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Weather & Climate in La Madera CDP (Rio Arriba County), NM
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
La Madera CDP (Rio Arriba County) experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 49°F (9°C). Winters average 30°F in January while summers reach 69°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 11.7 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 23.9 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 37. The city sits at an elevation of 6,462 feet.
Temperature
30°F Jan (-1°C)
69°F Jul (21°C)
| Annual Average | 48.9°F |
| 9% below US avg | |
| January Average | 30°F (-1°C) |
| July Average | 69°F (21°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 6,462 ft (1,970 m) |
| Area | 4.4 sq mi (11.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 38/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 36.3767°N, 106.0432°W |
| Timezone | America/Denver |
| County | Rio Arriba County County |
| Nearest Airport | Taos Regional (TSM) 21 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 37.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 80.5 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 91.7 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 9.4 / 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 Low |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate |
| Volcano | No Rating |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
313 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 | 142 km | 4 km |
| Aug 10, 2005 | 20 km S of Weston, Colorado | M5.0 | 125 km | 5 km |
| Mar 22, 2004 | 30 km S of Weston, Colorado | M4.4 | 119 km | 5 km |
| Jan 3, 2007 | 8 km SSW of Weston, Colorado | M4.4 | 128 km | 5 km |
| Mar 10, 2023 | 6 km NNE of Segundo, Colorado | M4.3 | 147 km | 6 km |
| Aug 1, 2004 | 31 km S of Stonewall Gap, Colorado | M4.3 | 100 km | 5 km |
| Jul 12, 2021 | 5 km E of Capulin, New Mexico | M4.2 | 65 km | 13 km |
| Aug 10, 2005 | 20 km SSW of Segundo, Colorado | M4.1 | 126 km | 5 km |
| Jul 29, 2009 | 32 km NNE of Cimarron, New Mexico | M4.1 | 118 km | 5 km |
| Aug 23, 2011 | 7 km S of Valdez, Colorado | M4.0 | 142 km | 5 km |
| Aug 26, 2023 | 19 km SSW of Weston, Colorado | M4.0 | 119 km | 4 km |
| Feb 6, 2016 | Colorado | M4.0 | 125 km | 2 km |
| Sep 13, 2011 | 20 km S of Sequndo, Colorado | M4.0 | 132 km | 5 km |
| Mar 10, 2023 | 5 km N of Sequndo, Colorado | M3.9 | 147 km | 4 km |
| Aug 20, 2015 | 7 km WSW of Weston, Colorado | M3.9 | 128 km | 1 km |
| Aug 23, 2016 | 18 km SSW of Weston, CO | M3.9 | 119 km | 4 km |
| Sep 16, 2011 | 26 km S of Sequndo, Colorado | M3.9 | 129 km | 5 km |
| Sep 13, 2003 | 33 km S of Weston, Colorado | M3.8 | 113 km | 5 km |
| May 19, 2019 | 15 km SSE of Stonewall Gap, Colorado | M3.8 | 118 km | 5 km |
| Jan 18, 2010 | 30 km S of Segundo, Colorado | M3.8 | 122 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
32 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 17, 1953 | EF2 | 81 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 29, 2014 | EF1 | 90 km | 2.3 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 1980 | EF1 | 97 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 21, 1973 | EF1 | 89 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 15, 1971 | EF1 | 81 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Dec 26, 1966 | EF1 | 57 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Oct 1, 2023 | EF0 | 95 km | 1.3 mi | 0 |
| Jun 2, 2021 | EF0 | 88 km | 1.8 mi | 0 |
| May 31, 2021 | EF0 | 95 km | 3.5 mi | 0 |
| May 17, 2021 | EF0 | 99 km | 1.7 mi | 0 |
| Sep 1, 2018 | EF0 | 69 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Aug 9, 2018 | EF0 | 70 km | 2.3 mi | 0 |
| May 21, 2018 | EF0 | 80 km | 3.8 mi | 0 |
| May 9, 2017 | EF0 | 82 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Oct 12, 2012 | EF0 | 90 km | 5.8 mi | 0 |
| Jul 24, 2012 | EF0 | 84 km | 0.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 13, 2009 | EF0 | 28 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 17, 2008 | EF0 | 91 km | 0.6 mi | 0 |
| Jun 3, 2007 | EF0 | 88 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Apr 17, 2005 | EF0 | 86 km | 0.5 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 | 81 km |
| 2011 | LAS CONCHAS | 150,874 | 66 km |
| 2002 | PONIL COMPLEX | 89,084 | 95 km |
| 2022 | COOKS PEAK | 61,195 | 97 km |
| 2022 | CERRO PELADO | 45,620 | 80 km |
| 2000 | CERRO GRANDE | 44,279 | 58 km |
| 2018 | UTE PARK | 30,177 | 92 km |
| 2000 | VIVEASH | 22,468 | 85 km |
| 2013 | THOMPSON RIDGE | 21,077 | 71 km |
| 2006 | OJO FELIZ | 17,767 | 87 km |
| 1996 | DOME | 15,783 | 74 km |
| 1993 | OJO | 14,887 | 94 km |
| 2002 | CERRO PELON | 13,015 | 96 km |
| 2002 | BORREGO | 12,877 | 49 km |
| 2010 | SOUTH FORK | 12,585 | 48 km |
| 2020 | LUNA | 10,849 | 63 km |
| 2011 | PACHECO | 9,790 | 63 km |
| 2013 | JAROSO | 9,529 | 62 km |
| 1996 | HONDO | 8,258 | 50 km |
| 2017 | BONITA | 7,754 | 25 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°F (-1°C) | 0.7 in | |
| February | 30°F (-1°C) | 0.7 in | Driest |
| March | 36°F (2°C) | 0.8 in | |
| April | 43°F (6°C) | 0.7 in | |
| May | 52°F (11°C) | 0.9 in | |
| June | 61°F (16°C) | 1.1 in | |
| July | 69°F (21°C) | 2.1 in | Warmest |
| August | 65°F (19°C) | 2.5 in | Wettest |
| September | 60°F (16°C) | 1.6 in | |
| October | 50°F (10°C) | 1.2 in | |
| November | 38°F (3°C) | 0.8 in | |
| December | 29°F (-2°C) | 0.8 in | Coldest |
La Madera CDP (Rio Arriba County) has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 29°F in December to 69°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 13.9 inches, with August being the wettest month (2.5") and February the driest (0.7").