El Arenal, Mexico

Full City Profile

1,157 Population 3/sq mi density

36 ft Elevation 11 meters

81°F Avg Temperature 27°C

El Arenal has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 81°F (27°C). Winters average 79°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July. The area gets 360 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 83.6 inches. The area receives 0.0 inches of snow annually.

Temperature

79°F Jan (26°C) 82°F Jul (28°C)

Annual Average	81.3°F
	51% above US avg
January Average	79°F (26°C)
July Average	82°F (28°C)
Sunny Days	360 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	36 ft (11 m)
Area	364.4 sq mi (943.9 km²)
Population Density	3/sq mi
Coordinates	15.1727°N, 92.6992°W
Timezone	America/Mexico_City

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 83.6"

120% above US avg

Snowfall 0.0"

Wettest Month (Sep) 16.89"

Driest Month (Jan) 0.08"

Air Quality

Earthquake History

2,604 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M8.2. Most recent: M4.2 on Aug 27, 2025.

Sep 8, 2017	2017 Tehuantepec, Mexico Earthquake	M8.2	130 km
Sep 10, 1993	24 km W of Puerto Madero, Mexico	M7.2	51 km
Jul 7, 2014	4 km W of Puerto Madero, Mexico	M6.9	56 km
Jun 14, 2017	2 km SSW of San Pablo, Guatemala	M6.9	80 km
Mar 14, 1994	6 km ENE of Rizo de Oro, Mexico	M6.9	96 km
Sep 3, 1993	38 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico	M6.8	72 km
Feb 1, 2019	5 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico	M6.7	61 km
Nov 11, 2012	32 km SW of Champerico, Guatemala	M6.5	130 km
Sep 19, 1993	105 km WSW of Puerto Madero, Mexico	M6.4	113 km
Jan 16, 2002	2 km SW of Las Brisas, Mexico	M6.4	59 km
Dec 31, 1996	4 km SW of El Ramal (Porvenir), Mexico	M6.4	79 km
Nov 28, 2001	2 km ESE of El Carmen, Mexico	M6.4	62 km
Sep 7, 2013	7 km ESE of Ignacio López Rayón, Mexico	M6.4	89 km
May 12, 2024	28 km WSW of Brisas Barra de Suchiate, Mexico	M6.4	87 km
Mar 12, 2000	3 km ESE of Plan de Ayala, Mexico	M6.3	35 km
May 30, 1992	62 km WSW of Puerto Madero, Mexico	M6.3	85 km
Jul 14, 2023	Offshore Chiapas, Mexico	M6.3	133 km
Jun 7, 1998	2 km NNE of Cabeza de Toro, Mexico	M6.3	145 km
Jan 21, 2012	46 km SW of El Arenal, Mexico	M6.2	47 km
Dec 4, 2000	104 km SW of El Palmarcito, Mexico	M6.1	138 km

Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

4 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4. Most recent: Barbara (2013).

Year	Name	Category	Closest
2013	Barbara	Category 1	167 km
1998	Lester	Category 2	213 km
1997	Pauline	Category 4	288 km
1996	Douglas	Category 1	222 km

Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tsunami History

2 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 2.7 m (9 ft).

Year	Location	Cause	Max Wave	Deaths	Distance
2017	S. MEXICO	Earthquake	2.7 m	98	130 km
1950	GUATEMALA	Earthquake	0.2 m	—	128 km

Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Nearby Volcanoes

4 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Tacana (64 km).

Name	Type	Elevation	Last Eruption	Distance
Tacana	Stratovolcano	4,064 m (13,333 ft)	1986	64 km
Santa Maria	Stratovolcano	3,745 m (12,287 ft)	2020	132 km
Almolonga	Stratovolcano	3,173 m (10,410 ft)	1818	134 km
Toliman	Stratovolcano(es)	3,158 m (10,361 ft)	Unknown	174 km

Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	79°F (26°C)	0.1 in	Coldest, Driest
February	80°F (27°C)	0.2 in
March	83°F (28°C)	0.4 in
April	85°F (29°C)	1.5 in	Warmest
May	84°F (29°C)	7.1 in
June	82°F (28°C)	13.7 in
July	82°F (28°C)	12.4 in
August	82°F (28°C)	12.3 in
September	81°F (27°C)	16.9 in	Wettest
October	82°F (28°C)	9.8 in
November	81°F (27°C)	2.2 in
December	80°F (27°C)	0.4 in

El Arenal has a seasonal temperature swing of 6°F / from 79°F in January to 85°F in April. Total annual precipitation is 77.0 inches, with September being the wettest month (16.9") and January the driest (0.1").

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