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Mexico·Natural disasters

Mexico natural hazards and disaster risk

Earthquakes, storms, volcanoes, floods, and wildfires. Combines the disaster sub-score with the active event feed from USGS, NOAA, NHC, JMA, GVP, and regional agencies. The Field Manual covers the response protocols.

Disaster sub-score
43High risk
Overall Safe Trip Score 52

Recent signals

  • earthquakeUSGS4d ago
    M 5.3 - Revilla Gigedo Islands region
    Revilla Gigedo Islands region
    Source →
    -3.0
  • floodGDACS5d ago
    Green flood alert in Mexico
    On 27/05/2026, a flood started in Mexico, lasting until 31/05/2026 (last update). The flood caused 0 deaths and 27 displaced .
    Source →
    -3.0
  • wildfireGDACS2w ago
    Green forest fire notification in Mexico
    On 17/05/2026, a forest fire started in Mexico, until 22/05/2026.
    Source →
    -3.0
  • floodGDACS3w ago
    Green flood alert in Mexico
    On 07/05/2026, a flood started in Mexico, lasting until 13/05/2026 (last update). The flood caused 0 deaths and 0 displaced .
    Source →
    -3.0
  • wildfireGDACS4w ago
    Green forest fire notification in Mexico
    On 03/05/2026, a forest fire started in Mexico, until 18/05/2026.
    Source →
    -3.0
  • wildfireGDACS2026-05-01
    Green forest fire notification in Mexico
    On 01/05/2026, a forest fire started in Mexico, until 11/05/2026.
    Source →
    -3.0
  • wildfireGDACS2026-04-28
    Green forest fire notification in Mexico
    On 28/04/2026, a forest fire started in Mexico, until 08/05/2026.
    Source →
    -3.0
  • wildfireGDACS2026-04-24
    Green forest fire notification in Mexico
    On 24/04/2026, a forest fire started in Mexico, until 09/05/2026.
    Source →
    -3.0

Foreign-ministry advisories

  • Level 2UK FCDO
    FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts
    Full advisory →
  • Level 2U.S. State Department
    Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution
    Full advisory →

Practical guidance

What the disaster sub-score covers

Mexico’s natural-disaster sub-score is 43/100 (elevated band). It combines the country’s long-term hazard exposure (fault lines, tropical cyclone tracks, volcanic chains, flood basins) with the live event feed from USGS, NOAA, NHC, JMA, GVP, and regional agencies. A score drop usually means a specific recent event; baseline hazard exposure barely moves year over year. The events feed above shows what is currently active.

Seasonality matters more than the headline number

Most natural-hazard risk is seasonal. Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November (peak August to October). Pacific typhoon season is broadly May to October. Indian Ocean monsoon flooding peaks June to September in South Asia. North Atlantic storm surge weights winter months. Volcanic and seismic risk is non-seasonal but clusters geographically; a country’s baseline score factors this in, but your specific itinerary’s exposure depends on which region you visit. The country safety guide’s natural- hazards chapter breaks it down by region.

What to actually do

Three concrete steps that move you out of the “tourist who got caught in it” bucket: enrol in your government’s traveller-notification programme (STEP for US citizens, LOCATE for UK, Smartraveller subscription for AU) so embassies can reach you in a major incident; download offline maps of your destination before you arrive (Maps.me or Google Maps offline) because mobile networks fail first in most disasters; and read the relevant Field Manual response guide for the specific hazard your destination carries. How to survive an earthquake while travelling and the wildfire, flood, and hurricane equivalents are linked from the relevant country safety guides.

Related for Mexico

Long-form context

Travelling safely in Mexico

Mexico is the country where the headline number hides the most. Cancún, Tulum, Mérida, Mexico City’s historic centre, and Guanajuato are statistically as safe as Western European tourist zones; six other states sit at the US State Department’s highest do-not-travel tier. The competent traveller’s job is not to be afraid, it is to know which side of that line their itinerary sits on. This guide unpacks the state-by-state advisory map, the genuine cartel geography, and the much more frequent risks (hurricanes, earthquakes, road traffic, drink spiking) that actually shape what trip insurance covers.

17 min read →

Frequently asked about Mexico

What natural hazards affect Mexico?

Mexico's natural-disaster sub-score is 43/100. It combines long-term hazard exposure (fault lines, tropical cyclone tracks, volcanic chains, flood basins) with the live event feed from USGS, NOAA, NHC, JMA, GVP, and regional agencies. Currently active events are listed in the recent-signals feed above.

When is hurricane / typhoon season in Mexico?

Atlantic hurricane season runs June through November (peak August to October). Pacific typhoon season is broadly May to October. Indian Ocean cyclone season splits between November to April (southern hemisphere) and April to December (Bay of Bengal). Mexico's specific exposure window is documented in the country safety guide.

What should I do if a natural disaster happens while I am in Mexico?

Three concrete steps before you go: enrol in your government's traveller-notification programme (STEP for US, LOCATE for UK, Smartraveller subscription for AU), download offline maps because mobile networks fail first in major incidents, and read the relevant Field Manual response guide (earthquake, hurricane, wildfire, flood) for the specific hazard your destination carries.