Cotton, NM climate
Cotton has chilly winters and hot summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 95°, 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 Cotton feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Cotton 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 | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 59° | 27° | 0.8" | 1.7" | 4 | 39° – 47° |
| February | 64° | 31° | 0.7" | 0.5" | 4 | 43° – 52° |
| March | 71° | 35° | 0.5" | 0.3" | 3 | 49° – 59° |
| April | 79° | 41° | 0.2" | 0 | 1 | 54° – 65° |
| May | 88° | 49° | 0.2" | 0 | 2 | 64° – 73° |
| June | 97° | 59° | 0.4" | 0 | 3 | 73° – 82° |
| July | 95° | 66° | 2.2" | 0 | 8 | 78° – 83° |
| August | 93° | 64° | 2.3" | 0 | 8 | 75° – 83° |
| September | 89° | 58° | 1.0" | 0 | 4 | 69° – 76° |
| October | 80° | 45° | 0.7" | 0 | 3 | 60° – 67° |
| November | 68° | 34° | 0.6" | 0.2" | 2 | 44° – 59° |
| December | 58° | 27° | 1.0" | 0.9" | 4 | 39° – 46° |
| Year | 78° | 45° | 10.5" | 3.6" | 45 |
“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 Cotton
Cotton gets 11 inches of rain and melted snow a year. August is the wettest month and May the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 45 days a year.
About 218 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 2 and the first one by November 7. That leaves about 218 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 81% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Cotton
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Cotton, 61% of that work is heating and 39% 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 Cotton 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 Cotton averaged 1.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in November (+2.4°). The shift is larger than in 81% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Cotton’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. November swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 44° to 59°. July is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Cotton’s climate
What is the coldest month in Cotton?
December, with a typical high of 58° and a low of 27°.
What is the hottest month in Cotton?
June, with a typical high of 97° and a low of 59°. About 97 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Cotton get?
About 4 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Cotton?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 7, and the last spring frost by April 2.
What is the rainiest month in Cotton?
August, with 2.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 11 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Cotton itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Animas 3ese, NM (14 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.