectos is readily available from local pharmacies and supermarkets across Mexico: the most common synthetic big-brand repellent on sale here is called “Off” and the alternative natural formulas made using citrus and other oils are sold under various brand names but most often include the word “Citronella” on the label.  You can buy them in liquid form with a spray top, or as a lotion or cream.

Dressing against mosquitoes

It’s worth wearing long sleeve shirts, trousers and socks after dusk if you plan to spend time outside during an evening.  Biting mosquitoes tend to go for places on your body with the least amount of hair, e.g. feet, ankles, legs/knees, ears, and neck.

If you are visiting or traveling through densely-foraged areas in humid regions (which includes many archaeology sites) it’s worth dressing using long sleeves and trousers as well as using a generous helping of insect repellent on exposed skin, regardless of the time of day.  If you’re traversing through rural areas which are densely-wooded, or through jungle, a hat with a sewn-in mosquito net is also recommended.

Candles, incense and coils, and bug sprays

‘Citronela’ candles are available for purchase locally although their efficacy seems doubtful.  Incense and coils which you light to emit smoke are also available; some claim they are suitable for indoor use, although these are probably best kept outside and used for evening garden parties, and other outdoor gatherings.

Big-brand mosquito insecticide sprays are readily available in stores and supermarkets across Mexico—they are effective, but the active ingredients are toxic to humans and other plant and wild life as well, so use them sparingly—or better, choose alternatives.

Electronic devices to deal with mosquitoes

There are three electric devices commonly used for deterring and eliminating mosquitoes.

Chemical diffuser and sound waves

Some people purchase devices which plug into an electricity socket on the wall: one type requires the continual purchase of an accompanying oil which is diffused into the room by the device; the other type emits a high-pitched frequency sound, inaudible to humans and supposedly unfriendly to mosquitoes and other insects. If you have pets, they might not appreciate these devices.

Ultra-violet light lamps

The other popular electric device is a ‘bug zapping’ lamp, that attracts flying insects using a UV lamp and electrocutes them.  The debris fall onto a tray that must be cleaned out.  A key issue with these is that they attract all flying insects, not just mosquitoes—and some flying insects are helpful to have around.

Simple alternative to electric devices

A hanging bed net —see above— is more effective and does not fill the room with artificial chemicals, high-frequency sound pitches which might affect sleep or hearing, and does not require you to continually clean out a tray of dead bugs (including ones that can be helpful and not just biting/stinging ones).

Marquees with mosquito screen-nets

Mexico’s agreeable climates provide ample opportunity for outdoor activities and events and if you often spend time in the garden or entertaining guests outside during the evening hours, you might consider buying a marquee and adding a mosquito netting to the sides; some marquees are sold with the mosquito netting already sewn-in; it can be rolled-up when it’s not needed.

Natural repellents and remedies

If you want to defend against mosquitoes without using a lot of synthetic/toxic chemicals, there is plenty of advice online about natural ways to deal with mosquitoes.

After-bite treatments

Most people will experience a mosquito bite and how your body reacts depends on a range of factors.  Most mosquito bites create a swollen area and cause an itch; in some people the reaction can be more severe, for example, large blisters may form.  If you are bitten, you can purchase Andotol gel from local pharmacies in Mexico which is an effective after-bite treatment; ask the pharmacist about other after-bite products they have in stock; some use bicarbonate of soda as the active ingredient.

Symptoms of possible disease

The odds of a disease being passed to you from a mosquito bite in Mexico are very low; notwithstanding this, if after being bitten by a mosquito you feel fever, unusually sweaty, experience back and body aches, a stiff neck, or begin vomiting seek medical advice.

The Aztec god of the wind

In Aztec culture, Ehecatl is the god of the wind; oftentimes depicted as a plumed serpent and illustrated in the breath and motion of living beings and in the breezes which bring and take the precious rain water that enables things to live and thrive.

Wind patterns by season in Mexico

The behavior of a wind storm in Mexico can be quite mystical: appearing suddenly, transforming a perfectly still and clear day or night into a windswept landscape that causes dust, leaves and other foliage to be strewn across streets, parks, and gardens, and vanishing as abruptly as it appeared.  These often-fleeting wind storms afford divine facilitation of the natural cycles, stripping trees and other flora of weak and dead branches, and ushering seasons through the throes of change.

Arrival of the first autumnal wind storms tend to herald the end of the rain season, usually in October.  As the weeks press-on from October through December, climates in places situated at higher altitudes can begin to get cool or cold, and the typically humid coasts and lowlands have their heat tempered, bringing comfortable warmth to Mexico’s low-lying regions.

During the winter season, this mystical wind can bring cold-fronts —“nortes” as they are known colloquially— most of which tend to linger a few days before passing, and granting a return of the temperate and agreeable winter climates Mexico is renowned for.

When the season begins to turn again from winter to spring, Ehecatl returns in earnest, conveying warmer air flows, and bringing welcome relief from the long dry spells that characterize late spring—in the form of seasonal rains.

Mexico City tends to experience plenty of windy days in March, helping to disperse the soiled air that accrues in the valley basin during the winter months and offering spectacular views of the surrounding mountains including the two majestic volcanoes which flank the capital.

