Weather in Mexico

Mexico has one of the most varied weather systems in the world. It is divided into the temperate zone and the tropical zone by the Tropic of Cancer. The areas that lie to the north of the Tropic of Cancer have colder winters while the areas that lie to the south of it, experience a steady moderate climate throughout the year.

Variations of temperature in the south are essentially due to the elevation of the area. Areas in the southern part of the coastal plains and the Yucatan peninsula which have an elevation under 1000 metres register an annual average temperature between 24 °Celsius and 28 °Celsius. Since the difference between the summer and winter temperatures in Mexico is only around 5 °Celsius, the weather in Mexico remains moderately hot throughout the year. The low lying areas that lie to the north of the 24th parallel have humid and hot summers but the cool winters ensure that the annual temperatures remain low between 20 °Celsius and 24 °Celsius.

Many of the larger cities of Mexico are situated in the Valley of Mexico and the valleys adjacent to it, at an altitude of over 2000 metres. Due to this location, they enjoy pleasant weather throughout the year with the annual average temperature in the range of 16 °Celsius to 18 °Celsius.

Areas in the tropical lowlands of the south have an average of 200 centimetres of rainfall every year but many other regions, especially in North Mexico, have an arid climate with erratic rainfall.