Nayarit weather follows two sharply defined seasons: a dry, sunny stretch from November through May, and a rainy season from mid-June to mid-October that delivers about 90 % of the year’s rainfall. The coast (Riviera Nayarit, San Blas, Tuxpan) is warm year-round, with daytime highs of 30–35 °C (86–95 °F). Tepic, the state capital, sits at nearly 1,000 meters (3,200 ft) and feels more temperate, with winter lows around 11 °C (52 °F). Up in the sierra, nights get cold while the deep canyons bake.
Every figure below comes from the official 1991–2020 climate normals published by Mexico’s National Weather Service (SMN-CONAGUA), a 30-year average rather than a single year’s snapshot. You’ll find month-by-month tables for Tepic and the coast, when the cool season starts, when the rains end, hurricane season, a region-by-region breakdown and a packing list. If you’re trying to pick travel dates, pair this with our guide to the best time to visit Nayarit.
Nayarit weather month by month: Tepic
Tepic Observatory station, 963 m (3,160 ft) above sea level, 1991–2020 normals. Temperatures are monthly averages; rainfall is the monthly total.
| Month | High | Low | Rain (mm / in) | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27.3 °C (81 °F) | 11.2 °C (52 °F) | 19.6 / 0.8 | 2.5 |
| February | 28.3 °C (83 °F) | 11.6 °C (53 °F) | 19.5 / 0.8 | 1.7 |
| March | 29.7 °C (85 °F) | 12.0 °C (54 °F) | 14.4 / 0.6 | 0.9 |
| April | 31.4 °C (89 °F) | 13.6 °C (56 °F) | 1.0 / 0.0 | 0.3 |
| May | 32.5 °C (90 °F) | 15.9 °C (61 °F) | 5.1 / 0.2 | 0.9 |
| June | 31.7 °C (89 °F) | 19.7 °C (67 °F) | 141.6 / 5.6 | 11.2 |
| July | 30.5 °C (87 °F) | 20.0 °C (68 °F) | 308.3 / 12.1 | 22.6 |
| August | 30.5 °C (87 °F) | 20.1 °C (68 °F) | 285.5 / 11.2 | 23.1 |
| September | 30.1 °C (86 °F) | 20.2 °C (68 °F) | 214.4 / 8.4 | 18.3 |
| October | 30.0 °C (86 °F) | 18.5 °C (65 °F) | 78.9 / 3.1 | 7.1 |
| November | 29.2 °C (85 °F) | 14.8 °C (59 °F) | 12.8 / 0.5 | 2.3 |
| December | 27.3 °C (81 °F) | 12.1 °C (54 °F) | 23.8 / 0.9 | 2.2 |
| Year | 29.9 °C (86 °F) | 15.8 °C (60 °F) | 1,124.9 / 44.3 | 93.1 |
How to read it: in Tepic, afternoons are warm all year (27–32 °C / 81–90 °F), but from December through March early mornings drop to 11–12 °C (52–54 °F), and during cold fronts the SMN has logged lows of 2–3 °C (36–37 °F). May is the hottest and driest month; July and August are the wettest, with rain almost every afternoon or evening.
Nayarit weather on the coast (Banderas Bay)
As a stand-in for Bucerías, Nuevo Vallarta and Punta Mita we use the SMN station at San José del Valle (Bahía de Banderas, 20 m above sea level), about 11 km (7 miles) inland from Bucerías. It’s the bay-area station with a full 1991–2020 normal; right on the beach, the sea breeze takes a little of the edge off afternoon heat.