Winds during the rain season

The wind can also be felt during the rain season, usually when temporary gusts appear in the minutes leading-up to a torrential rain storm that will drench the local landscape and everything upon it: the wind may be conspicuous by its complete absence afterwards. By contrast, Mexico’s hurricane season can bring the combination of persistently strong wind and torrential rain where these tropical cyclones make landfall.

Practical considerations

Wind storms can bring about a range of challenges for visitors, travelers and residents in Mexico—these are the most common:

• Like every natural phenomenon, wind storms present risks when you’re driving in Mexico—as trees, rocks, and other debris may fall onto roads and highways.
• The wind is also a potential purveyor of challenges to home-owners in Mexico, as structures (especially roof tiles and palapas) and falling trees can cause significant damage to the property itself and may also cause damage or injury to third parties. (Roof tiles, trees or large branches falling onto a neighbor’s property can leave you with a hefty bill you were not expecting.)  A good home insurance policy will cover many risks associated with wind damage, including third-party liability, but note that none will cover palapas.
• Wind storms can also cause electricity power cuts to homes.  Most of Mexico’s electrical cables are hung overground, and wind storms can cause electrical lamp posts to fall —some have transformers strapped to them that can affect several streets— and if the winds are accompanied by a lightning storm this too can affect electricity supplies.
• Wind storms during the dry season when the ground soil is parched can create localized dust storms. When driving, these can substantially reduce visibility; at home, sudden wind storms can deliver copious amounts of dust into your rooms as it enters through doors and windows you have open for ventilation.

Discover Mexico’s weather and climates

Mexperience helps you to discover Mexico’s diverse topography and climate as you make your lifestyle and leisure plans:

• Learn about how Mexico is a land of three lands
• Discover Mexico’s climate through the seasons
• The rain season begins in May/June and yields to the dry season in October/November
• Check individual travel guides here on Mexperience for climate by location. You can get full details about the weather by region and season on our guide to climate in Mexico.
• Browse the latest articles about climate and weather in Mexico

Dramatic storms that put on a show

The storms are usually preceded by gusts of wind and begin with a dramatic show of lightning bolts and sounds of thunder that may rattle windows and can sometimes cause temporary power cuts.

When the winds drop, the rains arrive swiftly and suddenly; if you’re caught out in a storm with nowhere to shelter, expect to become drenched through.  When the rains pour, the temperature falls and the air freshens, taking the edge off discomfort that high summer heat and humidity can bring.

Cool evenings and fresh mornings

When an afternoon rain storm passes, the evening or night air is left fresh and cooled off.  It’s unusual for a heavy rain storm to last more than two or three hours —prolonged rains are usually caused by a tropical depression passing through the region— and most evenings draw in feeling fresh accompanied by lingering sweet fragrances of flora hanging in the air.

Some regions experience a regular schedule of overnight storms during the rain season.  These storms tend to brew during the late afternoon hours with heavy overnight downpours yielding to fresh, often bright, new mornings.

On some days, early morning fog or cloud cover may linger and most days this evaporates by late morning or early lunchtime leaving the day feeling fresh and bright.

The rain season by region

Mexico offers visitors and residents a unique opportunity to enjoy different perspectives during the rainy season which runs, —more or less— from June to October each year.

Copper Canyon and the Yucatán peninsula

This is especially so when you’re visiting areas of outstanding natural beauty, for example, the Copper Canyon. the southern state of Chiapas, and the Yucatán region, as this is the time of year when the flora are blooming, and you can expect to enjoy some wonderful colors and scents that you simply won’t experience during the dry season.  The storms that arrive during this time of year, and which almost always arrive in the afternoon or overnight, also provide a natural break to the day and cool down the air perfectly.

The mountain highlands

The central and southern highlands depend on the rains each year for growing crops as well as to replenish the underground aquifers that provide essential water supplies to these regions through Mexico’s dry season.  Rain storms in these mountainous areas of Mexico tend to be the most dramatic, with lightning shows that cross open skies and thunder that reverberates dramatically through valleys and resounds upon steep mountain cliffs—at times with thunder strong enough to create a spectacular natural outdoor sound show.

Coastal plains

If you’re planning to visit to one of Mexico’s coastal regions during the rainy season, the afternoon storms usually don’t interfere with the process of getting a tan, or enjoying the beach and a swim in the ocean: you simply schedule your day around the afternoon storms and enjoy evenings that feel cool and refreshed after a hot day.

The Baja peninsula

The stretch of land immediately south of California, USA, is Baja California—this is Mexico’s large northern peninsula surrounded by the Sea of Cortés (also called the Gulf of California or Mar Bermejo) on the west, and the Pacific Ocean on the east side.  The weather in this region is characterized by hot daytime temperatures with cooler areas along the coasts. Rainy days are rare outside of the brief ‘rainy season’ that typically runs from August through to early October (September is the typically the wettest month), although tropical cyclones between July and October can bring ad-hoc torrential rains to this region.

Tropical cyclones during the rain season in Mexico

Hurricanes are most likely to emerge between July and October: as the hemispherical temperatures build-up, so do these storms which are born over the ocean with some making landfall on Mexico’s coasts.  It’s impossible to predict how frequent or how hard hurricanes will hit in any given year, although the coastal areas are always on the front-line of a hurricane landing.  Inland, the effect of the storm is mitigated by Mexico’s impressive mountain ranges which break-up storm systems and transmute them into overcast skies and rain, although temperatures usually remain warm.

