Albuquerque, NM Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Albuquerque
Albuquerque works on a dry budget: 9.3 inches (237 mm) of precipitation a year, spread over roughly 48 days. Temperature does the varying instead, from 46°F (8°C) on a typical January afternoon to 93°F (34°C) in July, with nights 13°C below the day.
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 93°F (34°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 46°F (8°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 104°F (40°C) high · 1°F (-17°C) low
- Wettest month: October (4 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (13.2 h sun/day)
- Climate type: cold desert
- Annual swing: 25°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 13°C
- Snow: about 9 days a year
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 3
- Average humidity: 40%
Temperatures through the year
Three of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is April through May. July is the warm end of the year, averaging 93°F (34°C) by day and 69°F (21°C) overnight. January is the coolest month, with highs of 46°F (8°C) and lows near 27°F (-3°C). Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 104°F (40°C) and the lowest daily minimum 1°F (-17°C). Snow falls on roughly 9 days a year, mostly November through March.
Rain, sun and snow
6 months average under 20 mm of rain, the longest unbroken stretch running April through August. Precipitation concentrates in October - 1.1 inches (28 mm) on 4 days - and thins out by April. June is the brightest month at 13.2 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 11.0 - sunnier than 95% of the 3496 cities in our dataset.
How Albuquerque compares
- Relative humidity averages 40% - drier than all but 3% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Afternoons run 13°C above the following night - a bigger day-to-night gap than 96% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Annual precipitation is 9.3 inches (237 mm) - drier than all but 5% of the 3496 cities we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 46° | 27° | 5 | 0.9 in | 8.6 h/day | 10.0 h | 16% | 57% |
| February | 53° | 30° | 4 | 0.8 in | 9.7 h/day | 10.9 h | 16% | 48% |
| March | 62° | 37° | 5 | 0.8 in | 10.6 h/day | 11.9 h | 17% | 38% |
| April | 72° | 45° | 2 | 0.6 in | 11.8 h/day | 13.0 h | 8% | 28% |
| May | 80° | 53° | 4 | 0.7 in | 13.0 h/day | 14.0 h | 11% | 27% |
| June | 91° | 64° | 3 | 0.6 in | 13.2 h/day | 14.5 h | 9% | 27% |
| July | 93° | 69° | 4 | 0.7 in | 13.0 h/day | 14.3 h | 14% | 36% |
| August | 90° | 67° | 4 | 0.7 in | 12.1 h/day | 13.5 h | 11% | 40% |
| September | 85° | 60° | 4 | 0.8 in | 11.4 h/day | 12.3 h | 12% | 39% |
| October | 71° | 48° | 4 | 1.1 in | 10.3 h/day | 11.2 h | 12% | 42% |
| November | 58° | 36° | 5 | 0.9 in | 9.2 h/day | 10.3 h | 16% | 46% |
| December | 48° | 29° | 4 | 0.8 in | 8.7 h/day | 9.8 h | 14% | 50% |
Albuquerque month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Albuquerque's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 8.6 h
- Daylight
- 10.0 h
- Snow
- 2 days
February
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 9.7 h
- Daylight
- 10.9 h
- Snow
- 2 days
March
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 10.6 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
- Snow
- 1 day
April
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 11.8 h
- Daylight
- 13.0 h
May
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 13.0 h
- Daylight
- 14.0 h
June
- Rain
- 3 days
- Sunshine
- 13.2 h
- Daylight
- 14.5 h
July
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 13.0 h
- Daylight
- 14.3 h
August
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 12.1 h
- Daylight
- 13.5 h
September
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 11.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
October
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 10.3 h
- Daylight
- 11.2 h
November
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 9.2 h
- Daylight
- 10.3 h
- Snow
- 1 day
December
- Rain
- 4 days
- Sunshine
- 8.7 h
- Daylight
- 9.8 h
- Snow
- 1 day
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Albuquerque
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, Albuquerque settles into easy warmth: 71°F (22°C) by day, 45°F (7°C) after dark, and rain comes on about 11 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 11.8 hours of sun a day.
Summer (June through August)
Summer brings hot afternoons here - highs near 91°F (33°C), nights near 67°F (19°C), and rain comes on about 10 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 12.8 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Through fall, Albuquerque is pleasantly warm: 71°F (22°C) by day, 48°F (9°C) after dark, and rain comes on about 12 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 10.3 hours of sun a day.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Albuquerque runs cold, with daytime highs averaging 49°F (9°C) and nights around 28°F (-2°C); rain comes on about 14 days over the three months, plus about 6 snowy days.
Climate questions, answered
When does Albuquerque drop below freezing?
What should I wear in Albuquerque?
How many hot months does Albuquerque have?
Is Albuquerque hot in summer?
How many rainy days does Albuquerque get in a year?
Best time to visit Albuquerque
March to May and October is the sweet spot for Albuquerque - temperatures sit either side of the peak heat rather than in it. Expect 71°F (22°C) in the afternoon and around 4 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in March.
Pack for Albuquerque with lightweight, breathable clothing and serious sun protection and a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season. Note the gap between afternoon and night: July pairs 93°F (34°C) with 69°F (21°C).
Albuquerque temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.