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Mexico City, October 5th – Residents of Mexico City are advised to prepare for a day dominated by rain and significant cloud cover. The weather forecast for October 5th indicates a 97% probability of rain throughout the day, with cloudiness reaching 99% during daylight hours and 92% at night.
Temperatures and Wind Speeds
The maximum temperature expected for the day is 20.0 degrees Celsius, while the minimum will hover around 13.8 degrees Celsius. Ultraviolet (UV) rays are predicted to reach a moderate level of 3. Wind gusts are anticipated to reach 13.0 kilometers per hour during the day, decreasing to 9.3 kilometers per hour at night.
Climate in Mexico City
Despite its geographical location, Mexico City exhibits a diverse climate, ranging from temperate to cold humid and even alpine tundra in its highest southern regions. Generally, the city experiences a warm and temperate climate, with temperatures typically between 22 and 27 degrees Celsius. Summers are characterized by abundant rainfall, with June, July, August, and September being the wettest months.
During winter, temperatures can drop to zero degrees in higher areas like Ajusco. Conversely, districts such as Iztacalco, Iztapalapa, Venustiano Carranza, and Gustavo A. Madero are typically drier and more temperate.
Historical Weather Records and Climate Change Impact
Historical records show that the last snowfall in Mexico City occurred in 1967. The highest temperature ever recorded was 33.9 degrees Celsius on May 9, 1998, while the lowest was -10 degrees Celsius on December 10, 1972.
Climate change has significantly impacted the 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, solar energy, zero waste, sustainable water management and river restoration, re-vegetation of rural and urban areas, air quality, and climate awareness.
Mexico’s Diverse Climate
Mexico’s geographical position, bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, and bisected by the Tropic of Cancer, contributes to its megadiverse environment, hosting at least 12% of the world’s species, with 12,000 being endemic.
The Tropic of Cancer divides the country into two climatic zones – one temperate and one tropical. However, altitude, latitude, and land/water distribution result in seven distinct climate types across the nation: warm sub-humid, dry, semi-dry, desert dry, warm humid, temperate sub-humid, temperate humid, and cold.
This diversity means that while temperatures in the highlands of Chihuahua can reach -30 degrees Celsius, the desert of Mexicali, also in the north, can experience temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius. According to the National Meteorological Service, the country’s average annual temperature is 19 degrees Celsius, though cities like Mexicali, Culiacán, Ciudad Juárez, Hermosillo, Torreón, Saltillo, and Monterrey often experience extremely high temperatures.
San Luis Río Colorado in Sonora holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded in Mexico, reaching 58.5 degrees Celsius on July 6, 1966. In contrast, the lowest temperature on record was -25 degrees Celsius in Madero, Chihuahua, on December 27, 1997.
Experts predict a challenging future for Mexico due to climate change, with significant reductions in annual rainfall and substantial temperature increases. The effects are already evident, impacting farmers and ranchers through droughts or severe floods. During hot periods, there has been an increase in environmental contingencies in major metropolitan areas, including Cancún.