Mexperience helps you to discover Mexico’s diverse topography and climates as you make your lifestyle and leisure plans:

• The rain season begins in May or June.
• The dry season begins around October or November.
• Browse the latest articles about climate and weather in Mexico
• Discover Mexico’s climate through the seasons
• Learn about how Mexico is a land of three lands
• Check individual location guides here on Mexperience for climate by location.
• You can get full details about the weather by region and season on our guide to climate in Mexico.

Traveling in Mexico during the rainy season

You can usually tell when a thunderstorm is approaching; you’ll feel the air temperature drop, the wind might pick-up suddenly, you may hear thunder and see lightning and the dark rain clouds roll-in before the heavens open up.

However, sometimes cloud cover that looks benign and that has shed no moisture for hours can suddenly and unexpectedly drop a bucket of rain on you within a couple of minutes: beware of this when you’re on an afternoon walk, or driving on otherwise dry roads.

Getting caught out in a heavy thunderstorm will likely get you drenched right through to your skin.  If you’re out walking and there’s no place to take shelter, the rains will be intense enough, at times, to make you feel as if someone has emptied a bucket of water over your head.  A strong umbrella might help provided the winds are calm; small, fragile, umbrellas will be of limited use during a seasonal rain storm in Mexico.

Driving during Mexico’s rain season

Most major highways in Mexico have adequate drainage systems, but it’s as well to look out for areas where water may have built-up, especially around long, winding, bends and where the road topography doesn’t lend itself to immediate drainage.

Drivers on Mexico’s highways don’t always regulate their speed during rain storms, so be extra vigilant.  Also, it’s prudent to check your tire tread after the dry season as balding tires can cause lethal skidding when the rains start.

Extreme care needs to be taken on mountain roads and remote byways which, in addition to becoming a driving hazard in torrential rain storms, may also suffer soil erosion that can cause landslides.  It’s not uncommon to see collapsed sections of road on byways and rural roads in remote areas of Mexico caused by sudden and massive storms during the rain season.

Having an adequate auto insurance policy for your road trip in Mexico is essential to help you deal with any unforeseen mishaps caused by heavy storms.

An experience in its own right

Harboring under a canopy, balcony, or similar shelter and witnessing a strong thunderstorm in Mexico can offer a rewarding experience.  The thunder and lightning show can be spectacular and, combined with an extraordinary amount of water falling in short order from the sky, the event is exhilarating to the senses.

After the storms pass, the air feels fresh, the sun may come out again (early storms), and you can enjoy the sweet aromatic smell of the flora which become greatly accentuated by the damp air.  In Mexico City, where the air quality can become an issue in the winter and dry spring climate, the rains also provide a welcome cleansing of the air.

Although some people try to avoid visiting Mexico during the rain season, the choice may be unfounded as there are several advantages to being in Mexico during the rainy season: read about enjoying the experience of Mexico’s seasonal rains for further insights about this.

Longer-lasting rain spells

On some occasions, if a tropical depression moves-in to the area or region where you’re situated (these tend to be most prevalent during the hurricane season), the rains may linger-on with overcast skies or drizzle continuing for up to a few days.

More often, the seasonal rain storms arrive and pass quickly, or morning cloud and mist brought by overnight storms evaporates swiftly as the sun rises throughout the morning hours.  When the weather system causing the depression passes, the cycle returns to its usual pattern, delivering bright sunny skies the following morning.

Living with Mexico’s rainy season

If you live in Mexico, the rainy season may cause some practical inconveniences on occasions. For detailed insights and tips read our article about living well thorough Mexico’s rainy season.

Local flooding

Localized temporary flooding is the most common side-effect, which is not entirely surprising given the sheer quantity of water that falls in a short period.  Roads, especially in cities and built-up towns, may become inundated and traffic may come to a standstill, especially if a car breaks-down on your route.

Wind storms and power cuts

Power cuts can be another side-effect of thunderstorms.  Persistent heavy rains, lightning, and wind storms are the key factors which cause most power-outages during the rainy season, as most power cables and in Mexico are situated overhead and thus are susceptible to the elements.  Power cuts may last from a few minutes to several hours.

On some occasions, the storms might cause a power cut that lasts for a day or more, especially if lightning strikes a major sub-station or local transformer, or if strong winds blow down a major power line.  Roof flooding is another thing to look out for: most homes in Mexico have flat roofs, and it’s good practice to regularly check the roof of your house (or condo building) and ensure they are clear of any debris, branches, leaves, etc. which may block drainage channels and cause water pools to form on your roof space.

Other practical matters

The rain season is also the time of year when mosquitoes are most active.  Our article about dealing with mosquitoes offers practical advice.

For residents living in houses located in rural or semi-rural locations with systems that collect rain water for use in the home, the seasonal rains provide a regular and welcome top-up to the property’s water cisterns or a community’s local aquifer as well as bringing the garden’s plants and grass back to their full color and glory.

See also: living well thorough Mexico’s rainy season.

