Santa Fe, NM weather in October
Expect mild, mostly dry weather in Santa Fe in October, with highs near 66°F and lows near 35°F. Rain or snow falls on about 5 days. Snowfall averages about 1.3 in. Great for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 66°F
- Normal low
- 35°F
- Wet days
- 5
- 1.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.3 in
- normal snowfall
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 72°F | 60°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 30°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 16% | 14% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:58 am / 6:48 pm | 7:24 am / 6:09 pm |
| Daylight | 11.8 h | 10.8 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Mountain Time).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F19 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow5 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below10 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per October, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in October
Normal precipitation is 1.3 in; a dry October brings about 0.5 in and a wet one about 2.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.3 in.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202016: average high 72°F
- Coolest October2018: average high 62°F
- Wettest October1998: 3.5 in
- Driest October1995: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading87°F (October 2, 2000)
- Lowest reading5°F (October 22, 1996)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
October compared with September and November
| September | October | November | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 78°F | 66°F | 53°F |
| Normal low | 47°F | 35°F | 24°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| Comfortable days | 17 | 19 | 5 |
| Daylight | 12.4 h | 11.3 h | 10.3 h |
Highs change by -12°F from September and -13°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Amarillo, TX233 mi · high 73°F · 5 wet days
- Cooler: Telluride, CO187 mi · high 57°F · 8 wet days
How Santa Fe ranks in October
- Normal high230th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 4 in New Mexico
- Wet days87th driest of 378
- Comfortable days16th most of 340
What to pack for Santa Fe in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 35°F, highs near 66°F
- Layers – afternoons near 66°F but nights near 35°F
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 6; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Sep 25. All frost dates for Santa Fe.
Heating and cooling
October has 439 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 7% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Santa Fe in October?
The normal high is 66°F and the normal low is 35°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 5°F (October 22, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Santa Fe in October?
About 5 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.3 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 1998 (3.5 in); the driest was in 1995, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Santa Fe in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 1.3 in.
Is October a good time to visit Santa Fe?
October ranks 3rd of 12 months on our comfort score for Santa Fe (73 out of 100). It has about 19 comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Santa Fe 2 (USC00298085), 5.1 mi SSW of the city center, 6,756 ft (241 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Santa Fe Municipal Airport (723656-23049), 10 mi WSW of the city center, 6,287 ft (710 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).