Hurricane Season in Cancún: Storm Odds by Month
Quick answer: Cancún’s hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and unlike Puerto Rico or Jamaica its busiest month is October, not August or September: a storm came within 100 miles in 7 of 50 seasons in October against 4 of 50 seasons in September. Over the whole year it happened in 21 of 50 seasons, and a hurricane passed within 50 miles in 4 of 50 seasons.
Pick where you are going and when. See in how many of the last 50 hurricane seasons a tropical storm or hurricane came within 100 miles on those dates, and which nearby weeks were calmer.
Key West · Sep 10–16
2 of 50 seasonsA tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of Key West on these dates in 2 of the 50 seasons 1976–2025: 4%.
- Within 50 miles
- 1 of 50
- A hurricane within 50 miles
- 1 of 50
- A hurricane within 100 miles
- 1 of 50
- Safest dates within 4 weeks: Oct 1–7 (0 of 50 seasons), 3 weeks later.
- Storms on these dates: Sally 2020, Irma 2017.
- In 1976–2025, storms came within 100 miles of Key West between Jul 6 and Nov 19.
Historical frequency from NOAA’s best tracks for 1976–2025, not a forecast. For storms this season, see the National Hurricane Center.
The tool above opens on Cancún for September 10–16: change the dates to yours. Below, Cancún’s whole record, 1976–2025.
Hurricane season in Cancún, month by month
In how many of the 50 seasons a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles at some point in that month.
| Month | Storm within 100 mi | Within 50 mi | Hurricane within 50 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| June | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| July | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| August | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| September | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| October | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| November | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Gilbert (1988) and Wilma (2005) both passed as a hurricane within 50 miles, as did Delta (2020) and Helene (2024). October 2020 alone brought three hurricanes within 100 miles: Gamma (2020), Delta (2020) and Zeta (2020).
The busiest week
Cancún: Jun 4–10, when a storm came within 100 miles in 3 of 50 seasons (2 other weeks tie). The chart in the tool shows all 52 weeks.
Every storm within 100 miles since 1976 (29)
| Storm | Within 100 miles | Closest |
|---|---|---|
| Beryl (2024) | Jul 5 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Helene (2024) | Sep 25 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Idalia (2023) | Aug 27 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Grace (2021) | Aug 19 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Marco (2020) | Aug 22–23 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Gamma (2020) | Oct 3–4 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Delta (2020) | Oct 7 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Zeta (2020) | Oct 26–27 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Nate (2017) | Oct 6–7 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Colin (2016) | Jun 5 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Karen (2013) | Oct 3 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Don (2011) | Jul 27–28 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Rina (2011) | Oct 27–28 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Paula (2010) | Oct 13–14 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Ida (2009) | Nov 8 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Dolly (2008) | Jul 21 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Alberto (2006) | Jun 10–11 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Emily (2005) | Jul 18 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Wilma (2005) | Oct 21–23 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Bonnie (2004) | Aug 9 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Claudette (2003) | Jul 11 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Isidore (2002) | Sep 21–22 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Gordon (2000) | Sep 15–16 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Mitch (1998) | Nov 4 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Allison (1995) | Jun 3–4 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Roxanne (1995) | Oct 10–11 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Gilbert (1988) | Sep 14 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Keith (1988) | Nov 21 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Allen (1980) | Aug 7–8 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
When the season runs
Cancún is in the Atlantic basin, whose hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 (source). The season is when storms are likely, not the only time they can form: the table above counts every storm, whenever it came.
Plan it
- Things to do in Cancún
- Things to do in Playa del Carmen
- Top beach towns in Mexico
- Hurricane risk for your exact dates in Cancún
- Cancún’s weather, month by month
FAQ
When is hurricane season in Cancún?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, peaking around September 10. In 50 seasons (1976–2025), the storms that came within 100 miles of Cancún did so between June 3 and November 21, most often in October.
Does Cancún get hurricanes?
Yes. In 50 seasons, a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of Cancún in 21, and a hurricane came within 50 miles in 4: Helene (2024), Delta (2020), Wilma (2005) and Gilbert (1988).
What is the worst month for hurricanes in Cancún?
October: a storm came within 100 miles in 7 of the 50 seasons, then July with 5.
What is the safest time to visit Cancún in hurricane season?
Within the season, June and November: a storm came within 100 miles in 3 of the 50 seasons in each. Outside June 1 to November 30, no storm came near at all.
How these numbers are made
From NOAA’s best tracks (HURDAT2), every storm’s centre is followed hour by hour and measured against each place; a season counts once it had a tropical storm or hurricane within 100 miles (or 50) on at least one day. It is history, not a forecast: for a storm that exists today, read the National Hurricane Center.