Santa Fe in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Santa Fe sees average daytime highs around 42°F and overnight lows near 21°F, with 2.6 in of precipitation over about 14 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 44°F in early December to 48°F by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 54% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Santa Fe's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Santa Fe's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 42°F
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 21°F
- Precipitation
- 2.6 in
- 14 wet days
- Avg wind
- 5 mph
- Travel score
- 0.5
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Santa Fe in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 44°F in early December to 48°F by late February.
A typical winter day in Santa Fe reaches about 42°F and drops to 21°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Santa Fe
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 90 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in winter is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Santa Fe weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41° / 19° | 0.9 | 4.4 | 4 | 9.9 | 0.1 |
| Feb | 45° / 24° | 0.8 | 5 | 4.2 | 10.6 | 1.2 |
| Mar | 54° / 30° | 1.0 | 5.4 | 2.8 | 11.7 | 3.7 |
| Apr | 62° / 37° | 0.9 | 4.5 | 1.4 | 12.9 | 6.1 |
| May | 71° / 46° | 0.8 | 4.8 | 0.1 | 13.9 | 7.8 |
| Jun | 81° / 55° | 0.6 | 3.7 | 0 | 14.4 | 7.6 |
| Jul | 83° / 59° | 1.4 | 8 | 0 | 14.2 | 6.3 |
| Aug | 80° / 57° | 1.3 | 8 | 0 | 13.3 | 7.1 |
| Sep | 74° / 51° | 1.0 | 4.7 | 0 | 12.2 | 8.2 |
| Oct | 64° / 40° | 1.2 | 4.6 | 0.7 | 11.1 | 6.7 |
| Nov | 51° / 29° | 0.8 | 4.1 | 2 | 10.1 | 3.0 |
| Dec | 41° / 20° | 1.0 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 9.6 | 0.2 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 54% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Santa Fe gets around 2.6 in of rain and snow over 14 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 5 mph across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 9 h 48 min in early December to 11 h 06 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 3.6 kWh/m².
Is winter a good time to visit Santa Fe?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Santa Fe.
What to pack for Santa Fe in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Santa Fe sees daytime highs around 42°F and nights near 21°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 14 days see rain.
UV index in Santa Fe in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 4 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Santa Fe peaks around June 23 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 3 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Level | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4 | Moderate |
| Feb | 5 | High |
| Mar | 7 | Very high |
| Apr | 8 | Very high |
| May | 9 | Very high |
| Jun | 12 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 11 | Extreme |
| Sep | 9 | Very high |
| Oct | 6 | High |
| Nov | 4 | Moderate |
| Dec | 3 | Moderate |
Air quality in Santa Fe in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Santa Fe is worst in May — around 41 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 6.7× the cleanest month (November, 6 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 41 | 19 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Poor | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | Good |
| Feb | 8 | Good |
| Mar | 8 | Good |
| Apr | 11 | Good |
| May | 41 | Poor |
| Jun | 19 | Moderate |
| Jul | 9 | Good |
| Aug | 9 | Good |
| Sep | 8 | Good |
| Oct | 7 | Good |
| Nov | 6 | Good |
| Dec | 6 | Good |
Where is Santa Fe?
Santa Fe sits at 35.7°N, 105.9°W, 6,995 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Enchanted Hills, 44 mi away.
Topography around Santa Fe
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Santa Fe.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Santa Fe has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 820 ft around an average of 7,103 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 5,387 ft; within 50 miles, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 7,969 ft.
The land around Santa Fe is covered by artificial surfaces (45%) and trees (43%) within 2 miles, trees (51%) and grassland (34%) within 10 miles, and trees (47%) and grassland (41%) within 50 miles.
United States travel facts
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 100% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $90,027
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 5.8
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Santa Fe (35.687°, -105.9378°, elevation 6,995 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.