As we have remarked in articles about the local environment here, the rainy season delivers vitality and color to the landscape with its dramatic and drenching storms which begin around late spring each year.

However, when the rainstorms vanish in the late fall —almost as abruptly as they were ushered in by the mystical wind that brought them in the spring— the dry cycle begins to unveil a significant change as the moisture gradually evaporates from the ground and the air becomes noticeably drier.

The transition from drenching rain to dry land

When the rains eventually stop, there is so much moisture near the surface of the ground that it takes some months for the full effects of the dry season to begin to be seen and felt across the local environment.  It’s this ‘evaporation’ period, usually lasting about eight to twelve weeks, that creates a graduated transition from wet to dry.

When the dryness does finally take hold, landscapes that were moist, verdant, and colorful turn to shades of yellow, brown and orange; dust and dander roam freely through the air, and the soft fragrances of rain-soaked earth and flora are substituted by a dry and sometimes grating ambience that can, on occasions, combine to create an uncomfortable mixture of heat, dust, and dander.

The dry season by regions across Mexico

Regions across Mexico experience the effect of the dry season in different ways, influenced by their latitude, elevation, and proximity to the ocean.

Northern Mexico

The vast, dry, deserts of northern Mexico remain arid for most of the year; the majority of the rain that falls in this region appears during mid-summer—July through September.

The Baja California peninsula doesn’t experience a ‘rainy season’ per se and typically remains dry most months throughout the year; the southern areas of the peninsula can experience some rainfall in August and September; and the entire the Baja peninsula can be affected by hurricanes which typically brew anytime from June through November and will break any dry spells when torrential rains and tropical storms make landfall.

Mexico’s central highlands

The central highland plains, from Zacatecas in the north to Oaxaca in the south, are defined by a series of majestic mountain ranges, some of which are volcanic. This region is home to many colonial towns and cities situated at elevation.

These places start to turn dry during the late fall, and become very dry and dusty by mid-winter. High daytime temperatures peak during May, by which time both people and nature yearn for the refreshing return of the rains that typically come again in May or June.

Mexico’s Pacific and Gulf coasts

The dry season begins in late fall, and if you’re situated along the Pacific or Gulf Coast, you can expect temperatures to begin to warm-up noticeably from February and by late March these coastal areas will be drenching hot and humid.  The heat and humidity will prevail through the dry season, interspersed by sporadic storms until the rains begin again, typically around late May or in June.

The Copper Canyon and Chiapas

Two of Mexico’s areas of out outstanding natural beauty offer quite different experiences during the dry season.

Copper Canyon in the dry season

The breath-taking landscapes of the Copper Canyon in Mexico’s northwest region turn to hues of yellow, orange, and brown during the dry season that begins in November and breaks in July. During these dry months, the rivers ebb down to their lowest points, and during the winter months snowfall may settle on higher ground.

Most travelers visit the canyons between July and November when the area is verdant and the rivers swell with water and wildlife, although some visitors purposely travel to the region during the dry season to experience the contrasts, especially if they have visited before during the rain season.

Chiapas in the dry season

The moist, sub-tropical, region of Chiapas that is carpeted in forest and foliage remains verdant for most of the year, but rains are rare between February and May.  When the rains return in earnest during June, the turquoise waters of the Agua Azul waterfalls turn brown as the rains stir-up the river’s sediment; the ‘postcard pictures’ you often see of these splendid waterfalls are usually taken at the end of the rain season in late fall and early winter, when the rivers are swollen and the sediment has settled.

The Yucatán peninsula

The rainy season on Mexico’s southern peninsula typically ends in late October or early November.  As the region is situated near sea level, dry season temperatures begin to climb steeply from February onwards and reach their high points in April and May, when daytime high temperatures can touch 45-50 degrees Celsius (113-122 Fahrenheit). The rains in the Yucatán region typically return in June, and although they can help to temper the heat, the humidity persists.

This region is also home to Cancún and the Riviera Maya and is why the ‘dry season is the high season’ for beach resort visitors and ‘snowbird residents’ (people who escape cold winters to live in Mexico) as daytime temperatures are more comfortable and afternoon rainstorms are infrequent.

Localized rains during the dry season

Rainstorms can roll in across the landscape even in the middle of the dry season.  They are akin to unexpected small gifts as they are infrequent, usually brief, and invariably localized.

