Zacatecas Weather

Zacatecas climate

Zacatecas sits on the high central plateau at an average elevation of 2,440 meters, giving the state capital one of the coolest climates in Mexico with an annual average of only 16°C. The colonial city is known for its brisk winds and chilly winter nights that can drop below 0°C from November through February.

The semi-arid climate produces 400-500mm of annual rainfall concentrated in the June-September monsoon season, when dramatic thunderstorms build over the desert plateau each afternoon. The landscape is predominantly scrubland and grassland, though the Sierra Madre Occidental in the far west supports pine forests at higher elevations.

Zacatecas experiences some of the most extreme diurnal temperature swings in Mexico, with summer days reaching 30°C and nights falling to 12°C. Severe hailstorms are a recurring threat during the rainy season, and the state's elevated, exposed terrain makes it one of the windiest in Mexico, with persistent winds that have made it a growing center for wind energy development.