Discover Mexico’s seasons

Mexperience helps you to discover Mexico’s diverse topography and climates as you make your lifestyle and leisure plans:

• The rain season begins in May or June.
• The dry season begins around October or November.
• Browse the latest articles about climate and weather in Mexico
• Discover Mexico’s climate through the seasons
• Learn about how Mexico is a land of three lands
• Check individual location guides here on Mexperience for climate by location.
• You can get full details about the weather by region and season on our guide to climate in Mexico.

• buying land to build a residential home; or
• considering a home that is situated in a semi-rural or rural area; and/or
• looking at a property that has been recently constructed.

There are many properties in Mexico that are not connected to a mains or community-managed water network, especially (but not solely) in rural areas, and properties without a mains water feed need to be served by one of two alternative means: rainwater, or water truck deliveries (or a combination of these two).

The effect of the dry season on water supplies

Most of Mexico experiences a ‘dry season’ lasting about six months, between November/December and May/June, although water scarcity doesn’t typically become noticeable until around mid-to-late February.

The dry season brings challenges to the landscape as well to home owners, as water can become quite scarce in some areas or regions—even at properties served by water main systems as supplies to homes are throttled by water authorities to conserve supplies until the rains return and local underground wells get replenished.

How will your property get its water?

When you’re buying property in Mexico, whether it’s a built home, and especially when investing in land upon which you intend to build your home, it’s vital to know exactly what the water supply arrangements are, because it may not be as straightforward as you might expect.

Land (or property) without a reliable water source will require you to depend on water deliveries by truck (if available locally) and/or you will need to collect rainwater in season (between May/June and October/November)—and keep this water stored in underground cisterns on the property.

In Mexico’s established towns and cities, water is most usually piped directly to homes in residential neighborhoods using a water mains network, with each home’s supply routed through a water meter by which you pay according to your consumption. Water bills are sent out bi-monthly. Mains water is usually fine for washing, bathing, and cooking, but it might not be suitable for drinking without being filtered.

If the property you’re planning to buy is not served by a mains water system, then its wise to establish what water supply arrangements are currently in place —or can be put into place— to supply the property with a reliable supply of water before you sign a contract to buy.

Water supply in Mexico

Properties in Mexico usually obtain their water supply from one of four principal sources:

• a mains water system, which is usually metered; or
• a local community water system fed from a licensed water well; or
• a combination of rainwater collection (in season); and
• water-truck deliveries.

You can learn more about water supply services here.

Getting a reliable water supply for your property

If you discover that a property you’re interested in is not served by a water main system, don’t take anyone’s word, or hear-say, about other sources. Undertake due diligence and find out how the property is being served by water (or whether you’ll need to make alternative arrangements) and ascertain that any existing supply agreements that are in place are binding in the event of a property transfer.

In the absence of a water main system, your property may be supplied with water in these ways:

Local mains or community water systems

If a local mains water supply or community water system exists locally, you ought be able to get your property connected to it—but double check this as local rules and regulations about connections can be quirky.

The procedure to get connected can be time-consuming and will involve negotiation with local water authorities or community leaders, as well as connection fees in addition to the consumption or annual supply costs.

Consult with the local water authority (or community leaders in rural areas) as well as a local architect and/or plumber about the options and costs involved to get a property connected to the local mains system.

Local water wells

If the water source is a licensed local water well, this should be stipulated on the deeds or related contract or covenant and the property’s right to access to the well and the system that delivers water from it should be checked and verified by you and/or the Notary Public dealing with your property transaction.

Rain collection

Properties that are not near, or which cannot connect to, mains or community water systems will often have underground cisterns on-site that store rainwater, collected in season using roof capture systems.

Modern rainwater collection methods make optimal use of the roof space to collect and channel rainwater into underground water cisterns.  Read more about this in the next section about water collection and storage.

Water delivery by truck

Most towns and villages, and especially those in (semi)rural areas, have a company or two operating a fleet of local water delivery trucks.  Most of the vehicles are usually kept parked and idle between June and October, but when the dry season starts, they ply a brisk trade by transporting water to local residences that are not supplied by a water main system, and whose rainwater collection arrangements are either non-existent or whose water cisterns have run low and require a refill.

The smaller trucks have tanks carrying 5,000 liters (1,300 US gallons) of water; the large ones carry 10,000 liters (2,600 US gallons) of water.

Water truck deliveries are essential during the dry season for many properties that don’t have a mains water supply; and properties that have large gardens and/or swimming pools tend to require refills of their water cisterns during the dry season if they don’t have rainwater collection and/or substantial underground cistern space.

You can never be sure about the precise amount of water being dispensed by the delivery truck: you buy ‘a tank’ at at an agreed price and whatever amount of water is in the truck gets pumped out of it and into your property’s cistern —there is no metering system— although if you know the full capacity of your cistern, you can estimate the amount of water that was dispensed after it’s been filled based on how full the cistern was before and after the delivery.

Buying water from delivery trucks is the second-most expensive to way to buy water; only purified water in bottles costs more. Prices for a tank fluctuate locally depending on factors such as current diesel fuel costs and how far away your property is situated from the licensed water wells that refill these trucks. If your home is near the water truck station, you’ll be offered a lower price than if it’s situated many miles away from it; and prices can escalate if your home is more remote, e.g., on a mountain ridge requiring the heavy water-laden truck to climb steep roads and negotiate dusty country lanes to arrive.