The highland mountain ranges tend to encapsulate these abrupt micro storms into the nooks, crannies, and valleys of the local topography—soaking one place for a couple of hours and leaving another parched even though it’s only a few miles away.  For example it can rain for a couple of hours in places across Mexico City and remain bone dry in the neighboring state of Morelos (separated by the near 13,000-foot high Ajusco mountains) during the same week.

Dry season rainstorms, when they happen, are usually shorter and much less intense than the dramatic and drenching seasonal storms that characterize the rain season in Mexico. Overcast days that don’t yield rain can help to temper the day’s heat and can make daytimes feel fresher and more comfortable.

Visiting Mexico during the dry season

Some visitors to Mexico purposely avoid the rain season, but as we’ve remarked elsewhere, this can be a mistake as the rains bring vibrancy, color, and fragrances to the local environment that you’ll never experience in the driest months.

By the same token, the dry season —that more or less runs from late fall to late spring— offers-up some opportunities that you won’t find when the rains arrive.  Beach locations are popular in the dry season as coastal temperatures moderate from their summer highs to become comfortably warm; rain is infrequent, and hurricanes don’t form this time of year.

The Monarch Butterflies overwinter here during the dry season, and it’s also the most popular time of the year for visits to Mérida and the Yucatán peninsula.

Learning to live through Mexico’s dry season

Most of the ‘snowbirds’ (part-time winter residents) arrive in Mexico sometime during October or November and stay until March or April of the following year, thus enjoying comfortable autumn and winter climates and avoiding the heaviest rains.

Practical advice for living well during the dry season

If you’re living in Mexico, or are staying for an extended period, between November and May each year learn about practical tips for living through the dry season, including helpful advice about how to stay well and comfortable during these, the driest months of the year.

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:

• Practical tips for living well through Mexico’s dry season
• 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

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

Mexico enjoys long daylight throughout the year

Mexico’s geographical location gives the country a privileged mix of daylight and dark, regardless of the season.  This is in contrast to countries situated further away from the equator, where daylight hours can be substantially curtailed during the winter months.

One of the reasons why so many people enjoy overwintering in Mexico is because the country offers pleasantly warm or temperate climates, and also because the daylight here remains fairly constant —thus by living here during the winter you can avoid the ‘long nights’ —and enjoy plenty of sunshine, too.

How Mexico’s daylight hours vary during the year

Mexico’s privileged daylight hours can be well illustrated by way of an example.

The table below shows the hours for sunrise and sunset on the longest and shortest days of the year —and the total daylight hours on those days— for three locations in Mexico:

• Tijuana one of Mexico’s northernmost cities, situated on the border with the US; and
• Mexico City on a similar latitude to Mérida, in the Yucatán; and
• Tapachula that is Mexico’s southernmost city on the border with Guatemala.

(Times shown take into account Mexico’s abandonment of annual clock changes.)

Enjoying long daylight on the shortest day of the year

The hours recorded in the table above for the ‘winter low’ are for December 21—the shortest day of the year in Mexico. These show that:

• In the northern-most areas of Mexico, even the shortest days of the year give more than 10 hours of daylight.
• In the southern-most areas (nearer to the equator) you can enjoy over eleven-and-a-quarter hours of daylight on the shortest day of the year.
• Mexico City (and Mérida, on a similar latitude) enjoy nearly eleven hours of daylight on the year’s shortest day, and over 12 hours of daylight on the longest day of the year.

A good balance on the longest days of the year

On or around June 21 —the longest day of the year in Mexico— you’ll enjoy between 12 and 14 hours of daylight in the peak of summer, regardless of where you’re situated in the country.

Mexico’s geographical location in relation to the equator offers a year-round equitable balance of night and day, with each month and season offering plenty of daylight every day of the year—which can be supportive to one’s moods, general health, and overall well-being.

Mexico’s light is also extraordinary

As well as offering an equitable balance of daylight and dark, when you pause to consider the quality of the light here, you come to realize that Mexico’s light is truly extraordinary.

Its quality is especially noticeable in the mountain highlands, although it’s exceptional even at lower elevations, and along the coasts.

Mexico is often said to be one of the most ‘colorful countries in the world’ and the quality of the light undoubtably contributes to the sparkling tapestry of colors on display to appreciate here.

Writers describing Mexico’s scenery often remark, for example, on the sharp and crisp ‘azure blue’ skies, especially in the central highlands.  They’ve noticed how the subtleties and hues of the light in Mexico are quite special.

The exceptional light is complemented by sensational fragrances during the rainy season as the groundwater swells and the flora blossom and bloom.

When the ground becomes parched during the dry season, dust particles rise high up into the atmosphere and contribute to the composition of the most magnificent sunsets you’ll experience anywhere.

