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Weather & Climate in Elephant Butte, NM

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Elephant Butte enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 43°F in January while summers reach 82°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 10.0 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 37. The city sits at an elevation of 4,514 feet.

Temperature

43°F Jan (6°C) 82°F Jul (28°C)
Annual Average62.6°F
16% above US avg
January Average43°F (6°C)
July Average82°F (28°C)
Sunny Days330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation4,514 ft (1,376 m)
Area4.3 sq mi (11.1 km²)
Population Density379/sq mi
Coordinates33.1824°N, 107.2216°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountySierra County County
Nearest AirportLas Cruces International (LRU)
64 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 10.0"
74% below US avg
Wettest Month (Aug) 2.24"
Driest Month (Apr) 0.16"

Air Quality

AQI Median37.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score55.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability95.2 / 100
Community Resilience7.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Hurricane Very Low
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Volcano Very Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

65 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.5.

Jan 29, 1990 6 km W of Abeytas, New Mexico M4.5 146 km 12 km
Nov 8, 1990 4 km WSW of Abeytas, New Mexico M4.4 145 km 6 km
Jan 31, 1990 5 km WSW of Abeytas, New Mexico M4.0 144 km 10 km
Feb 27, 1990 25 km E of San Antonio, New Mexico M3.9 104 km 5 km
Feb 8, 2015 36 km E of Pecan Park, New Mexico M3.9 105 km 4 km
Nov 15, 1990 4 km WSW of Abeytas, New Mexico M3.6 146 km 7 km
May 5, 1990 6 km WSW of Abeytas, New Mexico M3.6 144 km 7 km
Feb 21, 1990 31 km ENE of San Antonio, New Mexico M3.6 112 km 5 km
Jun 20, 1991 47 km SE of San Antonito, New Mexico M3.5 85 km 0 km
May 24, 2004 8 km W of Abeytas, New Mexico M3.5 146 km 5 km
May 1, 2025 14 km NW of Alamillo, New Mexico M3.5 132 km 13 km
May 23, 2007 4 km WNW of Socorro, New Mexico M3.4 102 km 5 km
Jul 22, 2013 25 km E of San Antonio, New Mexico M3.4 102 km 5 km
Jul 31, 1990 4 km WSW of Abeytas, New Mexico M3.3 146 km 8 km
Mar 11, 2014 8 km ENE of Luis Lopez, New Mexico M3.3 101 km 8 km
Apr 6, 2011 17 km WNW of La Joya, New Mexico M3.2 137 km 5 km
Sep 16, 2015 9 km SE of La Joya, New Mexico M3.2 130 km 6 km
Jun 10, 1993 47 km SE of San Antonito, New Mexico M3.2 85 km 0 km
Dec 22, 1993 0 km W of Ruidoso, New Mexico M3.2 144 km 10 km
May 19, 2011 40 km SSE of Datil, New Mexico M3.2 81 km 5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

13 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF1.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Jul 28, 1989 EF1 96 km 4.0 mi 0
Sep 16, 1971 EF1 49 km 0.1 mi 0
May 31, 2021 EF0 84 km 0.9 mi 0
Jul 5, 2012 EF0 100 km 0.1 mi 0
Apr 29, 2007 EF0 96 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 22, 1987 EF0 48 km 5.0 mi 0
Jun 20, 1982 EF0 6 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 24, 1970 EF0 79 km 0.1 mi 0
Sep 7, 1966 EF0 77 km 0.7 mi 0
Aug 2, 1965 EF0 92 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 11, 1960 EF0 23 km 0.1 mi 0
May 16, 1958 EF0 12 km 0.3 mi 0
May 17, 1954 EF0 90 km 0.1 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Nearby Volcanoes

3 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Carrizozo (137 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Carrizozo Pyroclastic cone(s) 1,731 m (5,679 ft) -3250 137 km
Red Hill Volcanic field 2,300 m (7,546 ft) -9450 190 km
Zuni-Bandera Volcanic field 2,550 m (8,366 ft) -1170 194 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: BLACK (328,091 acres, 2022).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2022 BLACK 328,091 58 km
2013 SILVER 137,884 61 km
2005 BLACK RANGE COMPLEX WFU 74,273 92 km
2023 PASS 66,071 95 km
2003 BOILER 56,796 75 km
2022 BEAR TRAP 38,201 74 km
2016 NORTH 34,562 78 km
2000 CHANCE 33,064 98 km
2009 DIAMOND 32,021 70 km
1994 POT 30,248 59 km
1995 BONNER 26,381 61 km
1996 UNNAMED 22,591 78 km
2017 CORRAL 20,503 82 km
2020 VICS PEAK 16,283 52 km
2009 EAST MAGDALENA RX 15,626 88 km
1995 SOUTH 14,435 97 km
2015 RED CANYON 13,506 69 km
2021 DOAGY 12,941 85 km
1993 BELL 12,936 94 km
2009 MEASON 12,781 73 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 43°F (6°C) 0.4 in
February 45°F (7°C) 0.3 in
March 51°F (10°C) 0.2 in
April 58°F (14°C) 0.2 in Driest
May 67°F (19°C) 0.4 in
June 76°F (24°C) 0.7 in
July 82°F (28°C) 1.8 in Warmest
August 77°F (25°C) 2.2 in Wettest
September 70°F (21°C) 1.7 in
October 60°F (15°C) 1.1 in
November 48°F (9°C) 0.6 in
December 40°F (4°C) 0.7 in Coldest

Elephant Butte has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 40°F in December to 82°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 10.3 inches, with August being the wettest month (2.2") and April the driest (0.2").

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