| Month | High | Low | Rain (mm / in) | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30.2 °C (86 °F) | 15.9 °C (61 °F) | 20.4 / 0.8 | 1.3 |
| February | 30.8 °C (87 °F) | 16.0 °C (61 °F) | 11.9 / 0.5 | 0.9 |
| March | 31.2 °C (88 °F) | 16.1 °C (61 °F) | 10.2 / 0.4 | 0.3 |
| April | 32.1 °C (90 °F) | 17.5 °C (64 °F) | 0.0 / 0.0 | 0.0 |
| May | 33.6 °C (92 °F) | 20.1 °C (68 °F) | 3.2 / 0.1 | 0.3 |
| June | 34.6 °C (94 °F) | 23.3 °C (74 °F) | 119.8 / 4.7 | 6.5 |
| July | 34.7 °C (94 °F) | 23.5 °C (74 °F) | 220.1 / 8.7 | 12.0 |
| August | 34.6 °C (94 °F) | 23.5 °C (74 °F) | 297.0 / 11.7 | 14.2 |
| September | 34.4 °C (94 °F) | 23.5 °C (74 °F) | 266.7 / 10.5 | 14.2 |
| October | 34.2 °C (94 °F) | 22.9 °C (73 °F) | 111.5 / 4.4 | 6.3 |
| November | 33.0 °C (91 °F) | 20.1 °C (68 °F) | 20.5 / 0.8 | 1.6 |
| December | 30.8 °C (87 °F) | 17.3 °C (63 °F) | 20.1 / 0.8 | 1.3 |
| Year | 32.9 °C (91 °F) | 20.0 °C (68 °F) | 1,101.4 / 43.4 | 58.9 |
On the coast, winter nights hover around 16 °C (61 °F), and from June through October they stay above 23 °C (74 °F) with heavy humidity. For Bucerías and Punta de Mita, that means near-perfect beach weather in winter and hot summers with afternoon downpours.
When does it get cool in Nayarit?
The cool season starts in November, when Tepic’s average low falls from 18.5 °C (65 °F) in October to 14.8 °C (59 °F), and it settles in from December through February, the coolest months, with 11–12 °C (52–54 °F) mornings in the capital. The highlands get properly cold: at Huajimic (La Yesca, 1,131 m / 3,710 ft) the normal January low is 5.8 °C (42 °F). On the coast “cold” is relative: 15–17 °C (59–63 °F) nights and 30 °C (86 °F) days. From March on, lows climb again. Traveling over the holidays? See our guide to winter holidays in Nayarit.
When does the rainy season end in Nayarit?
The rains arrive in mid-June and, on average, wind down by mid-October. In Tepic, rainfall drops from 214 mm and 18 rainy days in September to 79 mm and 7 days in October, and November sees just 13 mm. The coast follows the same pattern, though September is usually the heaviest month and October can still bring a few storms. Between December and February, cold fronts occasionally bring brief drizzle (locally called equipatas), but it’s rare and short-lived.
- June: the season kicks off, usually with the first downpours in the second half of the month.
- July and August: rain most days, typically in the afternoon or at night; mornings are often clear.
- September: the last very wet month and the peak of tropical storm risk.
- October: a transition month; dry days take over in the second half.
Hurricane season in Nayarit
The eastern Pacific hurricane season officially runs from May 15 to November 30, and Nayarit’s highest-risk window is September and October. Most systems stay offshore and bring only rain and big surf, but a few have made landfall in or near the state: Kenna (October 2002, San Blas), Willa (October 2018, just over the Sinaloa line, with damage in northern Nayarit) and Roslyn (October 2022, on the San Blas coast).
If you travel in those months, follow SMN and Civil Protection advisories, buy travel insurance and build a spare day into your plans. Official advisories are posted by Mexico’s National Weather Service (SMN).