Mexico for living and leisure

Mexico is one of the most visited countries in the world, offering beautiful beach locations, picturesque colonial mountain towns, fascinating archaeology, and an abundance of wild, natural habitats to traverse and enjoy. It also offers remarkable opportunities for living and lifestyle that you can also discover and explore here on Mexperience.

• Explore complete guides to aspects of living in Mexico
• Learn about leisure and travel opportunities in Mexico
• Read insightful articles about living and lifestyle in Mexico
• Sign-up to our free email Mexico Newsletter published monthly

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.

The heat and lack of moisture in the air can present several practical challenges for day-to-day living.  This article shares some tips and advice about how to keep yourself well and comfortable, and your home and garden maintained during the driest months of the year.

Dealing with the dust and dander

Grass that isn’t watered regularly turns corn yellow and exposes the dry dusty ground beneath; and pathways in the countryside feel bone dry underfoot as dust, pollen, and other allergens become free to roam through an air bereft of moisture aided by light breezes which come and go throughout the day.

Dust and dander are virtually unavoidable during the dry season, and stocking-up on boxes of soft tissue paper to help expel particles of dust and dander from your nose can be an effective first line of defense.

A wet mop regularly drawn across the floors throughout your home, and a generously dampened cloth wiped across all surfaces where dust gathers can be helpful in reducing any discomfort caused by dust blowing around indoors.

If you wear glasses, regular cleaning can also alleviate eye irritation by preventing dust and pollen building-up on the lenses and frames.  If you’re particularly sensitive you might acquire an air purifier for use indoors, but make sure it has an effective filter that traps allergens, otherwise micro particles of dander will simply get recirculated.

Dust and dander tend to be more problematic inland and less so along the coasts, although at least some dust and/or pollen are inevitable almost anywhere during the dry months.

Dry skin and itching

Prolonged dryness in the air, especially when you’re living at elevation, can affect many people’s skin, with itching being one of the most common symptoms.

Showering less regularly, or simply showering without the use of much soap may help as this will enable your body’s natural oils to protect your skin and reduce itching or other skin irritations, e.g., rashes. (Frequent showers and soap wash away your body’s natural oils.)

Some people use a diluted mix of white vinegar and water instead of detergent-based shampoos to wash their hair which also helps your body’s natural oils to work on your scalp.  A high-quality moisturizing crème may help to alleviate symptoms related to skin irritated by dry air as you pass through these months.

Scarcity of water

There are various ways that your home in Mexico may be supplied by water, and many places across Mexico experience some form of water scarcity during the dry season.  For people who have large gardens (or live in condo complexes with extensive landscaped areas surrounding them) the dry season can be a challenge.

Water deliveries

As we mentioned in our article about spring climates in Mexico, this is the high trading season for the “Pipas”—tank trucks selling potable water.  These trucks can be seen trundling around roads and lanes in the dry season, and although they are especially prevalent in the countryside and outlying areas not served by a mains water supply, you might also see them dispensing top-up supplies to homes in towns and larger cities.  Properties that are not supplied by some type of mains water system may collect and filter water for daily use during the rain season, and residents might arrange for water deliveries by truck to tide them over during the driest months.

Water rationing

Local municipalities may ration mains water feeds to homes during the dry season.  As we mentioned in a related article, Mexico’s water systems are not pressurized and instead deliver water into underground cisterns on the property which is then pumped-up to a tank on the roof for use in the home.  The water supplies that feed the cisterns may have their flow reduced or be turned-off on some days to conserve water, and thus residents need to use what water they have in their cistern more sparingly, or pay to have additional water supplies delivered by truck to top-up their cisterns.

Gardening in the dry season

Gardeners will spend a lot of time between January and May watering their plants to keep them from wilting and dying, and some embark upon a largely forlorn attempt to keep their grass from turning corn-yellow, which it will do naturally in the absence of a soaking each day. (Established grass usually won’t die and swiftly returns to green when the rains return.)

Sprinkler systems

Some people install underground sprinkler systems that activate automatically on a timer in the early morning and late evening; these keep water use down to a minimum by use of a mist-spray water jets that deliver moisture close to the ground in the coolest hours of the day.

Soaker hoses and drip irrigation

Alternatives to an sprinkler system are soaker hoses (that can be snaked around plants or buried just under the surface to deliver moisture directly to roots) and drip irrigation pipes.  This article offers a good overview and comparison of these two water-saving methods.

