Mexico City, January 16 – Residents of Mexico City should prepare for a mild day today, January 16, 2026, with temperatures reaching a maximum of 21 degrees Celsius. The probability of rain is low at 9%, with cloud cover expected to be around 38%. Wind gusts could reach up to 30 kilometers per hour during the day. The UV index is predicted to reach a level of 6.
Nighttime Conditions and Precipitation Outlook
As evening approaches, the temperature is expected to drop to 9 degrees Celsius. The chance of precipitation increases slightly to 15%, and cloudiness will be more significant, reaching 53%. Wind gusts will decrease to approximately 24 kilometers per hour.
Mexico City’s Diverse Climate Explained
Despite its geographical location, Mexico City exhibits a varied climate, ranging from temperate to cold and humid, and even alpine tundra in its highest southern regions. Generally, the climate is warm and temperate, with average temperatures fluctuating between 22 and 27 degrees Celsius. Summers are characterized by substantial rainfall, with June, August, and September being the wettest months.
During winter, temperatures can drop to zero degrees in higher peripheral areas like Ajusco. Conversely, boroughs such as Iztacalco, Iztapalapa, Venustiano Carranza, and Gustavo A. Madero tend to be drier and more temperate.
Historical Weather Extremes and Climate Change Impact
Historically, the last recorded snowfall in Mexico City was in 1967. The highest temperature on record was 33.9 degrees Celsius on May 9, 1998, while the lowest was -10 degrees Celsius on December 10, 1972.
Climate change significantly impacts Mexico City, leading to frequent environmental contingencies. In response, the Secretariat of Environment (Sedema), in collaboration with the German Agency for Sustainable Development (GIZ Mexico) and the Mexican Climate Initiative (ICM), is implementing various actions. These initiatives focus on integrated and sustainable mobility, a solar city concept, zero waste, sustainable water management and river restoration, re-vegetation of rural and urban areas, air quality improvement, and fostering a climate-conscious culture.
Mexico’s Broader Climate Landscape
Mexico’s diverse geography, including its access to the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, and its division by the Tropic of Cancer, results in a megadiverse region. It hosts at least 12% of the world’s species, with 12,000 of these being endemic.
The Tropic of Cancer divides the country into two climatic zones – temperate and tropical. However, altitude, latitude, and land and water distribution contribute to seven distinct climate types across the nation: warm sub-humid, dry, semi-dry, dry desert, warm humid, temperate sub-humid, temperate humid, and cold.
This diversity leads to extreme temperature variations. For instance, in the high parts of Chihuahua, temperatures can plummet to -30 degrees Celsius, while in the Mexicali desert, also in the north, they can soar to 50 degrees Celsius.
According to the National Meteorological Service, the country’s average annual temperature is 19 degrees Celsius. However, cities like Mexicali, Culiacán, Ciudad Juárez, Hermosillo, Torreón, Saltillo, and Monterrey experience extremely high temperatures. San Luis Río Colorado in Sonora holds the record for the highest temperature recorded in Mexico, reaching 58.5 degrees Celsius on July 6, 1966.
In stark contrast, the lowest temperature ever recorded was -25 degrees Celsius on December 27, 1997, in Madero, Chihuahua.
These diverse climates have been increasingly affected by global warming in recent years. Experts predict a challenging future for Mexico, with a significant reduction in annual rainfall and a substantial increase in temperatures. The consequences are already evident, with farmers and ranchers suffering from droughts or severe floods. During hot seasons, there has been a rise in environmental emergencies in major urban centers, including the Mexican capital.
Source: infobae.com
