Cancun receives a tropical climate with high temperatures year round and distinct wet and dry seasons. The wet season runs from May till October and the dry season is from November to April. Yearly rainfall averages around 1400mm and while the overwhelming majority of it falls during the wet season, storms can occur at any time. Cancun is on the eastern coast of Mexico on its Yucatan Peninsula. This position puts it in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the resort is at risk during the hurricane season that falls between June and November. The risk of being hit even during hurricane season is low but at its highest in September and October.

The Dry Season: November – April

Unsurprisingly, the dry season is the most popular time to visit Cancun and the surrounding area. The obvious reason is that rainfall levels are dramatically reduced. Any rainstorms are still heavy but they are brief and relatively infrequent. Lower rainfall brings with it lower humidity and so a reduction in perceived heat. The temperature is actually slightly lower because of the low humidity and because of the northeast trade winds which are strongest during this season. These are seen to greatest effect in coastal areas; the trades sweep in from the sea treating the beach to a cooling breeze but lose their strength further inland.

The average high temperature wavers between 27°C and 29°C and the average low temperature sits around 20°C. Humidity is lowest in January and February and so combined with the lowest rainfall and temperature these are possibly the best months to visit the area. Rainfall reduces from the throughout the season and so is much heavier at the beginning of the season. November and December still see around 100mm of rain each but this is usually concentrated in storms that develop on around five days in each month.

Despite lower rainfall the start of the dry season is actually slightly cloudier than the wet season; from November till January only six hours of sunshine are to be expected each day. From March till May is the sunniest time of year with each day seeing eight hours of sunshine on average. Fog occasionally develops. The sea temperature gets to its lowest temperature between January and March but at 26°C no one’s complaining.

The Wet Season: May – October

Rain, rain and more rain are three of the wet season’s most irritating habits. Rainfall levels jump up at the beginning of the season and fluctuate from then on, peaking in September and October. Storms occur almost every day but they are very unpredictable. They can clear up in a matter of minutes or drone on for entire days with no consideration for your attention span. You may have noticed that the wet season more or less coincides with hurricane season so travelling to the area in this season has that extra element of extreme danger. As mentioned earlier, the risk of a direct hit is always very low but any trip should be preceded by a check on hurricane activity in the area. If a hurricane does not develop winds can still be incredibly strong, whipping-up incredible storms. Flash flooding is common. Locals are well-versed in emergency and evacuation procedure so in the event of a hurricane you should find yourself in good hands.

Higher rainfall means higher humidity and combined with a subsidence of the trade winds this means higher temperatures. All in all, Cancun sounds pretty rubbish in the wet season. But it is not rubbish. Despite all of this dramatic mayhem, around the storms there are still many clear days with no life-threatening weather at all.

The average high temperature creeps to around 32°C and the average low temperature gets up to 26°C. The risk of dehydration is high in these temperatures so make sure you carry water with you. (Attractively, this is because when you sweat, which you most certainly will no matter if you are the classiest of ladies, the air is so humid that it cannot evaporate thus nullifying the cooling effect of sweating. And so you sweat some more.) While rainfall is high the fact that storms have the effect of clearing the sky of clouds means that there is plenty of sunshine to be had in the wet season. In May the sun still shines on around eight hours per day, reducing to seven between June and October with a dip to six in September.

The wet season is in fact a great time to visit if you don't demand perfection and can handle the extra heat, especially at the beginning of the season. Bargainous deals are to be found and you have to share the beach with fewer people. The rain usually falls in short bursts and can actually provide welcome intervals from the heat.

Hurricanes

The last significant hurricane to hit Cancun was a huge one. Hurricane Wilma struck in October 2005 and was category 5 when it hit land. The storm battered Cancun for nearly 3 days with winds of up to 130mph and caused damage of over $3 billion. On average Cancun receives a direct hit every 12 years, though it does get brushed by one once every 2.5 years. Last summer (2007) saw a near miss from hurricane Dean.