Hardly any U.S. towns see fresher July days than Taos Ski Valley
Nights in January average 12°. In January, nights here are colder than in 91% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 1.6°, most of all in March. The heating season runs September to May: each of those months averages under 50°.
A year in Taos Ski Valley at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Taos Ski Valley’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Taos Ski Valley’s place in New Mexico beside it.
What a year in Taos Ski Valley feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 32 inches of rain a year
August is the wettest month and June the driest.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Living with Taos Ski Valley’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
Zone 6a.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: July and August. 23 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Taos Ski Valley from natural hazards, avalanches are the largest share (49%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 2%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Taos Ski Valley and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Taos Ski Valley yet.
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 Taos Ski Valley averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.9°).
A bigger shift than in 66% 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 Taos Ski Valley compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Taos Ski Valley’s place among New Mexico’s.
Taos Ski Valley weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Taos Ski Valley’s center. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 12° | 2.3" | 15° – 28° |
| February | 33° | 14° | 2.7" | 17° – 30° |
| March | 40° | 18° | 3.1" | 25° – 34° |
| April | 45° | 24° | 2.9" | 30° – 39° |
| May | 53° | 31° | 2.2" | 39° – 47° |
| June | 64° | 39° | 1.3" | 47° – 55° |
| July | 66° | 43° | 3.5" | 52° – 58° |
| August | 64° | 42° | 3.5" | 50° – 56° |
| September | 59° | 37° | 2.6" | 43° – 51° |
| October | 48° | 28° | 2.5" | 35° – 43° |
| November | 38° | 19° | 2.6" | 20° – 35° |
| December | 31° | 12° | 2.5" | 16° – 28° |
| Year | 48° | 26° | 31.6" |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. November swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 20° to 35°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Where Taos Ski Valley’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 Taos Ski Valley’s center.
- 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 Taos Ski Valley’s climate
What is the weather like in Taos Ski Valley?
A typical July afternoon reaches 66°, a January night drops to 12°. Colder January nights than 91% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than all but 35 U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Taos Ski Valley in winter?
January nights average 12°. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 15°.
How hot does it get in Taos Ski Valley?
July, with a typical high of 66°. 90° days are rare.
What growing zone is Taos Ski Valley in?
Zone 6a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −8°.
What is the best time of year to visit Taos Ski Valley?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), July and August. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Taos Ski Valley getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.6° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 66% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Taos Ski Valley.
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.