Understanding the weather is essential for daily planning, especially in locations like Cancún , a popular tourist destination. The climate in any region is governed by various factors including altitude , latitude , the relief orientation , distance from the sea , and marine currents . These elements contribute to what is known as “meteorological weather,” which relies on parameters such as temperature , pressure , wind , humidity , and precipitation to outline atmospheric conditions in a specific area over the short term.
To categorize climates, the system developed by Wladimir Köppen is commonly used, alongside other systems like Thornthwaite which considers biodiversity and the impact of climate change. Other categorizations such as Bergeron and Spacial Synoptic focus on the origin of air masses that define a region’s climate.
Due to climate change , our planet is currently undergoing a redistribution process where even the smallest modifications in annual average temperatures can lead to significant shifts in habitats and their conditions.
In this context, let’s take a look at the weather forecast for Cancún on June 16.
The forecast for Monday in Cancún indicates a high of 33 degrees Celsius with a low of 26 degrees . The UV index is remarkably high at 11 .
As for rainfall, the probability of precipitation in Cancún is estimated at 63% during the day with 50% cloud cover , which decreases to 5% likelihood with 99% cloudiness at night.
Winds will also be notable, with gusts expected to reach 37 kilometers per hour during the day and 30 kilometers per hour during the night.
The climate in Cancún is classified as semi-tropical , with humidity levels around 80% attributed to currents from the Gulf of Mexico . This region, favored by tourists, has a mean temperature of 26 degrees Celsius , which can soar up to 35 degrees during the summer .
Despite the climate being relatively stable throughout the year, there are at least two distinct periods: one from May to October , which is characterized by slightly warmer rainy seasons , and another from November to April , when the weather tends to be cooler.
Rainfall is frequent, especially in summer, with September and October being particularly hazardous due to the potential for tropical storms, cyclones and hurricanes .
Mexico benefits from its geographical location, with its extensive coastline on the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean , as well as the partition by the Tropic of Cancer . This positioning makes it a megadiverse region, home to at least 12% of the world’s species, with 12,000 of them being endemic.
Though the Tropic of Cancer splits the country into temperate and tropical climate zones, variations in altitude , latitude , and the distribution of land and water allow for the identification of up to seven different climate types : warm subhumid, dry, semi-arid, arid desert, warm humid, temperate subhumid, temperate humid, and cold.
It is indeed remarkable that in the highlands of Chihuahua , temperatures can plummet to -30 degrees Celsius , whereas in the *Mexicali Desert*, in the north, temperatures can rise to 50 degrees Celsius .
According to the National Meteorological Service , the average annual temperature of the country is 19 degrees Celsius . However, cities like Mexicali, Culiacán, Ciudad Juárez, Hermosillo, Torreón, Saltillo, and Monterrey are known for their extremely high temperatures.
The city of San Luis Río Colorado , located 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 on December 27, 1997, when it plummeted to -25 degrees Celsius in the municipality of Madero, Chihuahua.
However, in recent years, this variety of climates has been significantly affected by climate change . Experts anticipate a bleak future for the country, with a noticeable decline in annual rainfall and a marked increase in temperatures.
The effects are already visible, impacting farmers and ranchers due to droughts and severe flooding. During hot seasons, an increase in environmental contingencies is observed in major urban centers, as seen in Mexico City .