Artesia, NM climate
Artesia has chilly winters and hot summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 96°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 4 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Artesia feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Artesia weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 58° | 27° | 0.5" | 1.4" | 3 | 1 | 37° – 47° |
| February | 63° | 31° | 0.4" | 0.3" | 3 | 0 | 42° – 53° |
| March | 71° | 37° | 0.5" | 0.1" | 3 | 0 | 50° – 60° |
| April | 80° | 44° | 0.5" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 57° – 66° |
| May | 88° | 54° | 1.1" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 67° – 78° |
| June | 96° | 63° | 1.3" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 75° – 83° |
| July | 96° | 67° | 2.0" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 78° – 86° |
| August | 95° | 66° | 1.7" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 76° – 86° |
| September | 88° | 58° | 2.0" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 67° – 78° |
| October | 78° | 46° | 1.3" | 0.1" | 5 | 0 | 60° – 66° |
| November | 66° | 34° | 0.6" | 0.7" | 3 | 0 | 44° – 55° |
| December | 58° | 27° | 0.6" | 1.2" | 3 | 1 | 36° – 46° |
| Year | 78° | 46° | 12.3" | 3.8" | 49 | 2 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Artesia
Artesia gets 12 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 49 days a year.
About 198 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 11 and the first one by October 29. That leaves about 198 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 71% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Artesia
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Artesia, 65% of that work is heating and 35% is cooling.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How Artesia compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Artesia averaged 2.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.7°). The shift is larger than in 94% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Artesia’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. May swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 67° to 78°. October is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Artesia’s climate
What is the coldest month in Artesia?
January, with a typical high of 58° and a low of 27°.
What is the hottest month in Artesia?
June, with a typical high of 96° and a low of 63°. About 109 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Artesia get?
About 4 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Artesia?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 29, and the last spring frost by April 11.
What is the rainiest month in Artesia?
September, with 2.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 12 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Artesia itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Artesia 6s, NM (7 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.