Dora, NM climate
Dora has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 91°, a January night drops to 25°, and about 8 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Dora feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Dora 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 | 53° | 25° | 0.6" | 1.7" | 4 | 1 | 32° – 44° |
| February | 58° | 28° | 0.5" | 1.4" | 4 | 1 | 38° – 49° |
| March | 66° | 34° | 0.9" | 0.7" | 4 | 0 | 46° – 56° |
| April | 74° | 41° | 0.7" | 0.2" | 4 | 0 | 51° – 63° |
| May | 82° | 51° | 1.7" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 63° – 73° |
| June | 91° | 61° | 2.0" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 71° – 81° |
| July | 91° | 64° | 2.7" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 73° – 82° |
| August | 90° | 63° | 2.7" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 72° – 83° |
| September | 83° | 56° | 2.1" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 64° – 74° |
| October | 73° | 44° | 1.6" | 0.3" | 5 | 0 | 54° – 62° |
| November | 62° | 32° | 0.6" | 0.5" | 4 | 0 | 41° – 53° |
| December | 53° | 26° | 0.6" | 2.8" | 4 | 1 | 34° – 43° |
| Year | 73° | 44° | 16.6" | 7.6" | 63 | 3 |
“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 Dora
Dora gets 17 inches of rain and melted snow a year. August is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 63 days a year.
About 193 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 15 and the first one by October 26. That leaves about 193 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 67% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Dora
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Dora, 67% of that work is heating and 33% 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 Dora 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 Dora averaged 2.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+3.0°). The shift is larger than in 93% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Dora’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. January swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 32° to 44°. October is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about Dora’s climate
What is the coldest month in Dora?
January, with a typical high of 53° and a low of 25°.
What is the hottest month in Dora?
July, with a typical high of 91° and a low of 64°. About 86 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Dora get?
About 8 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in Dora?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 26, and the last spring frost by April 15.
What is the rainiest month in Dora?
August, with 2.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 17 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Dora itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Portales, NM (17 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.