Winter Driving Conditions (Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Columbus: purchasing, living in, moving to)

[PHeag]

I will be moving to Alq in a couple weeks and would like to know how harsh the winters are. I've lived in many climates in many different countries and have driven in snow for more years that I care to remember, but I do not know what Alq conditions are during the winter months. More to the point, Im thinking of purchasing a new 2WD truck, but I dont know if rear wheel drive is smart. I would just like to get some opinions from people that already live there. Thanks

[veggggies]

Really, it's not so bad!!!!

[EnjoyEP]

PHeag:

Please do not take my semi-rant personally or as an attack against your good, well-intentioned question. It is great to post a question like that here - this is exactly where you should post questions like this! - I know you are just trying to do your homework and we are happy that you are posting here.

Having said that...

Seriously, I get boggled at the handful of posters that occasionally come across the Albuquerque forums and talk about Albuquerque's "cold" winters. I mean, SERIOUSLY! Cold compared to where???!!! Where are these posters coming from??! Guam??! Puerto Rico??!! The Bahamas??!! Maui??!!! Miami or San Diego or Yuma???!!!

To the original poster's question (and to the others that worry about ABQ being "cold" in the winter):

If you consider Birmingham, Alabama or Nashville, TN to have "cold" winters, then yes, you might be in for a cold winter in Albuquerque...even a tick colder than the aforementioned. Albuquerque is a hare warmer / milder in the winter than that frigid bottle o' winter hades - Louisville, Kentucky - and a SLIGHT hare cooler / more-cold in the winter than the aforementioned Birmingham / Nashville (or Atlanta) areas.

Albuquerque garners 300+ days of extremely strong, warm, penetrating sunshine per year - fueled by dry desert air and a high (5000 feet) altitude. Thusly, most of the winter in Albuquerque is ruled (like the rest of the year) by extremely bright blue skies and strong warming sunshine. This is in stark contrast to much of the northern and/or central US that receives a high proportion of gray, cloud cover in winter.

Albuquerque's "coldest" two months - December and January - see average daily highs of 48 degrees (with the strong sun in Albuquerque, a temp of 48 feels warmer - much like 58 in much of the US would; similar warming affect as wind chill in other parts of the nation has a cooling affect on cold temps); the average low in these two months is a chilly-but-not-Northern/Central-US-esque-24 degrees.

Thus, winters nights are cold(ish), but days tend to be warm/mild(ish).

February's daily average high in Albuquerque is 57 degrees. 57!!! People that have resided in Albuquerque for a lengthy period don't quite grasp I am afraid just how few places in the nation average such highs for a solidly winter month. People in the Midwest or Northeast would cut off their arms for a series of 57-ish temps in February for highs. Sure, is Phoenix or LA or Houston warmer? Of course. But those are the aberrations...not the rule.

Albuquerque's city (eg: not the foothills) averages a scant 7 to 11 inches of annual snowfall; yes, 3 or 4 times a year in ABQ (sometimes less, sometimes more), you will see semi-measurable snowfall on your front/back yard. Yes, a few times a year you'll likely experience 3 or 4 inches of snow. However, again, this is fairly similar to places like "frozen" Northern Alabama.

But then there is a perspective check time: compare this snowfall to that of cities like Denver, Reno, Santa Fe, Milwaukee, Chicago, NYC, Boston, Philly, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, , Columbus, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Detroit, Omaha, St. Louis, etc., - and you'll get laughed out of the building.

The thing beyond this is that when it DOES snow in Albuquerque, the snow typically melts within hours or a day or two. Many folks in Albuquerque do not even own a snow shovel, much less a snow blower, etc., so common in so much else of the US.

Folks, winters in Albuquerque are overall brief, sunny, dry, with warm late mornings and afternoons and cold(ish) late nights / early mornings.

If you can't handle winter in Albuquerque, then you need to be living in Southern California, Southern Arizona, the southern Gulf Coast, or Southern Florida, or an island, because you aren't going to get milder winters much anywhere else.

Golf is a year-round sport in ABQ; only a handful of days get canceled due to cold/snow/wind. Heck, more days are lost on the golf course due to excessive heat or springtime winds (in "horrible" 70 degree weather) (and those are quite few as well).

Golf being year-round in most places north of Albuquerque - or even east - or higher in altitude - is but a pipe dream.

Does Albuquerque experience winter? Yes, indeed it does. However, compared to most places in the US, Albuquerque's "winter" is as mild, or tame, as possible.

PS: You need no truck - much less special drives or tires - for ABQ driving in the "winter"...unless you plan to drive to the mountains or higher altitudes north / west / east.

[yukon]

I moved here from Tampa FL, used to live in Ft Lauderdale FL, Destin FL, Baton Rouge LA, Houston TX, Phoenix, AZ.....see the pattern? Warm winters. Or no winter, ha.

Having said that....I LOVE the winter here! This is my second one and I LOVE it! Cold enough that you can wear all those cool sweaters you bought in the warm spots but never used (unless you turned on the A/C), sunny most days and just plain gorgeous. Layer a bit and the outdoors is wonderful! I really don't find the winters here to be nearly as cold as what we had in Norfolk VA.

