Climate - Albuquerque (New Mexico)
Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
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Climate chart - Albuquerque (New Mexico)
The climate of Albuquerque, the largest city of New Mexico, is arid semi-continental, with quite cold winters and hot summers, and a few rains, more likely in the summer months.
The city is located at 35 degrees north latitude, on a plateau. The center is at 1,500/1,600 meters (4,900/5,200 feet), but the eastern districts, which are located at the foot of the Sandia Mountains, reach up to 1,900 meters (6,200 feet).
The average temperatures ranges from about 3 °C (37.5 °F) in December and January to 26 °C (79 °F) in July. Here are the average temperatures.
Albuquerque - Average temperatures (1991-2020) | Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
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| January | -3.1 | 9.1 | 3 | 26 | 48 | 37.4 |
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| February | -1.2 | 12.3 | 5.6 | 30 | 54 | 42 |
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| March | 2.3 | 17.1 | 9.7 | 36 | 63 | 49.5 |
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| April | 6.2 | 21.3 | 13.8 | 43 | 70 | 56.8 |
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| May | 11.3 | 26.6 | 19 | 52 | 80 | 66.1 |
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| June | 16.6 | 32.4 | 24.5 | 62 | 90 | 76.1 |
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| July | 19.2 | 32.9 | 26 | 67 | 91 | 78.9 |
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| August | 18.3 | 31.6 | 25 | 65 | 89 | 76.9 |
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| September | 14.5 | 28.1 | 21.3 | 58 | 83 | 70.3 |
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| October | 7.8 | 21.4 | 14.6 | 46 | 71 | 58.3 |
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| November | 1.2 | 14.1 | 7.6 | 34 | 57 | 45.8 |
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| December | -3 | 8.5 | 2.8 | 27 | 47 | 37 |
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| Year | 7.6 | 21.3 | 14.4 | 45.6 | 70.4 | 58 |
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Precipitation is scarce, as it amounts to just 225 millimeters (8.8 inches) per year. Albuquerque is located in the northern part of the Chihuahuan Desert, which in the summer, sometimes receives humid currents from the southwest, from the Gulf of California. For this reason, summer is the rainiest season. Here is the average precipitation.
Albuquerque - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
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| January | 10 | 0.4 | 4 |
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| February | 10 | 0.4 | 4 |
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| March | 10 | 0.4 | 4 |
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| April | 15 | 0.6 | 3 |
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| May | 10 | 0.4 | 4 |
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| June | 15 | 0.6 | 4 |
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| July | 40 | 1.6 | 9 |
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| August | 35 | 1.4 | 8 |
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| September | 30 | 1.2 | 6 |
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| October | 20 | 0.8 | 5 |
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| November | 15 | 0.6 | 3 |
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| December | 15 | 0.6 | 4 |
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| Year | 225 | 8.9 | 56 |
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In winter, it sometimes snows every year, but being that it is a dry season, generally it doesn't snow much. On average, 20 centimeters (8 in) of snow fall per year. Snow is more abundant in the eastern part of the city (Sandia Heights), not only because it is located at a slightly higher altitude, but also because it is more humid: precipitation amounts to 380 mm (14.9 in) per year, and snowfall to 60 cm (23.7 in).
Even though the temperature is normally acceptable (at night, it drops a few degrees below freezing), sometimes there may be cold spells, in which the night minimum can go down to -20 °C (-4 °F). In January 1971, it even went down to -27 °C (-17 °F).
Spring is windy, with possible sand and dust storms, and little rain.
In summer, June is often the month with the highest temperatures (sometimes, even 38/40 °C or 100/104 °F), generally at the end of the month, but it'is still torrid (ie hot and dry). In June 1994, 41.7 °C (107 °F) were reached.
In July and August, there is a certain increase in humidity, which makes the heat more sultry.
Albuquerque is a very sunny city: the sun shines for as high as 3,400 hours a year. Even in winter, the sun shines 75% of the time. The sunniest month is June, before the summer rains arrive. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.
Albuquerque - Sunshine hours| Month | Average | Total |
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January | 7.5 | 235 | February | 8 | 225 | March | 8.5 | 270 | April | 10 | 305 | May | 11 | 345 | June | 12 | 360 | July | 11 | 335 | August | 10 | 315 | September | 9.5 | 285 | October | 9 | 280 | November | 8 | 235 | December | 7 | 225 | Year | 9.4 | 3415 |
As we said, there are mountains to the east of the city. Here are the average temperatures on the highest peak, Sandia Crest, at an altitude of 3,255 meters or 10,678 feet (the data refer to the period 1953-1979, when the climate was a bit colder).