Using ‘gray’ water for plants

To conserve fresh water supplies, some larger homes and condo developments with extensive gardens use ‘gray water’ collected from rains and wastewater from the property, and store this in a special cistern underground; the stored supply is used to water plants and lawns when there’s no rain to do the job.  Some sprinkler systems are designed to make effective use of this limited water supply although keeping grass green in the dry season does call for a lot of water, nonetheless.

Dealing with the dry heat

Even when you’re situated at elevation, temperatures can gradually climb throughout the day to reach highs of 30 degrees Celsius (86F) between March and May and although these high temperatures tend to last for only a few hours during the late afternoon, the heat combined with dryness, dust, and pollen can combine to create an uncomfortable mixture.

Structuring your daily routines

One method to deal with this dry and sometimes brittle climate is to structure your day so that you get most of your work and chores completed before lunchtime, and return to more vigorous activities in the early evening when the sun sets and the air temperatures fall leaving late evenings cooler, and comfortable.

Using fans, aircon, and pools

Swimming pools can help to keep you cool on the hottest days of the year; air ventilators, ceiling fans, and air conditioning can help you to keep cool indoors, and to sleep.  If you use air ventilators and suffer with allergies, we recommend you use one with a decent filter otherwise all the dust, dander and other particles will simply get blown around the inside of your home.

Hydration and alcohol

Wherever you’re situated, it’s a good idea to stay properly hydrated by drinking plenty of fresh water throughout the day, and limiting your intake of alcohol—that accelerates dehydration.

The return of the rain season

When the seasonal rains return, typically in May or June, 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.  Learn more about living well through 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 dry season begins around October or November.
• The rain season begins in May or June.
• 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.

Unofficial rain in February and March comes under the auspices of the well known Mexican expression, “febrero loco, marzo otro poco,” which explains unpredictable weather frequently experienced during those months. If there’s an expression for something, then it’s all right.

One good thing about out-of-season rain, apart from the fact that it clears away city smog, is that it tends to be of short duration. It rains, and then the sun comes back out. It tends not to rain all night or early in the morning when people are scrambling to catch buses, Metro trains, or cabs to get to work.

There’s a neat Spanish expression for this —llueve, y escampa— it rains and clears up. This unfortunately isn’t used much in Mexico, although it is in Spain and many parts of Central and South America, according to an AI-enhanced Google search.

Mexico does, however, have a term for those heavy two-minute downpours that can get the pedestrian soaked through between the bus and the front door before coming to an abrupt halt: the self-explanatory lluvia moja pend***s. 

Of course there’s no way of knowing how long a downpour will last, and most people don’t want to be stuck sheltering for an hour or more.

But back to llueve y escampa. The expression also has a figurative meaning, in the sense that things go badly and then they get better, a reason to look on the bright side. And Mexico is never one to sniff at sayings.

In 2022 Mexico abandoned the practice of the country’s clocks “springing forward” and “falling back” each year.

The law also allowed for specific exceptions for Baja California state, and border municipalities in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to continue applying daylight savings to keep their border cities in sync with the US.

Although Mexico won’t move its clocks this year, time changes will be apparent during spring and summer months for those in Mexico and dealing with the US, Canada, and countries in Europe as they do change their clocks.

2026 “Spring Forward” clock change effects on Mexico

• The United States moves its clocks forward by one hour on Sunday March 8, 2026; and
• Europe (including the UK & Ireland) moves its clocks forward by one hour on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

When the clocks in those other countries are moved forward in the spring:

• US Pacific Time, that is normally 2 hours behind Mexico City, will be 1 hour behind.
• US Mountain Time, that is normally 1 hour behind Mexico City, will be on the same time as Mexico City.
• US Central Time, that is normally aligned with time in Mexico City, will be 1 hour ahead.
• US Eastern Time, that is normally 1 hour ahead of Mexico City, will be 2 hours ahead.
• The UK and Ireland will be 7 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 6.
• Central Europe will be 8 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 7.

2026 “Fall Back” clock change effects on Mexico

• Europe (including the UK & Ireland) moves its clocks back again by one hour on Sunday October 25, 2026; and
• The United States moves its clocks back by one hour on Sunday November 1, 2026.

When the clocks in those other countries are moved back in the fall:

• US Pacific Time, that was 1 behind Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 2 hours behind.
• US Mountain Time, that was on the same time as Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 1 hour behind.
• US Central Time, that was 1 ahead of Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be aligned with Mexico City time.
• US Eastern Time, that was 2 hours ahead of Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 1 hour ahead.
• The UK and Ireland will be 6 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 7.
• Central Europe will be 7 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 8.

