NEW MEXICO – Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces and Farmington are approaching winter 2026-27 with a reminder that New Mexico historically averages approximately 18.02 inches of annual snowfall across weather stations statewide. Although El Niño can shift winter storm patterns, it does not eliminate snowstorms, dangerous cold or travel disruptions, particularly in higher elevations where winter weather can continue through March.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), its October 15, 2026, outlook for December through February places New Mexico largely within an equal-chances temperature category, meaning no temperature outcome is favored. Above-normal precipitation is favored across much of the state, generally with probabilities of 33% to 50%, depending on location. These probabilities concern total precipitation, not specific snowfall amounts.
What New Mexico’s Snowfall History Actually Shows New Mexico’s 18.02-inch historical average represents a statewide weather-station calculation rather than snowfall expected in Albuquerque or Santa Fe…