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Mexico City is located on a plateau about 2,250 meters high in the so-called Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (Eje Volcánico Transversal). This means that Mexico City is part of the Tierras Frias climate zone, that is, those regions of Mexico located at altitudes between 1,600 and 2,800 meters. The climate of Mexico City is therefore a sub-tropical highland climate characterized by a single rainy season, mild average maximum temperatures and cool average minimum temperatures. The position of the city – nestled in the mountains – means that the rains are not too abundant: Mexico City receives on average between 750 and 850 mm of rain per year.
THE PRECIPITATIONS
Rainfall is concentrated largely in the months between June and September, while between November and April rains very rarely. The wettest months are July and August. Mexico City has an average of 124 rainy days per year. During the rainy season – from June to September – the city has between 18 and 23 days of rain per month, while in the dry season – between November and March – there are only 2 or 4 days of rain per month. The percentage average annual humidity is 62%, but it varies greatly according to the months: October is the wettest month with 78% humidity, while the driest is March with the 45% humidity. The snow is a rare event while hail is frequent during the rainy season, Mexico City has an average of 9 days of hail per year.
TEMPERATURES
The temperatures are mild for most of the year, the average annual temperature is 16.6 ° C. The hottest months are those that precede the onset of the rainy season: in April and May, the average maximum temperatures exceed 26°C. The average minimum temperature reached the highest values in June with 12.3 ° C.
In the colder months – that is, in December and January – the average maximum temperatures do not drop below 21°C, while the average minimum temperatures touching the lowest in January with 7.4 ° C. In winter, temperatures rarely drop below freezing. Thanks to the long dry season and the excellent climate the hours of sunshine in Mexico City are 2,211 per year.
WHEN TO GO TO MEXICO CITY
Due to the mild climate the visit of Mexico City can be done at any time of the year. It would be preferable to avoid the rainy season – so the months between June and September – for the high humidity and heavy rainfall. The ideal season for a trip to Mexico City is the dry season from November to April, this is the best time for a visit to the Mexican highlands.
MEXICO CITY CLIMATE TABLES
MEXICO CITY (Tacubaya) (2308 meters) | ||||
Month | Average low (°C) | Average high (°C) | Precip. (mm) | Precip. days |
January | 7,4 | 21,7 | 7,6 | 2,2 |
February | 8,5 | 23,4 | 7,0 | 2,5 |
March | 10,4 | 25,7 | 8,9 | 4,1 |
April | 12,3 | 26,8 | 22,5 | 6,8 |
May | 13,2 | 26,8 | 66,5 | 12,9 |
June | 13,5 | 25,3 | 140,0 | 18,7 |
July | 12,5 | 23,8 | 189,5 | 23,2 |
August | 12,7 | 23,9 | 171,2 | 20,9 |
September | 12,7 | 23,3 | 139,8 | 18,2 |
October | 11,2 | 22,9 | 72,4 | 9,6 |
November | 9,7 | 22,9 | 12,6 | 3,8 |
December | 8,1 | 21,9 | 8,2 | 2,0 |
YEAR | 11,0 | 24,0 | 846,1 | 124,8 |
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