Lake Valley, NM climate
Lake Valley has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 91°, a January night drops to 18°, and about 11 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Lake Valley feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Lake Valley 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 | 43° | 18° | 0.5" | 2.7" | 4 | 24° – 37° |
| February | 49° | 22° | 0.5" | 2.7" | 5 | 31° – 41° |
| March | 59° | 28° | 0.5" | 1.3" | 4 | 39° – 47° |
| April | 66° | 34° | 0.5" | 0.7" | 4 | 45° – 54° |
| May | 76° | 43° | 0.5" | 0.1" | 4 | 55° – 64° |
| June | 88° | 52° | 0.3" | 0 | 3 | 65° – 76° |
| July | 91° | 59° | 1.2" | 0 | 8 | 71° – 78° |
| August | 88° | 58° | 1.4" | 0 | 9 | 70° – 79° |
| September | 81° | 49° | 1.0" | 0 | 6 | 60° – 68° |
| October | 69° | 37° | 0.8" | 0.3" | 5 | 47° – 57° |
| November | 54° | 25° | 0.6" | 1.6" | 4 | 33° – 46° |
| December | 43° | 18° | 0.7" | 1.8" | 5 | 24° – 37° |
| Year | 67° | 37° | 8.4" | 11.2" | 60 |
“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 Lake Valley
Lake Valley gets 8 inches of rain and melted snow a year. August is the wettest month and June the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 60 days a year.
About 120 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 28 and the first one by September 27. That leaves about 120 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 97% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Lake Valley
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Lake Valley, 92% of that work is heating and 8% 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.
How Lake Valley 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 Lake Valley averaged 1.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.5°). The shift is larger than in 67% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Lake Valley’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. December swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 24° to 37°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Lake Valley’s climate
What is the coldest month in Lake Valley?
January, with a typical high of 43° and a low of 18°.
What is the hottest month in Lake Valley?
July, with a typical high of 91° and a low of 59°. About 43 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Lake Valley get?
About 11 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Lake Valley?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 27, and the last spring frost by May 28.
What is the rainiest month in Lake Valley?
August, with 1.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 8 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Lake Valley itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Chaco Canyon Natl Mon, NM (15 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.