Personally, I'd like to see a little more snow

Seriously, if you'll be living in ABQ, you won't need chains or anything else, although you might want to switch to a more all weather tire next tire change. If you'll be living high, say the in the east mountains and trekking in everyday, you may need some snow driving lessons.

[GregW]

I spent one winter on a Navy ship docked in Norfolk, VA and it so cold the harbor froze!

I just spent a couple of hours here in New Hampshire sliding my Subie wagon around town roads that were covered with lightly sanded packed snow. Great fun but those roads won't completely thaw until sometime in late February to early March.

By our standards Albuquerque simply has a cool spell but not a WINTER. Not only can you drive a pick up it will likely last foerever because I doubt if they cover the roads with salt.

[AlisonL]

We moved here from Maine, and the winter is tropical compared to there. Case in point, I talked to my brother on Sunday...it was 15 degrees in Maine, it was 50 here. They have snow on the ground, we do not. We spent the day wandering around the botanic garden, enjoying the nice weather.

Last winter, Maine got over 8 FEET of snow. I doubt ABQ will ever get a quarter of that amount.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by yukon

I really don't find the winters here to be nearly as cold as what we had in Norfolk VA.

Originally Posted by GregW

I spent one winter on a Navy ship docked in Norfolk, VA and it so cold the harbor froze!

Yep, and compared to a long-time Midwesterner or Northeasterner or (upper) Rocky Mountain westerner, all would find Norfolk VA to be unbelievably pleasant in the winter comparatively.

As yukon and GregW both so note, a huge dose of perspective is what is needed. Sure, compared to Galveston, TX ABQ's winters are chilly. But compared to much of the US - eg: reality - ABQ's "winters" are not even worth discussing.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by AlisonL

We moved here from Maine, and the winter is tropical compared to there. Case in point, I talked to my brother on Sunday...it was 15 degrees in Maine, it was 50 here. They have snow on the ground, we do not. We spent the day wandering around the botanic garden, enjoying the nice weather.

Yeah, I mean, this is exactly it.

Look at ABQ's current ten-day forecast (Courtesy of www.weather.com):

10-Day Forecast

High (°F)
Today
Jan 13 Sunny 48°
Wed
Jan 14 Sunny 51°
Thu
Jan 15 Mostly Sunny 52°
Fri
Jan 16 Sunny 54°
Sat
Jan 17 Sunny 53°
Sun
Jan 18 Partly Cloudy 53°
Mon
Jan 19 Sunny 54°
Tue
Jan 20 Sunny 52°
Wed
Jan 21 Mostly Sunny 51°
Thu
Jan 22 Sunny 49°
Last Updated Jan 13 09:06 a.m. MT


I mean, to someone wintering currently in the Milwaukee, WI area, that forecast is unthinkable - UNTHINKABLE!!! I can't believe how nice that looks right now...it looks like Milwaukee...in early May.

And believe-you-me folks, 52 degrees in Albuquerque's sunshine feels like 60 in other regions...it is just so strong, so penetrating.

Sure, will there be a "cold" stretch or three in February / March still for ABQ? Of course! And yes, on these days, the overnight lows do fall into the 30s and 20s.

But please....this is mid-January and you are experiencing days like this!!!

No, it ain't Tampa, but then again, not many places are (and the tradeoff is worth it).

[ABQConvict]

I'm not saying it is cold, but to the newcomers, keep in mind that the forecast EnjoyEP posted above represents a week of slightly above average temps (by about 5-10 degrees) for this time of year; in fact, this whole winter has been exceptionally mild. Usually it is in the mid-40s. That said, the sun makes a big difference.

When I first moved to Albuquerque it was a cloder and snowier than average winter (and the next couple of winters after that). I thought snow in October and 12-foot high snow drifts and plow piles in the East Mountains was normal for the Middle Rio Grande Valley. Boy was I wrong ;-)

ABQConvict

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

I'm not saying it is cold, but to the newcomers, keep in mind that the forecast EnjoyEP posted above represents a week of slightly above average temps (by about 5-10 degrees) for this time of year; in fact, this whole winter has been exceptionally mild. Usually it is in the mid-40s. That said, the sun makes a big difference.

Absolutely true, Convict...everything you say here.

However, a few observations off of this:

A) For mid-January, the mid-40s is fantastic still (especially throwing in ABQ's ever-strong, ever-present sun).

B) Just as ABQ gets a few stretches every winter of below average temps (those off periods with a few daytime highs only in the upper-30s with cold nights and maybe even a few inches of snow), ABQ ALWAYS seems to get stretches like this too - one in January and then a GREAT one in February - where the temps are above average and so mild. I remember a few years ago we had an out-of-town guest visiting us in February and the last day of February had a day in the low-70s...we were in short sleeves grilling out (and the night before it was very odd as the overnight low stopped dropping at 60 degrees and we sat by our chimenea in light coats well into the night conversing and cocktailing). Stuff like that just doesn't happen in so many other places ever in months like January, February, etc.