Water collection, storage, filtering, recycling—and gardening

Rainwater collection is a viable way to enjoy a beautiful countryside property that is not near a mains water feed, or which is too far away from the nearest community run water system to connect at a reasonable cost.

There are five key considerations to take into account when your property needs to collect rainwater as part of its water supply:

Efficient rainwater collection

The tremendous thunderstorms that arrive in the late spring and summer drench the landscape and each storm releases colossal amounts of water that can be collected for use in your home.

One square meter of roof space can potentially collect one liter of water for each one millimeter of rain that falls; thus the ratio is 1:1:1.

• If you’re building your own home, talk to your architect about how to design the roof space to optimize rainwater collection.
• If you’re buying an older home, talk to an architect or water management consultant about how you can use the existing roof space for collection, and/or make adjustments to the existing roof to optimize the amount of rainwater you can collect on your property.

Water storage at your home in Mexico

As we remarked on our article about water pressure in Mexico, most properties, even those supplied by a mains water system, have an underground cistern to store water for use on the property.

If your home is not near a water mains feed system, and/or remotely or rurally situated, having ample water storage is essential to keep you sufficiently supplied with water through the dry months of the year when rain is scarce or non-existent, and to minimize your dependency on water truck deliveries.

Water for your garden during Mexico’s dry season

The dry season brings two key challenges to home owners who have gardens in homes without a mains water supply: the absence of rain requires you to use substantial quantities of water to keep your garden flora alive, and your water cisterns are not being replenished for daily water use around the home.

Don’t underestimate the volume of water that you’ll need to maintain your home’s garden during the dry season.

There are many techniques to optimize the use of water in your garden during the dry season, and this article provides an excellent primer on the subject.

Water filtering for drinking

As we remarked in our article about drinking water in Mexico, most people buy bottled water, or filter water supplied to the property before they use it for drinking—whether it’s supplied by a mains feed system, water delivery trucks, or is collected from rainfall.

Water recycling on the property

The latest techniques used for water collection at residential homes also feature systems to recycle water within the property—channeling water that cannot be reused in the home into the garden to feed the flora, and channeling water than can be filtered and reused back into the property’s water cistern for reuse in the home itself.

The methods recycle a helpful percentage of every liter used, which reduces the amount of water cistern storage space required (cisterns can be expensive to build) and make efficient use of the rainwater that’s been collected.

Contact a water consultant in your local area, or talk to a local architect or plumber about options available for water recycling on your property.

Learn more about water supplies in Mexico

Mexperience publishes articles and guides to help you understand water supplies and the efficient use of water at your home in Mexico, including:

• How water is delivered to homes in Mexico
• Understanding water pressure systems
• Clarity about drinking the water
• Latest articles related to use of water in Mexico
• Latest articles about Mexico’s rainy season and dry season
• Free eBook: Home Maintenance and Security in Mexico

If you travel to Mexico on a package vacation, you’re unlikely to notice as most large hotels and resorts have power back-up systems in place; however, if you plan to live, work or retire in Mexico, you’ll come to know that localized power cuts are part-and-parcel of the living landscape here.

The effect of power cuts in Mexico

Power cuts can happen at anytime and can last from a few minutes to several days.  They are more frequent during the summer months, and through the rainy season in particular, as torrential thunderstorms with lightning —sometimes accompanied by high winds— have a habit of knocking out local transformers strapped to lamp posts or affecting electricity sub-stations. In the case of the former, a street or two can end up without power; if its the latter, entire neighborhoods or small towns may be affected.

Mexico’s electricity company has been continually improving the infrastructure of the country’s electricity grid in recent years, and so power-cuts are far less frequent and lengthy today than they were in years past. When the power goes, the electricity company is usually quite good at responding—most of the time power-outages will be brief, or last a few hours at most.

Practical issues related to power cuts

When you’re living in Mexico, electrical power cuts may introduce a plethora of inconvenient situations into your daily routines.  Some common issues can include:

• traffic lights suddenly cease to work causing traffic jams and car accidents (which add to the congestion in cities);
• food in refrigerators and freezers may be at risk if the power outage lasts more than a day or two
• convenience stores may have to stop trade if their sales counters depend on electronics: this is common at modern convenience stores;
• you might be watching a movie at home, which just got to the good part, or you may be downloading something from the internet: even if your laptop keeps working, the internet router shuts down;
• if you’re working in Mexico, your factory or office facilities such as computers, printers, modems, etc. may become lifeless objects of little use when the power goes.

Working from home

If you work from home part-time or full-time, or you you’re self-employed in Mexico, perhaps working in some knowledge-based industry where your internet connection and other electronic devices must be on-hand to serve clients and deliver projects on-time, the acquisition of an office-grade UPS device and a power surge protector will prove a useful investment.

A UPS is in essence a battery in a box that charges up when the power is on, and keeps electric-powered devices running for a while when the power shuts down.  Retail technology supply stores in Mexico, like OfficeMax and Home Depot, as well as Amazon Mexico sell domestic and office-grade UPS devices which will keep computers, internet routers, and printers running for between 30-120 minutes during a power cut. (The longer the back-up time, the more expensive the device.)

If you must have your home or office or other business powered constantly, industrial-grade UPS systems, which include larger and longer-lasting power battery backups or diesel fuel-powered generators, are available from specialist suppliers (search online for options).

