, 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).
ranges from about 3 °C (37.5 °F) in December and January to 26 °C (79 °F) in July.
is scarce, as it amounts to just 225 millimeters (8.8 inches) per year. Albuquerque is located in the northern part of the
, which in the summer, sometimes receives humid currents from the southwest, from the Gulf of California. For this reason, summer is the rainiest season.
, 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).
, 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.
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.
As we said, there are mountains to the east of the city. On the highest peak,
, at an altitude of 3,255 meters (10,678 feet), daytime temperatures are normally below freezing from December to February, while in July they reach around 20 °C (68 °F).
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.
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.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
3 °C, with a minimum of
-3.1 °C and a maximum of
9.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-9.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-15 °C in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16 °C. However, it reached
20.6 °C in January 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
10 mm, 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 of
11.4 kph.
February is generally a quite cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
5.6 °C, with a minimum of
-1.2 °C and a maximum of
12.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-8 °C. However, it dropped to
-21 °C in February 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19.5 °C. However, it reached
23.9 °C in February 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
10 mm, 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 of
13 kph.
March is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
9.7 °C, with a minimum of
2.3 °C and a maximum of
17.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-9 °C in March 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25 °C. However, it reached
28.3 °C in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
10 mm, 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 of
14.3 kph.
April is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
13.8 °C, with a minimum of
6.2 °C and a maximum of
21.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-1 °C. However, it dropped to
-4 °C in April 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28.5 °C. However, it reached
31.1 °C in April 1992.
Precipitation amounts to
15 mm, 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 of
16.1 kph.
May is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
19 °C, with a minimum of
11.3 °C and a maximum of
26.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
-1.1 °C in May 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33 °C. However, it reached
36.1 °C in May 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
10 mm, 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 of
15.6 kph.
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, with a minimum of
16.6 °C and a maximum of
32.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
11 °C. However, it dropped to
7.8 °C in June 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37.5 °C. However, it reached
41.7 °C in June 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
15 mm, 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 of
14.7 kph.
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 °C, with a minimum of
19.2 °C and a maximum of
32.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
16 °C. However, it dropped to
12.8 °C in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37.5 °C. However, it reached
40 °C in July 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, 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 of
13.1 kph.
August is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
25 °C, with a minimum of
18.3 °C and a maximum of
31.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15 °C. However, it dropped to
10 °C in August 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C. However, it reached
37.8 °C in August 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, 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 of
11.9 kph.
September is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
21.3 °C, with a minimum of
14.5 °C and a maximum of
28.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
4 °C in September 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
35.6 °C in September 2011.
Precipitation amounts to
30 mm, 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 of
12.1 kph.
October is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
14.6 °C, with a minimum of
7.8 °C and a maximum of
21.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-7.2 °C in October 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
29 °C. However, it reached
31.7 °C in October 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
20 mm, 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 of
12.1 kph.
November is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of
7.6 °C, with a minimum of
1.2 °C and a maximum of
14.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-6 °C. However, it dropped to
-9.4 °C in November 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
22 °C. However, it reached
25 °C in November 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
15 mm, 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 of
11.5 kph.
December, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of
2.8 °C, with a minimum of
-3 °C and a maximum of
8.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-10 °C. However, it dropped to
-13.3 °C in December 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16 °C. However, it reached
20 °C in December 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
15 mm, 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 of
10.9 kph.