How will the 2016 hurricane season be different? Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort “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. “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. For example, Jeremy Rolph, a forecast consultant and meteorologist for 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.Īdditionally, both Meyers and Emanuel agreed that Mexico’s Pacific Coast is often a better bet - if you’re going to bet, that is. 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. 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 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. Cancun has had, and will have, violent hurricanes.” So travelers may consider destinations south of it, such as Tulum. 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. In fact, the capital is often a relocation destination during hurricanes. Of course, if you’re not set on a beach location, inland areas such as Mexico City rarely see hurricanes of any magnitude. “It only takes one hurricane hitting your location to make it a bad year.” “Every mile of the coast of Mexico is vulnerable to a hurricane,” Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, told. Most experts are quick to state that playing an “odds” game during Mexico’s hurricane season is a risky one. April and May are also outside of hurricane season.” Are some destinations in Mexico better protected from storms and hurricanes than others? 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.Īs 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. 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. When is Mexico’s hurricane season? The Grand Mayan reopened about six months after Hurricane Odile. 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.īut 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. 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. 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. Photo Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
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