Weather & Climate in Arroyo Hondo CDP (Taos County), NM
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Arroyo Hondo CDP (Taos County) has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 45°F (7°C). Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 66°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 13.4 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 61.5 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 37. The city sits at an elevation of 6,805 feet.
Temperature
22°F Jan (-5°C)66°F Jul (19°C)
Annual Average
45.1°F
16% below US avg
January Average
22°F (-5°C)
July Average
66°F (19°C)
Sunny Days
330 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
6,805 ft (2,074 m)
Area
1.7 sq mi (4.3 km²)
Population Density
120/sq mi
Coordinates
36.5346°N, 105.6666°W
Timezone
America/Denver
County
Taos County County
Nearest Airport
Taos Regional (TSM) 6 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall13.4"
65% below US avg
Snowfall61.5"
Wettest Month (Aug)3.03"
Driest Month (Jan)0.98"
Air Quality
AQI Median
37.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
74.3 / 100
Social Vulnerability
89.2 / 100
Community Resilience
36.1 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Relatively Low
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Relatively High
Lightning
Relatively High
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
Relatively Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Relatively Moderate
Volcano
No Rating
Avalanche
Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
358 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M5.3.
Aug 23, 2011
6 km S of Valdez, Colorado
M5.3
104 km
4 km
Aug 10, 2005
20 km S of Weston, Colorado
M5.0
87 km
5 km
Aug 22, 2011
9 km SSW of Starkville, Colorado
M4.7
114 km
5 km
Sep 5, 2001
0 km SE of Cokedale, Colorado
M4.5
115 km
5 km
Jan 3, 2007
8 km SSW of Weston, Colorado
M4.4
91 km
5 km
Mar 22, 2004
30 km S of Weston, Colorado
M4.4
81 km
5 km
Aug 1, 2004
31 km S of Stonewall Gap, Colorado
M4.3
63 km
5 km
Mar 10, 2023
6 km NNE of Segundo, Colorado
M4.3
109 km
6 km
Jul 12, 2021
5 km E of Capulin, New Mexico
M4.2
103 km
13 km
Jul 29, 2009
32 km NNE of Cimarron, New Mexico
M4.1
80 km
5 km
Jun 19, 2023
Colorado
M4.1
137 km
6 km
Aug 10, 2005
20 km SSW of Segundo, Colorado
M4.1
88 km
5 km
Aug 23, 2011
7 km S of Valdez, Colorado
M4.0
104 km
5 km
Sep 4, 2001
2 km W of Cokedale, Colorado
M4.0
113 km
5 km
Sep 13, 2011
20 km S of Sequndo, Colorado
M4.0
94 km
5 km
Aug 26, 2023
19 km SSW of Weston, Colorado
M4.0
82 km
4 km
Feb 6, 2016
Colorado
M4.0
88 km
2 km
Sep 16, 2011
26 km S of Sequndo, Colorado
M3.9
91 km
5 km
Aug 23, 2016
18 km SSW of Weston, CO
M3.9
82 km
4 km
Mar 10, 2023
5 km N of Sequndo, Colorado
M3.9
109 km
4 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
36 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 1 fatality, 48 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
May 29, 1964
EF3
97 km
3.0 mi
1
Jul 25, 1996
EF2
67 km
2.0 mi
0
Jun 17, 1953
EF2
74 km
1.0 mi
0
Aug 17, 1992
EF1
93 km
0.5 mi
0
May 5, 1980
EF1
74 km
2.0 mi
0
Jun 1, 1977
EF1
95 km
2.0 mi
0
Jul 21, 1973
EF1
74 km
0.1 mi
0
Dec 26, 1966
EF1
80 km
0.3 mi
0
Oct 1, 2023
EF0
90 km
1.3 mi
0
Jun 2, 2021
EF0
76 km
1.8 mi
0
May 31, 2021
EF0
83 km
3.5 mi
0
May 28, 2021
EF0
98 km
0.5 mi
0
May 28, 2021
EF0
97 km
0.6 mi
0
Sep 1, 2018
EF0
42 km
0.3 mi
0
Aug 9, 2018
EF0
34 km
2.3 mi
0
Jun 8, 2014
EF0
97 km
1.4 mi
0
Jul 13, 2009
EF0
29 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 3, 2007
EF0
67 km
0.3 mi
0
Jul 9, 2006
EF0
98 km
0.5 mi
0
Jun 26, 2006
EF0
93 km
5.0 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: HERMITS PEAK (352,046 acres, 2022).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2022
HERMITS PEAK
352,046
79 km
2002
PONIL COMPLEX
89,084
58 km
2022
COOKS PEAK
61,195
68 km
2000
CERRO GRANDE
44,279
91 km
2018
UTE PARK
30,177
57 km
2006
CASA
27,452
70 km
2002
SPRING
24,044
81 km
2000
VIVEASH
22,468
93 km
2006
OJO FELIZ
17,767
68 km
2006
RIVERA MESA
16,412
72 km
1993
OJO
14,887
74 km
2002
CERRO PELON
13,015
74 km
2002
BORREGO
12,877
62 km
2010
SOUTH FORK
12,585
85 km
2020
LUNA
10,849
44 km
2011
PACHECO
9,790
78 km
2013
JAROSO
9,529
71 km
2006
LEVI
9,491
98 km
2018
EMILY
8,342
93 km
1996
HONDO
8,258
14 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
22°F (-5°C)
1.0 in
Coldest, Driest
February
25°F (-4°C)
1.1 in
March
31°F (-0°C)
1.7 in
April
38°F (3°C)
1.3 in
May
47°F (8°C)
1.5 in
June
56°F (13°C)
1.5 in
July
66°F (19°C)
2.6 in
Warmest
August
60°F (15°C)
3.0 in
Wettest
September
54°F (12°C)
1.8 in
October
45°F (7°C)
1.5 in
November
33°F (0°C)
1.3 in
December
25°F (-4°C)
1.1 in
Arroyo Hondo CDP (Taos County) has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 22°F in January to 66°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 19.4 inches, with August being the wettest month (3.0") and January the driest (1.0").