Mexico City sits in a high mountain valley and gets about 800 mm (roughly 32 inches) of rain a year, almost all of it concentrated in a clear wet season running from June to September, driven by daily convective thunderstorms that build over the surrounding mountains each afternoon. Because the city was built over a former lakebed, parts of it sink slowly year after year, which has made drainage increasingly difficult and left some neighborhoods prone to standing water even from routine wet-season storms. Afternoon downpours here are often short but intense, arriving with little warning after a clear morning. Given how localized and fast-moving these storms tend to be across the sprawling metro area, radar is one of the more reliable ways to judge whether a storm cell is building over a specific part of the valley before heading out for the day. Mexico’s national meteorological service, SMN, operates the weather radar network covering the region.
Learn more: How Does Rain Radar Work? · Open the full Rain Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it raining in Mexico City right now?
The live radar map above shows precipitation over Mexico City in real time. Blue shades indicate light rain, while yellow, orange, and red mark heavier downpours. If no colored echoes appear over Mexico City, no significant rain is currently being detected.
How often does the Mexico City rain radar update?
The radar refreshes continuously, typically every few minutes, so the map reflects current conditions rather than an hours-old forecast. Press play to animate the most recent frames.
Can I see if a storm is heading toward Mexico City?
Yes. Press play on the radar to animate the last few hours of rainfall and watch which way rain cells over Mexico are moving – the clearest way to judge whether a shower will reach Mexico City or pass by.
Is this Mexico City rain radar free to use?
Yes, completely free – no account, app download, or sign-up required. It works in any browser on desktop and mobile.