Mexico’s Rainy Season Topics: Climate and Environment Published: Saturday, April 25, 2015

Mexico’s Rainy Season

Topics: Climate and Environment

Published: Saturday, April 25, 2015

Mexico’s rainy season runs (generally) from May to September each year; sometimes spilling into October. Although some people try to avoid Mexico this time of year, the choice may be unfounded as there are several advantages to being in Mexico during the rainy season. Read this description of Mexico’s Monsoon Rains for more details.

Traveling During the Rainy Season

You can usually tell when a thunderstorm is approaching; the air temperature will fall, you may hear thunder and see lightning and the dark clouds will roll in before the heavens open up.  However, sometimes the cloud cover that looks benign and that has shed no rain for hours can suddenly and unexpectedly drop a ton of rain on you within a couple of minutes: beware of this when you’re on a gentle afternoon walk, or driving on otherwise dry roads.

Most major highways in Mexico have good 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 easy drainage.  Drivers on Mexico’s highways don’t always regulate their speed during rain storms, so be extra vigilant.   Extreme care needs to be taken on mountain roads and remote byways which, in addition to being a driving hazard, may also suffer soil erosion.  It’s not uncommon to see collapsed sections of road on byways and rural roads in remote areas of Mexico, usually caused by sudden and massive rain storms; some of these can be fatal if you become distracted and miss them.

If you get caught out in one of the thunderstorms, you are likely to get drenched right through to your skin.   If you are 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 or two of water over your head.   Your only option in such a circumstance is to enjoy the experience and get back to your hotel or house, shower and change into dry clothes.  If you have a really strong umbrella that may help, provided the winds are calm.  Small, fragile umbrellas will do little to keep you dry during a monsoon rain storm.

An Experience in its Own Right

Taking shelter under a canopy, balcony, or suchlike and witnessing a strong thunderstorm in Mexico can be a really rewarding experience.   The thunder and lightning show can be spectacular and, combined with an astonishing amount of water falling from the sky in short order, the event is quite exhilarating for 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 flowers, plants, trees and other flora and fauna which become greatly accentuated by the damp air.   InMexico City, where the air quality can sometimes be an issue, the rains also provide a welcome cleansing of the air.

On some occasions, the rains may last longer or drizzle may continue into the night (sometimes also into the next morning); although more often, the rains pass, leaving behind an evening filled with atmosphere, cooled-off after a hot day, with bright and sunny skies the following day.

Living with the Rainy Season

If you live in Mexico, the rainy season may cause some inconveniences.   Localized, temporary, flooding is the most common side-effect, which is not entirely surprising given the sheer quantity of water that falls out of the sky within a short time span.  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.

Power cuts are another side-effect of thunderstorms.  Persistent heavy rains and lightning are the key factors which cause most power-outages during the rainy season.   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, local transformer or if the winds blow down power-lines.  Most power cables in Mexico are situated overhead and thus are susceptible to the elements. Roof flooding is another thing to look out for.  Most homes in Mexico have flat roofs, so it’s best to check the drainage outlets on your house (or on the roof of your condo) and ensure they are clear of any debris, branches, leaves, et al.

See also: Weather and Climates in Mexico