When is Hurricane Season in Cancun?
By Jodi "Jato" Thornton; Updated June 08, 2017Tips to help you travel during Cancun's rainy season
Just because it's rainy season in Cancun doesn't mean it will drizzle every day. Not only can you save big money traveling during the wettest months, you'll enjoy the beaches on those sunny days without elbow-to-elbow crowds. There are a few things you should keep in mind before booking your trip, however.
When is hurricane season in Cancun?
Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, so if you're headed to Cancun on your summer vacation, there's no getting around it. Cancun has endured only six major hurricanes since 1851, placing it in the bottom half of the Caribbean Hurricane Network's most active hurricane locations. Four of those six hit during August and September when the peninsula sees more tropical storm activity overall.
Rainy season
September and October are Cancun's wettest months with more than 8.7 inches average rainfall each month. Expect the most rainy days during September when you'll see 80 percent cloud cover and a 52 percent chance of rain overall during the month. Save big in Cancun during this rainy season. Book a three-star hotel for as little as $26, or go all out for a five-star room at $165.
Travel tips
When you book your trip, check with your hotel, tour operator and airline for any hurricane guarantees. The flexible policies allow you to rebook your trip or get a refund if a hurricane is on tap for the area.
Trip insurance can reimburse the cost of your hotel or plane fare should your plans get canceled due to a hurricane. Basic comprehensive trip insurance covers you with strict limitations should your trip get canceled due to bad weather. A policy letting you cancel for any reason gives you the flexibility to cancel if planes are still flying when the weather is bad enough that you no longer want to go.
Other things to know before you go
Familiarize yourself with Cancun's many indoor activities and make a rainy-day plan. You don't even have to get out of your swimsuit. Head to a cenote – an underground water cave. Explore the crystal-clear waters of Rio Secreto while surrounded by a fairyland of stalactites and stalagmites, or paddle underground rivers on a raft at Xplor Park.
More Travel Content
References
- Caribbean Hurricane Network: Hits and Misses
- Caribbean Hurricane Network: Cancun, Mexico
- Weather Spark: Average Weather in Cancun
- GoSeek: Cancun Sept 23-Sept 29
- Fodors: What you need to know about traveling during hurricane season.
- Oyster.com: Photo Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Photo Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Many shy away from traveling during hurricane season, and understandably so; hurricanes at their most tame can mean non-stop rain during your would-be "fun in the sun" getaway, and at their worst can lead to forced evacuations, major destruction, and -- in extreme cases -- death. In these cases, the storms often take unpredictable turns; fortunately, while never 100-percent accurate, weather forecasting these days is quite advanced and therefore, some travelers purposefully choose the hurricane season for spending their vacation days. Why? Well, hurricane season -- in Mexico, the Caribbean, and beyond -- sees fewer tourists and drastically lower prices, as well as some pretty gnarly waves for hardcore surfers who hunt storms in order to take advantage of the swells they create. But is it really safe to travel during hurricane season? Considering Mexico is one of the most popular destinations among our users year-round, we decided to chat with experts to find out if traveling to Mexico during its hurricane season is actually an "okay" thing to do. Here's the scoop. When is Mexico's hurricane season? The Grand Mayan reopened about six months after Hurricane Odile. The Grand Mayan reopened about six months after Hurricane Odile. Mexico's hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, but the country is at its highest risk of strong storms from August through October. For example, Category-4 Hurricane Odile hit Los Cabos in late September 2014 and Hurricane Patricia caused similar destruction in Puerto Vallarta in October of last year. As Jason Meyers, a storm shield meteorologist, advised us, "If you want to avoid tropical storms all together, travel there in the colder months of December through March, or go very early or late in the hurricane season, like in November or June. April and May are also outside of hurricane season." Are some destinations in Mexico better protected from storms and hurricanes than others? Most experts are quick to state that playing an "odds" game during Mexico's hurricane season is a risky one. "Every mile of the coast of Mexico is vulnerable to a hurricane," Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, told Oyster.com. "It only takes one hurricane hitting your location to make it a bad year." Of course, if you're not set on a beach location, inland areas such as Mexico City rarely see hurricanes of any magnitude. In fact, the capital is often a relocation destination during hurricanes. And while destinations along the Yucatan Peninsula often see a large number of the country's hurricanes, Kerry Emanuel, Professor of Atmospheric Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, explained to us that "the probability of a strike decreases from north to south. Cancun has had, and will have, violent hurricanes." So travelers may consider destinations south of it, such as Tulum. However, we should note that Professor Emanuel gave Belize, significantly further south of Cancun than Tulum, as his example of a viable alternative, saying "Hurricanes do occur in Belize, but are somewhat less likely there. The west side of the Yucatan has quite a few storms, but almost all of these have been weakened by their passage across the peninsula." Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta So yes, we'd be remiss to adamantly state that one coastal area of Mexico is guaranteed to be safer than another, but there are geographical factors you can look for that generally point to a destination being relatively well-protected. For example, Jeremy Rolph, a forecast consultant and meteorologist for Surfline.com who also acts as an assistant in research at the Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies at Florida State University, explained to us that storms generally don't form in areas along the equator, and bays provide natural protection. Additionally, both Meyers and Emanuel agreed that Mexico's Pacific Coast is often a better bet -- if you're going to bet, that is. "Almost all hurricanes that form off Mexico's Pacific coast travel westward, out to sea, and do not affect Mexico, but unfortunately there are exceptions, Patricia being a case in point," Emanuel said. "In general, the risk is higher along Mexico's Atlantic seaboard than its Pacific." Popular Pacific Coast destinations in Mexico include Puerto Vallarta (which is also protected by a bay) and San Jose del Cabo. How will the 2016 hurricane season be different? Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort Meyers confirmed that the Pacific Coast is less likely to be hit by a hurricane, particularly this season, saying, "If we're playing the probabilities game, you'd be better off on the Pacific Coast this year since the Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be more active than the Pacific hurricane season thanks to the weakening El Niño and strengthening La Niña." Unfortunately, though, the 2016 hurricane season is looking particularly threatening for both coasts. According to Crown Weather Services, this season will be significantly stormier than last; in fact, they're predicting that it will be the most active since 2012. Accuweather.com reports that the steepest increase in storms will occur between August 20 and September 11 this year. What are the best ways to prepare for a visit to Mexico during hurricane season?
- Xplor Park: Underground Rafts
- Rio Secreto