La Plata, NM climate
La Plata has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 91°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 11 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in La Plata feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
La Plata 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 | 42° | 17° | 0.9" | 4.5" | 6 | 3 | 23° – 36° |
| February | 48° | 22° | 0.8" | 2.3" | 5 | 2 | 31° – 41° |
| March | 58° | 28° | 0.8" | 0.5" | 4 | 0 | 39° – 49° |
| April | 66° | 34° | 0.7" | 0.2" | 4 | 0 | 46° – 54° |
| May | 76° | 42° | 0.7" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 54° – 63° |
| June | 88° | 51° | 0.3" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 65° – 75° |
| July | 91° | 59° | 0.9" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 71° – 78° |
| August | 89° | 57° | 1.3" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 70° – 77° |
| September | 81° | 49° | 1.4" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 59° – 68° |
| October | 68° | 36° | 1.0" | 0.3" | 5 | 0 | 48° – 57° |
| November | 54° | 26° | 0.8" | 0.9" | 4 | 1 | 33° – 47° |
| December | 42° | 18° | 0.8" | 2.2" | 5 | 3 | 24° – 36° |
| Year | 67° | 37° | 10.1" | 10.9" | 57 | 9 |
“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 La Plata
La Plata gets 10 inches of rain and melted snow a year. September is the wettest month and June the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 57 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 9 days of the year.
About 147 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 12 and the first one by October 6. That leaves about 147 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 83% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in La Plata
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In La Plata, 85% of that work is heating and 15% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
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.
La Plata and its neighbors
La Plata borders 1 town with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.8°. Farmington has both the coldest January nights (18°) and the hottest July afternoons (92°). La Plata’s January low is 17° and its July high 91°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How La Plata 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 La Plata averaged 1.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.7°). The shift is larger than in 83% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at La Plata’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 33° to 47°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about La Plata’s climate
What is the coldest month in La Plata?
January, with a typical high of 42° and a low of 17°.
What is the hottest month in La Plata?
July, with a typical high of 91° and a low of 59°. About 61 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does La Plata get?
About 11 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in La Plata?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 6, and the last spring frost by May 12.
What is the rainiest month in La Plata?
September, with 1.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 10 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for La Plata itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Aztec Ruins Nm, NM (12 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.