Sign In Register

Weather & Climate in Highland Meadows, NM

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

Highland Meadows experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 74°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). The area receives 15.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 37. The city sits at an elevation of 5,497 feet.

Temperature

34°F Jan (1°C) 74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average52.7°F
2% below US avg
January Average34°F (1°C)
July Average74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days330 days/yr

Geography

Elevation5,497 ft (1,675 m)
Area7.0 sq mi (18.0 km²)
Population Density48/sq mi
Coordinates34.9386°N, 107.1665°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyCibola County County
Nearest AirportAlbuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)
32 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 10.0"
74% below US avg
Snowfall 15.0"
Wettest Month (Aug) 1.89"
Driest Month (Apr) 0.39"

Air Quality

AQI Median37.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score58.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability94.8 / 100
Community Resilience3.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Hurricane No Rating
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Relatively Low
Volcano Very Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

85 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 59 km 12 km
Nov 8, 1990 4 km WSW of Abeytas, New Mexico M4.4 61 km 6 km
Jul 12, 2021 5 km E of Capulin, New Mexico M4.2 148 km 13 km
Jan 31, 1990 5 km WSW of Abeytas, New Mexico M4.0 62 km 10 km
Feb 27, 1990 25 km E of San Antonio, New Mexico M3.9 122 km 5 km
May 18, 2023 8 km ENE of San Mateo, New Mexico M3.8 60 km 5 km
Jul 12, 2021 3 km E of Capulin, New Mexico M3.7 148 km 10 km
Jul 22, 1990 5 km SE of McIntosh, New Mexico M3.7 106 km 10 km
Nov 15, 1990 4 km WSW of Abeytas, New Mexico M3.6 61 km 7 km
Jan 4, 1998 5 km NE of Mountainair, New Mexico M3.6 99 km 5 km
May 5, 1990 6 km WSW of Abeytas, New Mexico M3.6 61 km 7 km
Feb 21, 1990 31 km ENE of San Antonio, New Mexico M3.6 118 km 5 km
Oct 20, 2016 3 km NNW of Seboyeta, New Mexico M3.5 39 km 5 km
Dec 31, 1997 8 km ENE of Mountainair, New Mexico M3.5 102 km 5 km
Dec 31, 1997 8 km E of Mountainair, New Mexico M3.5 103 km 5 km
May 1, 2025 14 km NW of Alamillo, New Mexico M3.5 67 km 13 km
Oct 17, 2011 3 km SE of Cuyamungue, New Mexico M3.5 148 km 5 km
Sep 10, 2024 7 km WNW of Paradise Hills, New Mexico M3.5 47 km 6 km
Sep 29, 2012 4 km WNW of Belen, New Mexico M3.5 43 km 5 km
May 24, 2004 8 km W of Abeytas, New Mexico M3.5 58 km 5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

44 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 1 fatality, 9 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
May 27, 1975 EF2 45 km 0.1 mi 0
Oct 10, 1974 EF2 22 km 2.0 mi 1
May 13, 2012 EF1 95 km 1.2 mi 0
Sep 13, 1988 EF1 66 km 0.2 mi 0
Jul 5, 1966 EF1 48 km 0.2 mi 0
May 31, 1965 EF1 60 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 20, 1956 EF1 92 km 0.5 mi 0
Aug 2, 1950 EF1 91 km 7.9 mi 0
Jul 23, 2021 EF0 67 km 0.0 mi 0
May 31, 2021 EF0 87 km 0.9 mi 0
May 17, 2021 EF0 46 km 0.0 mi 0
May 17, 2021 EF0 92 km 0.7 mi 0
Aug 15, 2020 EF0 49 km 0.0 mi 0
Jul 15, 2020 EF0 63 km 0.4 mi 0
May 30, 2019 EF0 99 km 0.4 mi 0
Jun 3, 2018 EF0 42 km 2.4 mi 0
Sep 30, 2017 EF0 3 km 2.5 mi 0
Jul 6, 2017 EF0 89 km 0.0 mi 0
Jul 17, 2016 EF0 84 km 0.0 mi 0
Jul 7, 2015 EF0 91 km 0.3 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Nearby Volcanoes

3 volcanoes within 200 km. Closest: Zuni-Bandera (78 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Zuni-Bandera Volcanic field 2,550 m (8,366 ft) -1170 78 km
Red Hill Volcanic field 2,300 m (7,546 ft) -9450 170 km
Carrizozo Pyroclastic cone(s) 1,731 m (5,679 ft) -3250 172 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: DOG HEAD (19,816 acres, 2016).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2016 DOG HEAD 19,816 80 km
2002 CHERRY 15,105 84 km
2008 TRIGO 13,855 77 km
2018 DIENER CANYON 9,824 89 km
2004 SEDGWICK 9,241 89 km
2009 BLACK BUTTE 8,124 75 km
2019 TRIPLE NICKLE 7,819 55 km
2007 OJO PEAK 6,118 79 km
2008 UNNAMED 5,083 79 km
2008 BIG SPRING 5,050 77 km
2017 NMSER FY17 RX #1 4,817 78 km
2008 LADRONE RX 4,406 56 km
2002 MIDDLE TANK 4,279 79 km
2019 NMSER-FY18-RX-NORTH DIAMOND 4,261 79 km
2018 VENADO 4,007 99 km
2018 BLUE WATER 3,663 91 km
1989 COLLAPSE 3,438 82 km
2019 REDONDO RX 3,382 98 km
1999 LA JARA 3,249 59 km
1989 MALPAIS 2,300 84 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 34°F (1°C) 0.5 in Coldest
February 40°F (4°C) 0.4 in
March 46°F (8°C) 0.5 in
April 53°F (12°C) 0.4 in Driest
May 62°F (17°C) 0.6 in
June 72°F (22°C) 0.5 in
July 74°F (23°C) 1.5 in
August 74°F (23°C) 1.9 in Warmest, Wettest
September 67°F (20°C) 1.3 in
October 56°F (13°C) 1.0 in
November 43°F (6°C) 0.5 in
December 35°F (1°C) 0.5 in

Highland Meadows has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 34°F in January to 74°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 9.5 inches, with August being the wettest month (1.9") and April the driest (0.4").

View full profile of Highland Meadows, NM →