Ruidoso has chilly winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain
A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 22°, and about 26 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Ruidoso at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Ruidoso’s climate
Read from where Ruidoso sits among New Mexico’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
26 inches of snow, 20 of rain and melt
July is the wettest month and April the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 86 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
What a year in Ruidoso feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 147 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 11 and the first by October 5.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
Living with Ruidoso’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
147 frost-free days. The last frost comes by May 11 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 5.
About 26" a winter over 8 days with an inch or more, most in January.
Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 97% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 6 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 82°.
The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September. 21 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.
Natural hazards →Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Ruidoso averaged 1.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.7°).
A bigger shift than in 86% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
How Ruidoso compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in New Mexico.
Ruidoso 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 | 48° | 22° | 1.0" | 7.9" | 5 | 30° – 40° |
| February | 52° | 24° | 0.9" | 5.5" | 5 | 33° – 43° |
| March | 58° | 29° | 0.8" | 2.2" | 5 | 40° – 48° |
| April | 65° | 35° | 0.7" | 0.6" | 4 | 45° – 55° |
| May | 74° | 42° | 1.0" | 0 | 5 | 54° – 63° |
| June | 83° | 50° | 1.6" | 0 | 9 | 63° – 69° |
| July | 82° | 54° | 3.7" | 0 | 15 | 63° – 71° |
| August | 80° | 53° | 3.6" | 0 | 15 | 63° – 70° |
| September | 75° | 47° | 2.3" | 0 | 9 | 58° – 65° |
| October | 66° | 37° | 1.7" | 1.0" | 7 | 49° – 56° |
| November | 56° | 27° | 0.8" | 1.8" | 4 | 35° – 48° |
| December | 48° | 22° | 1.4" | 7.2" | 5 | 30° – 41° |
| Year | 66° | 37° | 19.5" | 26.2" | 86 |
Heating and cooling a home in Ruidoso
97% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. November swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 35° to 48°. June is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Ruidoso’s climate
What is the coldest month in Ruidoso?
December, with a typical high of 48° and a low of 22°.
What is the hottest month in Ruidoso?
June, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 50°. About 6 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Ruidoso get?
About 26 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Ruidoso?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 5, and the last spring frost by May 11.
What is the rainiest month in Ruidoso?
July, with 3.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 20 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Ruidoso.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Ruidoso itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Ruidoso, NM (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.