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Weather Overview for Cozumel

Cozumel is Mexico’s largest Caribbean island and sits off the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, opposite Playa del Carmen. The island thrives in a sub-tropical climate with thick rainforest and a spectacular, world-class coral reef. It is hot and humid all year round and rain is a regular occurrence. The area experiences a wet season from June till December and a dry season from January till May. Monsoon rains are typically dramatic, sabotaging clear skies and brilliant sunshine with sudden, brief outbursts. The Municipality of Cozumel also includes two enclaved areas on the mainland in the Municipality of Solidaridad: Calica, Xcaret and the Xel-Ha Water Park.

Spring, from March till May, is hot with temperatures rising from and average of 29°C in March to 31°C in May. Night times remain in the mid 20s and with such high humidity the effect can be a little upsetting. Air-conditioning is essential. March is the driest month in the year and April is the second driest and this is seen as the best time to visit for uninterrupted sunbathing and calm seas for underwater exploration. However, humidity levels remain very high and rain can never be ruled out entirely.

Summer, from June till September, see average temperatures staying at 31°C. Again, the temperature does not drop much in the night time. The monsoon season begins in June and rainfall levels jump up. This provides relief from the heat and can briefly alleviate humidity levels, but anyone visiting at this time of year should be aware that while the rains usually come in the afternoons, it is unwise to consider them predictable. And when it comes, the rain is no dilly-dallying drizzle; it is a full on deluge. If caught out you will be soaked through in seconds, squinting through the sheets of water, navigating swelling puddles and river rapids that were once pavements. Then the sun will come out and you’ll wonder if it really happened.

Hurricane season begins in July and doesn’t end till October, though the beginning of the season is still at low risk. Cozumel sits just west of the usual path of tropical cyclones but is still sometimes affected. It is not far north of Cancun which is ranked seventh in the world in terms of hurricane risk, having been hit fifty-four times since 1871. Cozumel was hit by two hurricanes in 2005, doing extensive damage to the rainforest, coral reef, real estate and San Miguel’s sewer system. The risk of a hurricane is at its highest in September.

Autumn, from October till November, sees average high temperatures drop from a sizzling 30°C to a simmering 28°C. Rain levels remain high as do night temperatures. Really, autumn is just an extension of the summer and there is very little change in weather conditions, though October does see the end of the hurricane season.

Winter lasts from December till February. Daytime average temperatures remain at 28°C though the nights manage to get down to 20°C. It can get much cooler when northern winds blow, often seeing temperatures slipping down to a mild 16°C. The end of the wet season comes in December and January is the third driest month in the year.

Cozumel can thank its location for its climate. It is about an inch from the equator… according to my map with a scale of 2000 km per inch. But that is close enough for tropical heat. It is also surrounded by the Caribbean Sea which moderates potentially extreme temperatures; it shares its latitude with part of the Sahara.