Weather by region: coast, Tepic, sierra and north
| Region (SMN station) | Elevation | High Jan / May | Low Jan | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South coast – Banderas Bay (San José del Valle) | 20 m | 30.2 / 33.6 °C (86 / 92 °F) | 15.9 °C (61 °F) | 1,101 mm (43 in) |
| Center – Tepic (Observatory) | 963 m | 27.3 / 32.5 °C (81 / 90 °F) | 11.2 °C (52 °F) | 1,125 mm (44 in) |
| High sierra – Huajimic, La Yesca | 1,131 m | 27.2 / 32.6 °C (81 / 91 °F) | 5.8 °C (42 °F) | 944 mm (37 in) |
| Sierra canyon – Jesús María, Del Nayar | 411 m | 33.4 / 42.8 °C (92 / 109 °F) | 11.5 °C (53 °F) | 794 mm (31 in) |
| North coast – Mexcaltitán (for Tuxpan) | 4 m | 31.6 / 34.8 °C (89 / 95 °F) | 16.7 °C (62 °F) | 1,151 mm (45 in) |
| North – San Pedro, Ruiz | 29 m | 29.5 / 35.9 °C (85 / 97 °F) | 14.8 °C (59 °F) | 1,463 mm (58 in) |
| North – Acaponeta (for Huajicori) | 24 m | 31.2 / 36.6 °C (88 / 98 °F) | 14.0 °C (57 °F) | 1,271 mm (50 in) |
Coast (Riviera Nayarit, San Blas)
Warm and humid all year. November through April is prime beach season; June through October brings 34–35 °C (93–95 °F) highs and high humidity. Punta Mita, at the tip of the bay, tends to get more breeze than Nuevo Vallarta.
Tepic and the central highlands
Temperate: warm days, cool nights. It’s the most comfortable area for walking around in summer, though July to September are very wet.
Sierra (Del Nayar, La Yesca)
Big contrasts. In the high country, winter nights approach 5 °C (41 °F); at the bottom of the canyons, such as Jesús María in Del Nayar, May tops 42 °C (108 °F). In the rainy season some dirt roads close.
North (Tuxpan, Ruiz, Acaponeta, Huajicori)
A hot coastal plain: April and May run 35–37 °C (95–99 °F), and August is the wettest month (463 mm in Ruiz). Huajicori, in the foothills, has weather similar to Acaponeta, its reference station about 17 km away. For Tuxpan, the nearest station is Mexcaltitán, about 19 km away.
What to pack by season
- November to February: beachwear plus a light jacket or sweater for evenings in Tepic and the sierra; a real coat if you’re heading into the high country.
- March to May: light clothing, a sun hat, reef-safe sunscreen and plenty of water; this is the driest, sunniest stretch.
- June to October: a rain jacket or compact umbrella, sandals that can get wet, insect repellent and quick-dry clothes. Plan outings for the morning.
- Year-round: sunglasses, a cap and sunscreen; the UV index is high even in winter.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Nayarit?
Warm on the coast all year (highs of 30–35 °C / 86–95 °F), temperate in Tepic (highs of 27–32 °C, winter lows near 11 °C / 52 °F), with a dry season from November to May and rains from mid-June to mid-October.
When does it get cold in Nayarit?
From November, when Tepic’s lows drop to about 15 °C (59 °F). December through February are the coolest months, with 11–12 °C (52–54 °F) mornings in the capital and close to 5 °C (41 °F) in the high sierra.
When does the rainy season end in Nayarit?
On average by mid-October. September is still very wet; in October rain falls on about 7 days in Tepic, and by November it’s scarce.
What is the weather like in Bucerías?
Warm all year: highs of 30–31 °C (86–88 °F) in winter and around 34 °C (93 °F) in summer, with nights of 16 °C (61 °F) in January and 23 °C (74 °F) from June to October. Most rain falls June through October.
What is the weather like in Punta Mita?
Much like Bucerías, with a bit more breeze at the tip of the bay. From November to April it almost never rains; from June to October expect humid heat and afternoon storms.
When is hurricane season in Nayarit?
From May 15 to November 30, with the highest risk in September and October. Most storms pass offshore, but check SMN advisories if you travel in those months.
Area map
- 1Tepic 963 m a.s.l. Temperate: highs 27–32 °C, January lows 11 °C; 1,125 mm of rain a year.21.51192, -104.89159 · Open in Google Maps
- 2Bucerías Banderas Bay coast: highs 30–35 °C; rains June to October.20.75559, -105.33435 · Open in Google Maps
- 3Tuxpan North coast: hot and humid, highs 31–36 °C, about 1,150 mm of rain a year.21.94065, -105.29775 · Open in Google Maps
- 4Jesús María (Del Nayar) Sierra canyon, 411 m a.s.l.: May highs up to 42.8 °C.22.25125, -104.518 · Open in Google Maps
