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Tecámac occupies a strategic position within the Valley of Mexico, situated approximately 35 kilometers northeast of Mexico City's historic center at an elevation of 2,250 meters above sea level. This municipality lies within the State of México, forming part of the expansive Mexico City Metropolitan Area's northern periphery. The terrain is characterized by the flat basin of the ancient Lake Texcoco, with gentle slopes rising toward the Sierra de Guadalupe to the southwest and the Sierra de Tepotzotlán to the northwest. Tecámac's geography creates a natural funnel for air masses moving through the valley, with its position downwind from Mexico City's urban core making it particularly vulnerable to transported pollution. The region lacks significant natural water bodies, though remnants of Lake Texcoco's saline wetlands persist to the south. Urban development has rapidly transformed former agricultural lands into dense residential zones, creating a sharp urban-rural gradient where peri-urban expansion meets remaining maize and maguey cultivation. This transformation has intensified local emissions from transportation and domestic fuel use while reducing green spaces that might otherwise help mitigate pollution. The basin's enclosed topography, combined with high elevation that reduces atmospheric oxygen content, creates conditions where pollutants accumulate rather than disperse, particularly during stable atmospheric conditions. Tecámac's location within this airshed means it experiences both locally generated pollution from its own urban growth and regional pollution transported from the megacity to its south.

Tecámac's air quality follows distinct seasonal patterns shaped by the Valley of Mexico's subtropical highland climate. During the dry winter months from November to February, pollution reaches its peak due to frequent thermal inversions that trap pollutants near the surface. Cold nights and weak winds create stagnant conditions where particulate matter and ozone precursors accumulate, with December and January being particularly problematic. Sensitive groups should limit outdoor exertion during morning hours when inversion layers are strongest. Spring brings gradual improvement as increasing solar radiation strengthens atmospheric mixing, though March and April can still experience high pollution days before the rainy season begins. The summer monsoon from June to September dramatically cleanses the air through daily convective storms that wash pollutants from the atmosphere. July and August offer the cleanest air for outdoor activities, though afternoon thunderstorms present their own hazards. Autumn marks a transition period where decreasing rainfall and returning inversion conditions cause pollution to gradually rebuild through October and November. Throughout the year, wind patterns play a crucial role—northeasterly winds can bring cleaner air from less populated regions, while southerly flows transport Mexico City's pollution directly into Tecámac. Residents with respiratory conditions should monitor daily forecasts closely during the dry season and consider using air purifiers indoors when pollution episodes occur.