United States and DST

There has been a lot of discussion during recent years in the USA regarding the abandonment of DST. The so-called “Sunshine Protection Act,” which passed the US Senate in 2022, has stalled in the US House of Representatives.

Although a recent poll reveals that the majority of Americans favor abandonment of DST, there is no current consensus on whether the country ought to adopt Standard Time or Daylight Savings Time permanently. As of 2026, the US and Canada continue to observe DST, with the exceptions of (most of) Arizona, and Hawaii, that do not change their clocks.

Learn more about time and time zones in Mexico

Mexico has four time zones; most of the country does not change its clocks in the spring and the fall.

• Learn about Mexico’s Time and Time Zones
• Learn about seasons in Mexico
• Find times by Mexican town, city or state with Time & Date

In 2022, the Mexican Chamber of Deputies and Senate approved a change in the law that abandoned the practice of the country’s clocks “springing forward” and “falling back” each year.

The law also allowed for specific exceptions for Baja California state, and border municipalities in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas to continue applying daylight savings to keep their border cities in sync with the US side.

Spring ‘forward’ clock change effects on Mexico

• The United States moves its clocks forward by one hour on Sunday March 9, and
• Europe moves its clocks forward by one hour on Sunday, March 30, 2025.

When the clocks in those other countries are moved forward in the spring:

• US Pacific Time, that is normally 2 hours behind Mexico City, will be 1 hour behind.
• US Mountain Time, that is normally 1 hour behind Mexico City, will be on the same time as Mexico City.
• US Central Time, that is normally aligned with time in Mexico City, will be 1 hour ahead.
• US Eastern Time, that is normally 1 hour ahead of Mexico City, will be 2 hours ahead.
• The UK and Ireland will be 7 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 6.
• Central Europe will be 8 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 7.

Fall ‘back’ clock change effects on Mexico

• Europe moves its clocks back again by one hour on Sunday October 26, and
• The United States moves its clocks back by one hour on Sunday November 2, 2025.

When the clocks in those other countries are moved back in the fall:

• US Pacific Time, that was 1 behind Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 2 hours behind.
• US Mountain Time, that was on the same time as Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 1 hour behind.
• US Central Time, that was 1 ahead of Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be aligned with Mexico City time.
• US Eastern Time, that was 2 hours ahead of Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 1 hour ahead.
• The UK and Ireland will be 6 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 7.
• Central Europe will be 7 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 8.

Learn more about time and time zones in Mexico

Mexico has four time zones; most of the country does not change its clocks in the spring and the fall.

• Learn about Mexico’s Time and Time Zones
• Learn about seasons in Mexico
• Find times by Mexican town, city or state with Time & Date

About hurricanes in Mexico

Hurricanes, like earthquakes, are unpredictable natural phenomena.

More properly termed as Tropical Cyclones, a hurricane is a cyclone of highest intensity when its sustained-wind speed reaches at least 74 miles per hour.  As the storm moves across the sea, it gathers energy and force which dissipate when the storm passes overland. Hurricanes can cause substantial damage to structures and property on or near the coast where it makes landfall, and its residues usually dump drenching rains on affected areas further inland.

Hurricane activity each year

Some years can pass-by with little or no hurricane activity; other years can bring a series of hurricanes in quick succession and of varying force.

Hurricanes can arrive in Mexico anytime from late spring to late autumn, although most years, hurricane-force storms will usually appear later in the summer or early autumn.  It’s impossible to predict precisely how frequent the storms may be, how intense any particular storm may become, or how many will make landfall in any given year. The incidence of hurricane-force storms diminish materially when temperatures cool down from November onward.

Some hurricanes traverse the ocean alongside the coasts without making landfall; however, most do arrive on land at some point.  Strong storms will bring high winds and may cause structural damage along the coasts.  As they move further inland towards the central highlands, the storm’s force is diminished by Mexico’s impressive mountain ranges, although their presence can cause several days of heavy rains or overcast, and noticeably cooler, weather inland.

Being prepared for hurricane-force storms

Sophisticated weather monitoring systems, communications technology, and modern building specifications now mitigate much of the human risk associated with the storms, although the strongest hurricanes can and do cause widespread damage to property, disrupt power and communications systems, and can severely affect transport systems.

In Mexico, tropical and hurricane-force storms are most most prevalent between July and October —the hottest months of the year— with September and October usually the most active months.

