Oaxaca Holiday Weather Overview
Oaxaca is a historic city in the foothills of the Mexican Sierra Madre. Its colonial architecture, Zapotec heritage and archaeological sites are major draws for tourists, as is the month long Guelaguetza cultural festival.
Other attractions include several important museums, local craft fairs and year round fiestas. Nearby Monte Alban is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is a good 6-8 hours from the coast, which is what normally draws visitors to the state of Oaxaca, but with so many fascinating historical sites to see, it's well worth a visit.
Oaxaca's Climate
Oaxaca has a tropical savannah climate. Although it's warm to hot all year round, there is a distinct wet season and a dry season too. Although the coast of Oaxaca state is vulnerable to hurricanes, the city itself is far enough inland to be safe from most damage.
Oaxaca in the Dry Season
Oaxaca's dry season runs from November to March. During this time, you can expect average daily highs of around 27-29°C. Be prepared for a dramatic drop in night time temperatures, however, with the average overnight low being only 9°C - you'll need to take a jacket or something with long sleeves for the chilly evenings.
During the dry season, you may catch one or two showers each month, but the total rainfall is very low.
The dry season is the most popular time to visit Oaxaca. New Year is a particularly busy time, and so is Holy Week - you can expect crowds at these times, and during the various popular fiestas which are held in the dry season.
The dry season is the ideal time for exploring the archaeological sites and heritage of Oaxaca and the surrounding areas. Take a hat and plenty of sunscreen, and some good walking shoes.
Occasional heat waves push temperatures up to the high 30s Celsius - if this happens, try to stay out of the midday sun, and drink plenty of water.
Oaxaca's Hottest Season
The hottest time of the year in Oaxaca is between late March and May. Average daily temperatures at this time are in the low 30s Celsius, often reaching 40°C or more. Nights are still relatively cool at this time, however, averaging around 15°C.
This is the lead up to Oaxaca's wet season, so you can expect to see more rainfall than in the dry season. If you're visiting in May, take an umbrella - rainfall in May is twice what it is in April.
Oaxaca in the Rainy Season
Oaxaca's rainy season falls between June and October - during this period, it will rain on more days than it doesn't rain. The good news, however, is that the rain comes in short, sharp storms rather than lingering dampness. Temperatures are still high, in the high 20s or low 30s Celsius. Overnight lows average 16°C but even now the evenings can feel chilly - you'll still need something with long sleeves.
Best months to visit Oaxaca?
January and February are the best month to go for holiday or travel to Oaxaca. The weather averages gathered from Oaxaca weather forecast and Oaxaca weather history also forecast these months temperature to be around 23°c and average of 279.6667 hours of sunshine in a month.
Coldest months of Oaxaca?
January and December are the coldest months with temperature at around 10°c.
Which months receive most rainfall in Oaxaca?
September and June receive most rainfall with precipitation count of 271.11mm.
Travelling to Oaxaca? Check out our Weather averages of Oaxaca to better plan your holiday or travel.
If you would just like to know what the weather was for a past dates for research or education or you are just curious then visit our historical weather of Oaxaca section.