When Is Hurricane Season In Cancun

Planning A Vacation To Cancun? Here's The Full Breakdown Of Hurricane Season Months And Weather Risks

If you’re planning a vacation to Cancun and you find yourself wondering “When is hurricane season in Cancun?”, you’re definitely not alone. You might look up the weather on your way out, maybe the price of flights or how many towels a hotel has. But there’s not always a stop and think about the hurricanes moment. Until it’s too late. And I get it, it’s a beach paradise. ruly cancannoes aren’t the best match with the image of sipping margaritas under a palm tree. But knowing a bit about the when and the how-bad of disasters for Cancun’s hurricane season can guide you around some very real travel headaches.

So let’s dig in. With honesty. With facts. Instead of prattling, and bantering about the news, and suggesting things to stream and indulging in every cliché we like to think we’re above until reminded otherwise, let’s have a little human prattle, because this is not a weather forecast, rather, it is travel advisories from the guy who has seen many tourists get taken by surprise.

So… What Exactly Is Hurricane Season In Cancun?

Ok, here’s the straight answer first, so the hurricane season in Cancun starts on June 1st and ends on November 30th. That’s half the year, yeah. And no, that doesn’t mean hurricanes are forever swirling up above the whole time. That doesn’t mean that you won’t have to remain vigilant if you are going to be traveling during that time.

Hurricane season’s most active period of the season generally takes place from August to October. If you are hoping to avoid any weather drama, September is actually the riskiest month. Historically, that is the month during which there is the most activity in the Cancun area for storms.

Fast stat: The Atlantic hurricane season (of which Cancun is a part) averages around 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration( NOAA). Not all of them were hammered into Cancun, of course. Most don’t. But one encounter with the polar vortex is all it takes to cause airport delays, power outages and very soggy vacations.

How Is The Weather In Cancun During Hurricane Season?

How Is The Weather In Cancun During Hurricane Season?

We’re going to see it all from a month-by-month point of view because you shouldn’t wonder.

• June: Rain kicks in. Not relentless but close enough to notice. Hurricanes can form, though not frequently at this time of year.

• July: Hot and muggy. It’s starting to get a little stormy but the month is still very safe for travel.

• August: Still scorching. Rain is more common. Storms start rumbling more and more in the Caribbean.

• September: Peak hurricane danger zone. If you’re booking for September, make sure you have travel insurance that provides cover for you, and stay tuned for updates and extensions.

• October: Still risky. Then there are years that are perfectly, completely fine, and the others? Not so much.

• November: Things begin to cool down, figuratively and literally. Downpour risks drop significantly after midway through the month.”

So the bottom line is, if you’re thinking about a trip in September and you’re not of the “adventure” ilk, as it were (that is, you don’t adore most any old thunderstorm, or dance a merry little jig at the prospect of a brusque evacuation), you might want to see if you can make other plans instead.

Are Hurricanes In Cancun Common? What the Past 20 Years Of Data Show Us

Yep. And hard. Perhaps most infamous was Hurricane Wilma, in October 2005. That monster sat over Cancun for close to 2 days, ripping at resorts and flooding streets. Wind speeds? 160 mph. Damage? More than $29 billion in the Caribbean.

But, wait, don’t panic, that’s the exception, not the rule. Cancun doesn’t get walloped every year. The truth is that actual direct hits from hurricanes are few and far between, but tropical storms and heavy rainstorms happen with some regularity. But they can still wreck flights, tours, beach days … and we don’t want to even start on the Wi-Fi at the resorts in a storm.

Is It Safe To Visit Cancun During Hurricane Season?

Absolutely. People do it all the time. Resorts stay open. Flights still operate. The reality is that summer and early fall typically offer not only cheaper prices and fewer crowds, but also deals that are generally harder to find in drier months.

But here’s the thing, you’ve got to be travel savvy. Don’t just wing it. Here are what to think about:

• Purchase travel insurance that includes weather-related cancellations or interruptions. Not all plans do.

• Book hotels and flights that are refundable or have flexible terms. Avoid the ultra-low-cost carriers who won’t rebook you when the weather goes sideways.

• Monitor the National Hurricane Center weather updates and forecasts that are forthcoming, especially during the week prior to your scheduled departure.

• If you don’t mind shoulder-season prices with slightly less storm risk, aim for travel windows in June or November. 

In simple terms, don’t roll your dice without first knowing what game you’re playing.

What If A Hurricane Hits Cancun While I’m There?

If a storm truly is headed for Cancun while you’re there, you’ll start seeing signs of the preparation fairly soon. Hoteliers on the coast, too, have to follow government protocols. Those include boarding up windows and evacuating guests inland when necessary, as well as suspending all beach-related services.

Actually, most resorts do have storm response plans. They’ll likely move you to safer buildings or even provide you with early flights out if things really start to get bad. But again, this is why insurance and flexible bookings can be so helpful.

Nor should you think you can “ride it out” on the beach. Officials don’t fool around, and roads close quickly. Occasionally, flights are canceled days out. Better safe than stranded.

Any Better Times To Go To Cancun While This Is All Going On?

If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t want rain or wind to even have a shot at ruining your poolside cocktail plans, go to Cancun from December through April. That’s Cancun’s dry season.

You will have even bluer skies, perfect beach weather, with little threat of storms. The tradeoff? The prices are pricier and the crowds thicker, especially over the Christmas, New Year’s and spring break periods.

If you’re somewhere in between, not picky but not running down the street with your hair flying, perhaps May and early June are your sweet spot. Prices are good, the weather is heating up, and the odds of storming are low.

Avoid Cancun Travel Nightmares By Planning Around Hurricane Season The Smart Way

Oh, and Cancun’s hurricane season is not a joke. It occurs between June and November, but the greatest risk comes in August, September and October. “So you don’t not go there, you just go smart.” Plan ahead. Book wisely. Keep an eye on the forecast.

The months of course that the vast majority of travelers come, and that bring only an hour or two of rain at most, through all but the absolute wettest parts of the year. But it’s the unprepared who often share tales of woe; those without insurance or flexibility.

It’s just weather and there’s nothing anyone can do about it except to accept it as the weather. You can’t forecast misery, in other words, but you can plan for it.

As Kieran Rooney puts it: “That’s the difference between a tropical getaway and a tropical hell.”