Keeping your Mexican home running well

You can find out more about utility services, including power supply in Mexico, in our guide to House Maintenance and House Security in Mexico.

Resources for Living & Lifestyle in Mexico

Mexperience offers you a comprehensive online resource of information and local knowledge to help you discover Mexico, explore choices, find opportunities and plan a new life in Mexico.  Our resources include:

• Learn about managing your house & home in Mexico
• Learn more about daily living in Mexico in our Home Life section
• Continually updated guides to aspects of living in Mexico
• A regular Mexico Newsletter you can subscribe to for free

Coasts feel cooler, mountains feel colder

From late September, autumn temperatures in places situated at higher elevation (over 4,000 feet above sea level) will feel generally cooler, and temperatures can begin to feel chilly and even cold during early morning hours and after sundown at elevations above 6,000 feet.

As a rule of thumb, when you’re visiting Mexico’s inland cities situated at elevation during the autumn and winter, you’ll encounter comfortably warm days (typically up to 22C/72F) and cool or chilled morning and evenings; temperatures can drop to near-freezing in some places overnight during winter months, especially in rural locations.

Overcast days brought about by temporary climate depressions will usually bring cool or chilly weather all day long this time of year. Overnight temperatures at these higher elevations begin to warm-up again from late February or early March.

Coastal areas vs mountain towns

For example, the Pacific coastal towns of Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo are situated just a three-hour drive from the highland colonial city of Morelia.  With Morelia situated at around 7,000 feet above sea-level —a mile-and-a-half up in the sky— autumn and winter there requires the use of pull-overs, fleece coats, and perhaps even some indoor heating for mornings and late evenings (locally, many people use log fires or small electric-powered space heaters to take the edge off colder hours).

By contrast, coastal areas like Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo and Puerto Vallarta —that swelter through the peak summer months— begin to yield their heat and humidity during the autumn, and temperatures become pleasantly warm; a principal reason why many ‘snow birds’ arrive at coastal towns across Mexico during this time of year with the intention of overwintering in Mexico.

Discover places to live in Mexico

You can discover locations across Mexico for living and retirement —as well as practical insights for choosing a location— on our section about Places to Live in Mexico.

Transition to the dry season

The rain season that begins in May or June comes to an abrupt end in October or November, and the transition from the rain season to the dry season begins.  When the rains stop, there remains plenty of moisture in the ground to keep the flora bright and fragrant for a time; however, by late December the absence of torrential rains becomes noticeable, and by late January the effects of the dry season can be readily felt in the air, and seen across the landscape.

Clocks no longer altered in Mexico

In 2022, Mexico’s congress and senate voted to abandon seasonal clock changes, which set the country’s clocks forward by one hour in the spring, and back again by one hour in the fall.

Some municipalities along the border with the USA will continue to move their clocks to synchronize with corresponding border cities in the US.

As we have remarked elsewhere in these pages, the clock change was never popular in Mexico, and the country’s geographical location offers naturally-long daylight all year, regardless of any clock-time adjustments.

Dressing for cooler weather

If you’re in Mexico between October and March, it’s wise to pack some warmer attire when you’re situated at any of the country’s highland towns and cities, which includes most of Mexico’s colonial cities as well as the three big cities of Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.

If you’re traveling to one of Mexico’s coastal locations during these months, it’s advisable to pack a light pull-over for any cooler evenings which may come to pass, usually caused by temporary climate depressions that blow in from the north.

Autumn and winter temperatures inland and by the coasts will vary depending on the precise location: check individual travel guides for detailed climate summaries by season and location.

Discover Mexico’s weather and climates

Mexperience helps you to discover Mexico’s diverse topography and climate as you make your lifestyle and leisure plans:

• Learn about how Mexico is a land of three lands
• Discover Mexico’s climate through the seasons
• The rain season begins in May/June and yields to the dry season in October/November
• Check individual travel guides here on Mexperience for climate by location. You can get full details about the weather by region and season on our guide to climate in Mexico.
• Browse the latest articles about climate and weather in Mexico

Mexican summertime begins on or around June 21^st each year, although temperatures are already near their peak by mid-spring, and the rain season usually begins by late May or early June, bringing a refreshing change to the long dry-spell of springtime, and also helping to clear the soiled and stale air that tends to accumulate around the valley of Mexico City in the weeks leading-up to the rains.

Visiting and living in Mexico during the rain season

Some guides advise against visiting Mexico during the rain season but, as we have remarked elsewhere, that approach would rob you of an opportunity to experience Mexico at one of its finest times of year: when the rains come, the flora show-off their brightest colors and release the delicate subtleties of their natural fragrances; the rivers and lakes swell, and the searing heat is tempered by revitalizing rain.

The ‘snowbirds’ who live in Mexico part time also tend to miss the rainy season, as they arrive in November and leave in April.

When the long-dry spell of the spring breaks, Mexico’s flora and landscapes begin to break into color; living in Mexico during the rainy season has its challenges, but with some planning you can live well through Mexico’s rainy season.

Summer is also the time when most of the mosquitoes are active but, as we explain here, it’s not difficult to dress against their nuisance, and effective repellents are readily available at local stores and pharmacies across the country.  A mosquito net draped over your bed is very effective and enables you to leave the windows open; this lets the cool night air in to ventilate the room naturally, with the added enjoyment of falling asleep with birdsong and other soundscapes of nocturnal wildlife.

