Bitter Lakes WL Refuge, NM Climate

Climate Insight: Bitter Lakes WL Refuge, NM

The NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals describe Bitter Lakes WL Refuge, New Mexico as a location with an annual average temperature of 59°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 77°F to a mean daily low of 42°F. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while December is the coldest. These thirty-year averages, computed from station USC00290992, smooth out year-to-year variability and give a baseline expectation for typical conditions in any given month.

Precipitation patterns matter as much as temperature for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. Bitter Lakes WL Refuge receives roughly 13.3 inches of precipitation each year, with 3.6 inches typically falling as snow. Growing-season length varies with elevation and microclimate, with the last spring freeze near April 20 and the first fall freeze near October 20. For energy use, 3,659 heating degree days and 1,659 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.

On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Bitter Lakes WL Refuge scores 72/100 (Good), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. Use the monthly tables above to plan around specific windows — shoulder seasons for mild highs and lows, peak summer for July-driven heat, or deep winter for December-driven cold. All figures here are thirty-year averages: any single year may run warmer, wetter, drier, or cooler than the normal, so treat them as planning guidance rather than forecasts.