Mexican Central Plateau

The vegetation in the plateau region of Mexico is largely brush and grass with ponderosa pine at higher elevations. The region is a high plateau and mountainous area, generally above 6,000 feet, lying between the two principal north-south mountain ranges. It differs from the Southwest mainly in that it is affected more directly by moist air from both the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific, although this influence is restricted by mountain barriers. Temperatures are comparatively cool for the latitude because of the elevation. Characteristically, the summers are warm with frequent convective showers and generally high humidities. The winters are cool and dry.

The annual precipitation is low to moderate. The maximum occurs in the summer with frequent thunderstorms due to continental heating. In spite of greater precipitation, the fire season is mostly in the summer.