Canyons and jungles

Summer is an ideal season to experience the Copper Canyon.  Situated in the northwest region of Mexico, here the rain season starts around July and extends into November.  During this time of year, the colors in the canyons radiate their deepest greens, the rivers flow abundantly with water, and the flora and fauna are at their most active.  In the far south of the country, in the jungles of Chiapas, the iconic turquoise waters of the Agua Azul waterfalls may turn brown as the heavy rains stir the riverbed’s sediment; if you want to see these rivers at their most picturesque, you’ll need to visit a month or two after the rains have passed.

Summer storms

The high summer heat can also brew storms and hurricanes: as air temperatures in the northern hemisphere heat-up, powerful storms can form over the oceans, and some make landfall in Mexico.  It’s impossible to determine with any precision how active or otherwise any given hurricane season will be.  Peak hurricane activity is typically seen between July and September; by October temperatures are in decline and by late November it’s virtually impossible for these storms come about.  If you own a home near the coasts in Mexico, it’s wise to insure your property against hurricane damage.

Summer climates by region in Mexico

How the summer climate in Mexico typically presents itself depends on where you are situated:

Colonial Highlands

In the colonial highlands, mornings tend to be pleasantly warm with temperatures rising gradually through the day and rain storms breaking-out on some afternoons, evenings, or overnight.  Most mornings break clear and sunny (even if an overnight storm system passed through), except when there is weather system active in the region (perhaps a tropical storm) which may cause early overcast skies, with the cloud cover breaking late morning or early afternoon as temperatures rise.  Occasionally, a short run of rainy days may present themselves, especially if a hurricane makes landfall in the same region.  It doesn’t typically rain every day during the summer season, although when the rains come, afternoon storms usually clear leaving the late evenings refreshed, and dry.  The temperate colonial highlands offer the most agreeable temperatures during the summer months, albeit at elevation.

Along the beach and coastal plains

Temperatures at sea level along the coasts are significantly hotter than those in the highlands, and the coastal humidity is immediately noticeable from sunrise.  Afternoon monsoon rains will either break and leave the evenings cooled-off and dry, or they may persist.  When summer tropical storms linger offshore, or a hurricane makes landfall, the coastal regions take the full force of the storm, before Mexico’s impressive mountain ranges break up the weather front causing heavy rains inland; some of these may cause flash-flooding even days after the storm, so additional care should be exercised if you are driving near the coasts at this time of year, and be sure that you’re adequately insured on road trips.

Baja California

Summers on the Baja peninsula are hot inland, and cooler along the coasts.  The ‘rain season’ here is short, with most rainfall typically falling in September; this region otherwise enjoys hot, dry summers.  The northern reaches of the peninsula (e.g. Ensenada, Tijuana, San Felipe) are cooler, whereas the further south you travel along this remarkable 1,100-mile stretch of land, the hotter it gets, and the lack of rainfall in comparison to other regions in Mexico means that the natural environment here offers little relief from the high summer heat (except, perhaps, for sea breezes along the coast).

Southern regions

As you travel south past the colonial highlands of Oaxaca and cross the lowlands of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, summer temperatures soar and you can expect to experience typical jungle weather: hot, humid, and sultry.  The states of Chiapas (with its highland jungles), Tabasco, Yucatán, Quintana Roo, and Campeche experience their hottest months between May and September.  Afternoon rain storms can arrive suddenly and be quite fierce, and this region is also susceptible to hurricanes making landfall from the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific, and Caribbean waters.  Summers in Chiapas are remarkably sultry, but the landscape is verdant and wonderfully alive; some respite from the humid heat can be obtained by traveling to higher elevations around San Cristóbal de las Casas and environs.

Enjoy extraordinary year-round daylight

While Mexico’s summer days offer extended daylight hours, as we mentioned in our article about the winter climates, even the shortest days in Mexico offer lots of daylight and every season in Mexico provides an opportunity to enjoy the abundance of color, culture, and charisma that Mexico puts on display across its varied regions.  Choose your region with care, and it will never too cold to enjoy the outdoors, and there’s no reason to roast in the summer.

The peak of the summer season passes around mid-August. Mexico’s Independence Day parties on September 16^th tend to herald the turn of the seasonal cycle, as the climate pattern begins to turn once more; the hurricane season abates, and heat of summer yields to a cooler, atmospheric autumn.

Discover Mexico’s weather and climates

Mexperience helps you to discover Mexico’s diverse topography and climate as you make your lifestyle and leisure plans:

• Learn about how Mexico is a land of three lands
• Discover Mexico’s climate through the seasons
• The rain season begins in May/June and yields to the dry season in October/November
• Learn about the extraordinary light in Mexico
• Check individual travel guides here on Mexperience for climate by location. You can get full details about the weather by region and season on our guide to climate in Mexico.
• Browse the latest articles about climate and weather in Mexico

Journey times can take longer in the rain season

There is however a note of caution to be shared about metro use during Mexico’s rainy season (May/June to November), when torrential downpours can tip copious amounts of water onto the city’s streets—and metro train tracks.

