Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Winter in the Mexican Caribbean has officially begun. Local meteorologists say the chilly days will last around 89 days until mid-March. According to the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN), winter officially began as of 03:20 hours Central Time (CST) on December 21.
The SMN says this year, Mexican Caribbean winter is expected to last 89 days, nearly three months. It will end with the arrival of spring, which in 2025, will begin on March 20 with the spring equinox.
“In ancient times, the beginning of astronomical winter could occur between December 20 and 23. However, during the course of the 21st century, it now takes place between December 20 and 22, with the 21st being the start day,” Protección Civil Solidaridad reported in relation to the arrival of Mexican winter.
“During these months, the cold is expected to be more intense than usual with temperatures as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas of states such as Chihuahua, Durango, Tlaxcala, Zacatecas and the State of Mexico,” they added.
On average, around a dozen of the country’s 32 states see some snowfall each winter. The state of Durango in the northwest receives the most recorded amounts of approximately 30 accumulated centimeters each season.
While snow does not fall in the Yucatan Peninsula, masses of cold air that sweep downward from the U.S. often affect temperatures. If those masses of cold air are pushed far enough east, they cause a drop in temperatures, particularly at night, for the Cancun and Riviera Maya regions.
This year, meteorologists are forecasting a chillier than usual winter for Cancun and Riviera Maya where temperatures as low as 13C (55F) have already been recorded in Tulum. According to Alejandra Margarita Méndez Girón, the General Coordinator of the National Meteorological Service (SMN), 48 frontal systems and seven winter storms are expected to hit Mexico during the 2024-2025 cold front season.
