Taos, NM weather in October
Expect cool, mostly dry weather with some snow in Taos in October, with highs near 65°F and lows near 30°F. Rain or snow falls on about 4 days. Snowfall averages about 3.4 in.
- Normal high
- 65°F
- Normal low
- 30°F
- Wet days
- 4
- 1.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.4 in
- normal snowfall
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 70°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 24°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 15% | 14% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:57 am / 6:46 pm | 7:24 am / 6:07 pm |
| Daylight | 11.8 h | 10.7 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°Fnot available
- 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 snow4 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below20 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 1.0 in; a dry October brings about 0.3 in and a wet one about 1.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 3.4 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202020: average high 71°F
- Coolest October2018: average high 61°F
- Wettest October2005: 2.6 in
- Driest October1995: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading81°F (October 9, 2020)
- Lowest reading-3°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 | 75°F | 65°F | 51°F |
| Normal low | 41°F | 30°F | 19°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Comfortable days | 22 | – | 3 |
| Daylight | 12.4 h | 11.3 h | 10.2 h |
Highs change by -10°F from September and -14°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Albuquerque, NM110 mi · high 71°F · 5 wet days
- Cooler: Telluride, CO162 mi · high 57°F · 8 wet days
How Taos ranks in October
- Normal high253rd warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 4 in New Mexico
- Wet days82nd driest of 378
What to pack for Taos in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 30°F, highs near 65°F
- Layers – afternoons near 65°F but nights near 30°F
- Waterproof boots – about 3.4 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 20 freezing nights
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 3; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Sep 23. All frost dates for Taos.
Heating and cooling
October has 553 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 Taos in October?
The normal high is 65°F and the normal low is 30°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was -3°F (October 22, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Taos in October?
About 4 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.0 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (2.6 in); the driest was in 1995, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Taos in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 3.4 in.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Cerro (USC00291630), 23 mi N of the city center, 7,650 ft (681 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Taos (USC00298668), 1.4 mi SSW of the city center, 6,965 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Las Vegas Municipal Arpt (723677-23054), 57 mi SSE of the city center, 6,870 ft (99 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).