Mexico City’s metro trains are French-made and, like the subway in Paris, the trains run on rubber wheels rolling over a wide steel plate.  This makes for a more comfortable ride, as the traditional grooved metal wheels —which run along thinner metal rails— only come into use if one of the rubber tires bursts.

When it’s dry —and when the rails are covered underground— this system works perfectly well.  However, considerable stretches of Mexico City’s Metro system run over-ground, and rubber wheels on wet metal tracks bring about a serious skid-risk, which means that during the downpours, the lines which run some or all of their route outdoors are forced to slow down for safety: longer distances between trains are created by the network managers, and the trains themselves are made to run slower on the tracks.  This translates into delays (for example, long waits between stations) and longer journey times.

If you’re traveling on the capital’s Metro system during the rainy season —or in the dry season on an otherwise wet day— remember to build-in some extra time and be prepared to exercise patience on your journey.

A glimpse of Mexico City’s metro system

Mains-fed water systems

At properties situated in most of Mexico’s urban towns and cities, water is provided by a mains-feed system with the property also connected to a mains-sewerage system.

The pressure of these systems varies and you may need to use a pump or hydraulic system on-site to increase the pressure for use around the home. Mains-fed water is usually metered at a rate per cubic meter charged to the property.  (One cubic meter of water is equal to 1,000 liters of water.)

Rates vary by state and by even neighborhood in towns and cities—check locally for details.  Prices are affordable, and the rate includes the mains sewerage fees.

Communal water feed systems

Where properties are situated outside of main cities and towns, and especially in semi-rural and rural areas, a water mains-feed is probably not available and in these situations, the property might be supplied by water from a communally-run local water feed system.

Where a communal water feed system is available, its water is usually sourced from local springs or water wells connected to a local pipe network.  A master tap is opened for several hours once or twice a week, which feeds water from the local system into underground cisterns on the properties which are served by the pipe network.  These systems are not ‘metered’ per house, but an annual fee is payable to the local municipality, and rates vary.

Rainwater and water wells

In absence of a mains-fed or local communal water system, water supply to the home will depend on a licensed private well on-site (or near the property with permission to draw water from it) or, more usually, collecting rain water in season and topping this up with deliveries from water trucks, especially during the dry season.

Water delivery by truck

Water delivery trucks source their water from licensed local springs or water wells and typically dispense up to 10 cubic meters of water (10,000 liters) into an underground cistern on the property.  Prices per cubic meter vary by region.  There are 3.78 liters in 1 US gallon; therefore 10,000 liters is equivalent to approximately 2,645 US gallons.  Learn more about water delivered by truck.

Sewerage systems

Properties in urban areas with mains-fed water can usually connect to a mains sewerage system.  Where a connection to the mains sewer is not possible (or there is no mains sewer in the area) the property will need a septic tank system on-site to deal with its sewerage.

Learn more about sewerage and septic tanks systems for your house in Mexico

Learn more about water supplies in Mexico

Mexperience publishes articles and guides to help you understand water supplies and the efficient use of water at your home in Mexico, including:

• Water supplies for residential homes in Mexico
• Understanding water pressure systems
• Clarity about drinking the water
• Sewerage and septic tank systems in Mexico
• Latest articles related to use of water in Mexico
• Latest articles about Mexico’s rainy season and dry season

The weather and climates in Mexico are affected by a combination of the season, what part of Mexico you are in, and what the elevation is there. This guide explains Mexico’s climates and weather by season and region and contains links to relevant articles about Mexico’s climates.

See Also: When To Go Mexico (Seasons & Climate)

Mexico weather and climates Summary

Coasts: Hot and humid; can be subject to hurricanes during hurricane season (see below for details).

Climates inland at elevation

Warm, Spring-like year round, although it can become cooler during December thru March.

The hottest months in Mexico

The hottest months are April & May in the South, and July to September on Pacific Coast (Including Baja), and extremely hot in the Yucatan May to September.  Also read about the dry season, below.

The coolest months in Mexico

Vary by region, but generally December, January, February; the Yucatan can still experience hot weather even in the coolest months.

Rain season in Mexico

Mexico’s rainy season runs (generally) from May/June to October (sometimes extends to November) each year. Most regions south of the Tropic of Cancer (near Mazatlán) are affected. Rain storms usually arrive in the late afternoon accompanied by thunder and lightning, creating torrential downpours before passing and leaving the evenings dry and cooled off.
See also: Mexico’s Rain Season

Dry season in Mexico

When the season rains finish in the late fall the cycle begins to unveil a significant change as the moisture evaporates from the ground and the air becomes noticeably drier.  Learn more about the dry season in Mexico.

Hurricane season in Mexico

June, July, August, September, October (sometimes extends into November): Can affect weather on the Yucatan Peninsula, (e.g. Cancun), as well as weather on Mexico’s Pacific coast, from Baja California southwards, and as well climates along Mexico’s Gulf coast.
See also: Hurricane Season in Mexico

Detailed weather charts for Mexico

The BBC has launched detailed weather charts for Mexico, including satellite images, temperatures, pressure maps and forecasts for 32 cities across the country.
See: BBC Weather (Mexico)

When to go to Mexico

Our detailed guide, When To Go To Mexico explains more about Mexico’s seasons, climates and terrains.

See Also: Autumn Climates, Winter Climates, Spring Climates

Climates by Region in Mexico