Today's weather for Playa del Carmen, Mexico24th Nov 2009 05:44

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Weather Overview for Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen receives a tropical climate with high temperatures and moderate rainfall year round. There are pronounced wet and dry seasons with the highest temperatures occurring during the wet summer. The resort sits in the south of the Yucatan Peninsula, on the east coast of the Quintana Roo state in Mexico. The city is just south of Cancun and is the closest port to Cozumel Island which sits just across a small channel. Playa Del Carmen’s climate is almost identical to these resorts. Sitting on the Atlantic coast the resort is prone to hurricanes. Hurricane season lasts from June till November.

The dry season, from November till May, sees low levels of rain. In tropical locations heavy rain storms can never be ruled out but in the dry season they are decidedly rarer and lighter. The season begins with the dangerous tail end of the hurricane season and a drop in temperature. The average high temperature falls just below 30°C from November till February, after which it climbs back to around 31°C. Night time temperatures are usually around 10°C below the day time highs which may sound refreshing but 20°C is still very hot. Air-conditioning is still a necessity in this season if you aren’t used to tropical climes. Humidity is at its lowest during this season making the heat more bearable, but it increases again, as does rainfall, from April as the rainy season approaches. The sea is consistently warm all year round but sunshine in the first three months is less reliable, each day seeing around six hours of sunshine. March till May is the sunniest period in the year, receiving around eight hours of sunshine per day. Perhaps February is the best month to visit the area; the average high is just below 30°C; the sun stays out for seven hours per day; rainfall is almost at its lowest and humidity is yet to increase.

The wet season, from June till October, has fiery temperatures and a fiery temperament. The average high pushes up to 33°C and rainfall levels increase dramatically; but weather conditions are incredibly changeable; clear skies can suddenly by masked by thick, brooding clouds which then blacken and burst. Tropical rainstorms are violent. Heavy rain is whipped about by strong winds and flash flooding can occur. The storm usually clears as quickly as it developed. Humidity is consistently stifling. If the rain fails to fall the sky can remain overcast for prolonged periods, but from June till August each day sees around seven hours of sunshine. There is a risk of hurricanes throughout the season but the chance of being hit increases through the months. September through till November is the period of greatest risk, though travel to the area at any time should be pre-empted by a check on hurricane activity.

Playa del Carmen’s climate can be attributed to its near-equatorial location on a North Atlantic coast close to the Gulf of Mexico. This puts it in the path of hurricanes and ensures tropical heat year round, tempered slightly by the sea currents and breezes. The north trade winds are strongest in the dry season and are responsible for this season’s slightly reduced temperatures.

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