New Mexico

Climate

New Mexico's climate ranges from arid to semiarid, with a wide range of temperatures. Average January temperatures vary from about 35°F (2°C) in the north to about 55°F (13°C) in the southern and central regions. July temperatures range from about 78°F (26°C) at high elevations to around 92°F (33°C) at lower elevations. The record high temperature for the state is 122°F (50°C), set most recently on 27 July 1994 at Lakewood; the record low, –50°F (–46°C), was set on 1 February 1951 at Gavilan.

Average annual precipitation (1971–2000) was 9.5 in (24 cm) in Albuquerque in the desert; at high elevations, annual precipitation averaged over 20 in (50 cm). Nearly one-half the annual rainfall comes during July and August, and thunderstorms are common in the summer. Snow is much more frequent in the north than in the south; Albuquerque gets about 10 in (25 cm) of snow per year, and the northern mountains receive up to 100 in (254 cm).