New Mexico Annual Temperatures and Extremes

City

Avg High Temp

Avg Low Temp 

Avg Annual Temp

 Avg # days > 90F Avg # days < 32F  Record High Temp Record Low Temp
Albuquerque 69.8 43.2 56.5 59 112 107 / 1994 -17 / 1971
Clayton 67.6 39.0 53.3 38 139 105 / 1924 -21 / 1959
Roswell 75.6 46.7 61.1 95 87 114 / 1994 -9 / 1979
  • New Mexico annual average temperature, 53.44 degrees, 21st warmest state in the U.S.
  • Record Hottest year in New Mexico - 2012 / Avg temperature 55.89 degrees
  • Record Coldest year in New Mexico - 1912 / Avg temperature 50.88 degrees
  • New Mexico average Summer temperature (June, July, August) 71.4 F degrees, 26th warmest U.S. summer state
  • New Mexico average Winter temperature (December, January, February) 33.0 F degrees, 29th coldest U.S. winter state

New Mexico's Temperature Records 

  • Hottest temperature ever recorded: 122 F, Lakewood, southeastern New Mexico, 7/27/1994
  • Coldest temperature ever recorded: -50 F, Gavilan, northwestern New Mexico, 2/1/1951
  • Hottest location ranked by highest average annual temperature: Jal, southeastern New Mexico, 63.9 F
  • Coldest location ranked by lowest average annual temperature: Red River, northern New Mexico, 39.3 F
  • New Mexico's record for most consecutive days with the high temperature equal to or exceeding 90 degrees
    was set in June-Sept 1954 with 110 days at Gage, New Mexico. The record for most consecutive days with
    the low temperature equal to or below 32 degrees was set in September 1960 through May 1961 at Gascon,
    New Mexico     with 256 days.

Mean annual temperatures in New Mexico range from 64 degrees Fahrenheit (° F) in the extreme southeast to less than 40 in the high mountains and valleys of the north; elevation is a greater factor in determining the temperature of any specific location than its latitude. This is shown by only a three degree difference in mean temperature between stations at similar elevations, one in the extreme northeast and the other in the extreme southwest; however at two stations only 15 miles apart, but differing in elevation by 4,700 feet, the mean annual temperatures are 61 and 45° F - a difference of 16 degrees or a little more than three degrees decrease in temperature for each 1,000 foot increase in elevation.

During the summer months, individual daytime temperatures quite often exceed 100° F at elevations below 5,000 feet; but the average monthly maximum temperatures during July, the warmest month, range from slightly above 90°F at lower elevations to the upper 70s at high elevations. Warmest days quite often occur in June. A preponderance of clear skies and low relative humidity permit rapid cooling by radiation from the earth after sundown; consequently nights are usually comfortable in summer. The average range between daily high and low temperatures is from 25 to 35 degrees.

In January, the coldest month, average daytime temperatures range from the middle 50s in the southern and central valleys to the middle 30s in the higher elevations of the north. Minimum temperatures below freezing are common in all sections of the State during the winter, but subzero Fahrenheit temperatures are rare except in the mountains. The lowest temperature recorded at regular observing stations in the State was -50° F at Gavilan (Rio Arriba County) on February 1, 1951.

The freeze-free season ranges from more than 200 days in the southern valleys to less than 80 days in the northern mountains where some high mountain valleys have freezes in summer months.

 

New Mexico precipitation averages and extremes, Albuquerque climate extremes/averages, precipitation and temperature data for all U.S. states and 
Top 10 U.S. climate extremes
Data source: National Climatic Data Center