Precipitation in Pinehaven trails that of 94% of U.S. towns: 14 inches a year
The depth of winter brings overnight lows near 17°. By January nights alone, it runs colder than 75% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 1.3°, most of all in March. Comfortable outdoor weather, highs of 77–83°, belongs to June, August and September.
A year in Pinehaven at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Pinehaven’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Pinehaven’s place in New Mexico beside it.
What a year in Pinehaven feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 119 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 31 and the first by September 28. Frost and day counts come from Gallup Muni Airport, 14 miles away.
The 2023 USDA map puts Pinehaven’s center in zone 6a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −6°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 21 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Gallup Sand & Gravel, NM, falls mostly in February and December. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 14 inches a year; August is the wettest month and June the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 68 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Pinehaven
93% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through May.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Gallup Muni Airport.
Living with Pinehaven’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
119 frost-free days in zone 6a. The last frost comes by May 31 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Sep 28.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: June, August and September. 13 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Pinehaven from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (48%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 30%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Pinehaven and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Pinehaven yet.
Climates most like Pinehaven’s, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinehaven, NM | 17° | 85° | 14" | 21" |
| Hamilton, MT | 20° | 86° | 13" | 17" |
| Cimarron Hills, CO | 18° | 85° | 17" | 33" |
| Shelley, ID | 14° | 87° | 11" | 15" |
| Deschutes River Woods, OR | 24° | 84° | 13" | 22" |
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Pinehaven averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.6°).
A smaller shift than in 53% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Pinehaven compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Pinehaven’s place among New Mexico’s.
Pinehaven weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Pinehaven’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Gallup Sand & Gravel, NM. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44° | 17° | 1.4" | 4.5" | 6 | 9 | 25° – 36° |
| February | 47° | 20° | 1.1" | 5.7" | 5 | 5 | 29° – 39° |
| March | 55° | 26° | 1.0" | 2.0" | 4 | 1 | 35° – 45° |
| April | 62° | 31° | 0.7" | 0.7" | 4 | 0 | 42° – 51° |
| May | 71° | 39° | 0.7" | 0.5" | 4 | 0 | 50° – 59° |
| June | 83° | 47° | 0.4" | 0.0" | 2 | 0 | 61° – 69° |
| July | 85° | 55° | 1.9" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 66° – 74° |
| August | 82° | 54° | 2.2" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 65° – 72° |
| September | 77° | 46° | 1.4" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 57° – 64° |
| October | 66° | 34° | 1.1" | 0.4" | 5 | 0 | 46° – 55° |
| November | 54° | 24° | 1.0" | 1.6" | 4 | 2 | 32° – 45° |
| December | 44° | 17° | 1.1" | 5.2" | 6 | 7 | 25° – 36° |
| Year | 64° | 34° | 13.9" | 20.6" | 68 | 24 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. November swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 32° to 45°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Where Pinehaven’s numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Pinehaven’s center.
- Snow: Gallup Sand & Gravel, NM.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Gallup Muni Airport, 14 miles from the town’s center, 850 ft lower; no station nearby passes every check; this is the nearest one in the same valley, flagged above.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Pinehaven’s climate
What is the weather like in Pinehaven?
A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 21 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Colder January nights than 75% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 52% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Pinehaven in winter?
December nights average 17°. About 198 nights a year reach 32° or below and 8 reach 0° or below. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 25°.
How much snow does Pinehaven get?
About 21 inches in a normal winter at Gallup Sand & Gravel, NM, most of it in February and December, with snow on the ground about 24 days a year.
How hot does it get in Pinehaven?
July, with a typical high of 85° and a low of 55°. About 35 days a year reach 90° (Gallup Muni Airport).
When is the first and last frost in Pinehaven?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by May 31 and the first fall frost by September 28, about 119 frost-free days, at Gallup Muni Airport.
What growing zone is Pinehaven in?
Zone 6a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −6°.
What is the best time of year to visit Pinehaven?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), June, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Pinehaven getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.3° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 53% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Pinehaven.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.