If you are planning a trip to Mexico, you need to be aware of a lot of different things. For instance, Mexico is a completely different country than the United States which uses a different currency, speaks a different language and generally has (somewhat) different values.

Another thing which is useful to know is that the climate of Mexico is fairly different than the one you can find in the United States. What’s more, Mexico is pretty big, so it has different climate zones, similarly to how New England has a different climate to Oregon or Arizona.

We asked experts from Oscar Padilla’s Mexican Insurance abut the weather in Mexico, and especially when the rainy seasons are and what you can do if you choose to travel to Mexico during that season.

The Rainy Season

Unlike the typical spring, summer, fall, and winter we may be accustomed in the United States and Europe, Mexico has different seasons, due to its proximity to the Equator. The first hints of the rainy season can be felt from May or June, depending on the year. The season typically lasts until October, but some years can see it lasting well into November.

What It Is Like to Be in a Mexican Rainstorm?

The Mexican storms are somewhat notorious for appearing fairly suddenly, being really heavy with rain, and then disappearing just as quickly as they had appeared. The main reason this happens are the strange winds blowing in Mexico. Thanks to being on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Mexico experiences strong winds which may be unpredictable.

Thunderstorms may be seen hours before they approach, with a dark cloud front slowly approaching you, with a flicker of lightning and a sound of thunder periodically disturbing the air. However, once the storm hits you, you may experience that you are being soaked to your skin within minutes and even seconds.

Can You Drive in These Conditions

Driving in Mexico is not unlike driving in the US. That is, as long as you stick to the main roads. These roads are built to code and are able to withstand the heavy rains thanks to the advanced network of drainage systems.

However, if you are caught in one of these rainstorms on a country road, particularly a mountain country road, you may be in a bit more trouble. Namely, these roads are generally not very well maintained and may prove inadequate in the rain. What’s more, it is fairly common to hear that a landslide or a collapsed piece of road has blocked the road somewhere.

How Long Are These Storms

Despite their look and the sheer size of the cloud systems which generate them, storms in Mexico tend to be over relatively quickly. The clouds dissipate, and if it was an early storm, you may experience the sunshine again, with all of the added benefits of a post-rain day, cleaner air and fresh smells.

However, later in the rainy season, a tropical depression may cover a single region, causing overcast and rainy weather to last for several days. However, once the depression is blown away by winds, the normal cycle of storms and nice weather continues.

Should You Visit Mexico During the Rainy Season

Some people will straight up refuse to travel to Mexico when the rainy season takes over. If you are looking for sunny days without end, then Mexico is not the place for you in this period.

However, if you are looking for a bargain holiday, where you will have nice weather for some of the time, and may encounter rain the other, rainy season might be your thing. Besides, there’s a lot more to Mexico than just lying on the beach.