People who live and work in hurricane-affected areas are accustomed to annual storm activity and know how to prepare and respond.  Contemporary hotel and home structures in Mexico are built to withstand storms and earthquakes; and while none can be said to be wholly-immune from nature’s forces, construction methods used in the most modern structures have significantly mitigated risks.

Insuring against hurricane damage

Homeowners with property situated in storm-prone areas along Mexico’s coasts can insure themselves against physical damage and loss.  Prior-warning systems and procedures mean that locals and visitors can prepare, or evacuate if necessary.

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

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

In 2022, the Mexican Chamber of Deputies and Senate approved a change in the law that abandoned the practice of the country’s clocks “springing forward” and “falling back” each year.

The law also allowed for specific exceptions for Baja California state, and border municipalities in the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas to continue applying daylight savings to keep their border cities in sync with the US side.

Although Mexico won’t move its clocks this year, time changes will be apparent during spring and summer months for those in Mexico and dealing with the US and Europe as they do change their clocks.

Spring ‘forward’ clock change effects on Mexico

The United States moves its clocks forward by one hour on Sunday March 10, and Europe moves its clocks forward by one hour on Sunday, March 31, 2024.

When the clocks in those other countries are moved forward in the spring:

• US Pacific Time, that is normally 2 hours behind Mexico City, will be 1 hour behind.
• US Mountain Time, that is normally 1 hour behind Mexico City, will be on the same time as Mexico City.
• US Central Time, that is normally aligned with time in Mexico City, will be 1 hour ahead.
• US Eastern Time, that is normally 1 hour ahead of Mexico City, will be 2 hours ahead.
• The UK and Ireland will be 7 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 6.
• Central Europe will be 8 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 7.

Fall ‘back’ clock change effects on Mexico

Europe moves its clocks back again by one hour on Sunday October 27, and the United States moves its clocks back by one hour on Sunday November 3, 2024.

When the clocks in those other countries are moved back in the fall:

• US Pacific Time, that was 1 behind Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 2 hours behind.
• US Mountain Time, that was on the same time as Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 1 hour behind.
• US Central Time, that was 1 ahead of Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be aligned with Mexico City time.
• US Eastern Time, that was 2 hours ahead of Mexico City when the clocks moved forward, will revert to be 1 hour ahead.
• The UK and Ireland will be 6 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 7.
• Central Europe will be 7 hours ahead of Mexico instead of 8.

Learn more about time and time zones in Mexico

Mexico has four time zones; most of the country does not change its clocks in the spring and the fall.

• Learn about Mexico’s Time and Time Zones
• Learn about seasons in Mexico
• Find times by Mexican town, city or state with Time & Date

Previous solar eclipses

The last time a solar eclipse path crossed over North America was on August 21^st, 2017.  Back then, northern US states experienced the event—but the path came nowhere near Mexico.

The last time Mexico experienced a solar eclipse was on July 11^th 1991, the ribbon of which draped across southern and central areas of the country (including the capital) and touched parts of the Baja California peninsula.

The 2024 solar eclipse across Mexico

The ‘totality’ ribbon of the solar eclipse that will cross Mexico on April 8, 2024 —11,960 days after the last one in 1991— will pass over several states in northern Mexico and create a partial solar eclipse in varying degrees across almost all of Mexico’s land territory.

The eclipse is happening during Mexico’s dry season, so the skies in Mexico’s northern (mostly desert) regions are likely to offer a unique opportunity to view the totality of the eclipse amidst crystal clear skies. Parts of the Mexican states of Coahuila, Durango, Nayarit, and Sinaloa will be under a total or near total ribbon of the solar eclipse in 2024.

Mazatlán, Torreón near the totality line

This zoom-able map on Google shows the totality (red) and near totality (yellow) lines—inside of which you can experience near or absolute darkness around midday.

The ‘totality ribbon’ is about 115 miles (185km) wide. Purists in all matters eclipse assert that nothing less than 100% will do, and if you’re seeking that absolute totality in Mexico this year, note that the central totality line in 2024 doesn’t cross any large Mexican towns or cities precisely—Mexico’s northern deserts are vast, and mostly uninhabited.

However, if you’re in Mazatlán, a short drive south of there to Playa Las Garzas will get you on target, and if you’re in the northern city of Torreón, a drive north on highway 49(D), to near the small town of La Esperanza, will also get you to the magic line.

This map on Time and Date shows helpful shaded areas across all of Mexico that will experience the total and partial eclipse in varying degrees, along with times.

Further resources

The information box that follows shares some links you may find helpful for further research and exploration about the solar eclipse in Mexico.