Sandia Crest - Average temperatures| Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
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| January | -10.5 | -2.9 | -6.7 | 13 | 27 | 19.9 |
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| February | -9.9 | -2.1 | -6 | 14 | 28 | 21.2 |
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| March | -8.2 | 0.3 | -4 | 17 | 33 | 24.9 |
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| April | -4.1 | 5.7 | 0.8 | 25 | 42 | 33.4 |
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| May | 1.1 | 11.8 | 6.4 | 34 | 53 | 43.6 |
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| June | 6.2 | 17.7 | 12 | 43 | 64 | 53.5 |
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| July | 8.6 | 19.1 | 13.8 | 47 | 66 | 56.9 |
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| August | 7.6 | 17.2 | 12.4 | 46 | 63 | 54.3 |
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| September | 4.8 | 13.9 | 9.4 | 41 | 57 | 48.8 |
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| October | 0.3 | 8.8 | 4.6 | 33 | 48 | 40.2 |
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| November | -5.4 | 2.6 | -1.4 | 22 | 37 | 29.5 |
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| December | -9.2 | -1.4 | -5.3 | 15 | 29 | 22.5 |
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| Year | -1.5 | 7.6 | 3.05 | 29.3 | 45.7 | 37.5 |
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In one year, 585 mm (23 in) of rain fall, here too, with a maximum in July and August due to summer thunderstorms, but with more frequent snowfall in winter than in Albuquerque, for a total of as high as 295 cm (116 in) of snow per year.
Best Time
The best seasons to visit Albuquerque are spring and autumn, to avoid both the winter cold and the summer heat. You can choose for example the periods from mid-April to mid-May, and from mid-September to mid-October. Since spring is more unstable and windy, you can prefer autumn. However, the wind can blow in all seasons.
To visit the high mountains, the best time is the summer (unless you want to ski), and in particular the month of June, because it is drier than July and August.
Albuquerque - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
January is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 3 °C (37 °F), with a minimum of -3.1 °C (26.4 °F) and a maximum of 9.1 °C (48.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9.5 °C (15 °F). However, it dropped to -15 °C (5 °F) in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 20.6 °C (69.1 °F) in January 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 49%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
February is generally a quite cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 5.6 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of -1.2 °C (29.8 °F) and a maximum of 12.3 °C (54.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8 °C (18 °F). However, it dropped to -21 °C (-5.8 °F) in February 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67 °F). However, it reached 23.9 °C (75 °F) in February 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
March is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 9.7 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 2.3 °C (36.1 °F) and a maximum of 17.1 °C (62.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24 °F). However, it dropped to -9 °C (15.8 °F) in March 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 28.3 °C (82.9 °F) in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 34%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
April is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 13.8 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) and a maximum of 21.3 °C (70.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -4 °C (24.8 °F) in April 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83 °F). However, it reached 31.1 °C (88 °F) in April 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 28%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
May is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.0 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 11.3 °C (52.3 °F) and a maximum of 26.6 °C (79.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39 °F). However, it dropped to -1.1 °C (30 °F) in May 2008.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 36.1 °C (97 °F) in May 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 80% of the time.
The average humidity is 27%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
June is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 24.5 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 16.6 °C (61.9 °F) and a maximum of 32.4 °C (90.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11 °C (52 °F). However, it dropped to 7.8 °C (46 °F) in June 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99 °F). However, it reached 41.7 °C (107.1 °F) in June 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 25%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 26.0 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 19.2 °C (66.6 °F) and a maximum of 32.9 °C (91.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16 °C (60.5 °F). However, it dropped to 12.8 °C (55 °F) in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99.5 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in July 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 38%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
August is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 25.0 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 18.3 °C (64.9 °F) and a maximum of 31.6 °C (88.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it dropped to 10 °C (50 °F) in August 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (96 °F). However, it reached 37.8 °C (100 °F) in August 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 76% of the time.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
September is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21.3 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 14.5 °C (58.1 °F) and a maximum of 28.1 °C (82.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4 °C (39.2 °F) in September 2020.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 35.6 °C (96.1 °F) in September 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 40%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
October is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.6 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 7.8 °C (46 °F) and a maximum of 21.4 °C (70.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -7.2 °C (19 °F) in October 2020.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84 °F). However, it reached 31.7 °C (89.1 °F) in October 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 81% of the time.
The average humidity is 40%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
November is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.6 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 1.2 °C (34.2 °F) and a maximum of 14.1 °C (57.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C (21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -9.4 °C (15.1 °F) in November 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in November 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 43%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
December, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.8 °C (37 °F), with a minimum of -3 °C (26.6 °F) and a maximum of 8.5 °C (47.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10 °C (13.5 °F). However, it dropped to -13.3 °C (8.1 °F) in December 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 20 °C (68 °F) in December 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 50%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
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