Last Updated
Despite still being four months away, concerns are already being raised about the upcoming hurricane season in Cancun.
A recent report from the trusted and respected meteorologists at AccuWeather warns that the current conditions are likely to contribute to an overload of cyclone activity in the Atlantic Ocean.
With that information, travelers will naturally wonder if it is safe to visit during hurricane season and if they should be concerned.
No Need To Shift Plans
It’s important for travelers to be aware that even during hurricane season, Cancun is an amazing place for a vacation.
Temperatures from July to November are the hottest of the year, and grabbing a tan on one of the Hotel Zones beaches is far from a challenge.
What it does mean is that short isolated spells of high winds and rain may be possible.
Many of the hurricanes that develop in the Atlantic Ocean lose most of their power before reaching the shores of Cancun, and it’s rare for a storm to hit with all its force.
Unfortunately, seas can be rougher during this period even without the presence of wind and rain due to the activity at sea in the Caribbean.
Overall, there is no reason not to visit Cancun during hurricane season.
However, it pays to keep one eye on the forecasts to help plan alternative activities to the beach if adverse weather does roll in.
Why The Worry?
One weather forecaster, Franklin Arceo, gave his thoughts on the current situation, highlighting that although conditions currently point to a much more aggressive number of hurricanes possible this season, that can all change between now and the main hurricane forecast in March.
However, the conditions that point to this increased number of hurricane events are considered a generally reliable predictor of weather yet to come.
The Positives
No season in any destination is perfect, and there are usually at least one or two trade-offs depending on what season travelers choose to visit.
While visiting Cancun during hurricane season may mean more drastic weather to contend with, bringing either high temperatures and high humidity or high winds and heavy rain, it is also the best time of the year to escape the crowds.
Smaller crowds on the beaches and in the resorts not only provide a more relaxed and spacious vacation experience but can also provide sizeable savings on the cost of accommodation and flights.
For example, it isn’t unusual to see resorts in Cancun’s hotel zone offer 30-40% lower prices on rooms per night, and the local tour operators often provide special deals to keep business ticking over during this traditionally less busy period.
Is It Safe?
Hurricanes are no joke; in the past, they have caused huge amounts of damage across the Caribbean. At times with deadly consequences.
However, Cancun almost always manages to avoid direct hits. The two most recent instances of a sizeable hurricane making landfall in Cancun were in 1988 with Hurricane Gilbert and 2005 with Hurricane Wilma.
In that respect, the risk is very low, but if travelers are feeling concerned, they can stack the deck in their favor by avoiding visiting in September and October. These two months are historically the most likely to see Cancun affected by hurricane activity.
Additionally, in the event that extreme weather does reach Cancun, it’s important to highlight that the resorts in Cancun are built to extremely high standards and have all been designed with the knowledge that hurricanes are a potential occurrence here.
If a hurricane does hit, the luxurious all-inclusive resorts of Cancun are potentially the safest place to be in all of the Mexican Caribbean.
Plan Your Next Cancun Vacation:
Traveler Alert: Don’t Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip!
Choose From Thousands of Cancun and Riviera Maya Hotels, Resorts and Hostels with Free Cancellation On Most Properties
↓ Join the community ↓
The Cancun Sun Community FB group has all the latest travel news, conversations and tourism Q&A’s for the Mexican Caribbean
Subscribe to our Latest Posts
Enter your email address to subscribe to The Cancun Sun’s latest breaking news affecting travelers, straight to your inbox.