South Valley, New Mexico Weather
Heat hardens the dust. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
South Valley weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 3Overcast16%—88°62°—
- ThursdayJun 4Overcast——91°56°+3°
- FridayJun 5Overcast13%—96°62°+5°
- SaturdayJun 6Overcast13%—91°65°-5°
- SundayJun 7Overcast——94°64°+3°
- MondayJun 8Overcast——93°71°-1°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast14%—98°71°+5°
Ozone at AQI 47 now. AQI up 16 in the last 6 hours — air quality is degrading. With UV 0.0 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 11 by mid-afternoon.
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 47 now. With UV 0.0 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 11 by mid-afternoon.
- Present
- AQI 47
- UV peak
- 0.0 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- clear
- Projected peak
- AQI 11
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 5:22 AM
- Moonset
- 3:25 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Heat hardens the dust
South Valley at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 6°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: March 17 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
SPC Convective Outlook
Storm Prediction Center — South Valley
SPC has placed South Valley in the General Thunderstorms category for severe thunderstorms today.
- TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
- TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
- DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.
Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | — |
| May | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
South Valley's warmest month is July (~79°F mean) and its coldest is December (~37°F). Rainfall peaks in September (1.6 inches) and bottoms out in June (0.3 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37° | 0.6″ | 1 |
| February | 42° | 0.4″ | 1 |
| March | 49° | 0.7″ | 2 |
| April | 57° | 0.5″ | 2 |
| May | 66° | 0.4″ | 1 |
| June | 76° | 0.3″ | 1 |
| July | 79° | 1.5″ | 3 |
| August | 77° | 1.6″ | 4 |
| September | 70° | 1.6″ | 3 |
| October | 58° | 0.9″ | 2 |
| November | 45° | 0.6″ | 2 |
| December | 37° | 0.6″ | 2 |
Regional context
South Valley sits within a hot desert climate region — a cohort that shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions across nearby cities.
Similar climates: Albuquerque, NM, Las Cruces, NM, Rio Rancho, NM, Farmington, NM, Gallup, NM.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in South Valley?
- South Valley's last spring frost typically falls around mid-March, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in South Valley?
- September is the wettest month with about 1.6 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 10 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in South Valley?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 79°F.
- What is the coldest month in South Valley?
- December is typically coldest, averaging about 37°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in South Valley?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be sown around the last spring frost (mid-March); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does South Valley get?
- South Valley averages about 23 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is South Valley?
- South Valley's USDA hardiness zone is determined by its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
South Valley, New Mexico sits in a hot desert climate zone. January means hover near 37°F while July averages 79°F — a 42°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, South Valley receives about 10 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 23 rainy days.
The rhythm of the year is set by latitude (35.0°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation — all of which shape what grows here, when frost is likely, and what the weather story looks like day to day.