Early winter · Weather & things to do
Albuquerque in December
This is the coldest month in Albuquerque: highs average 48°F (9°C) and lows 26°F (-3°C), with about 0.7 in (17 mm) of rain or snow.
Our comfort score puts it mid-table at 68/100, 10th of 12.
- Avg high
- 48°F (9°C)
- Avg low
- 26°F (-3°C)
- Rain or snow
- 0.7 in (17 mm)
- Humidity
- 55%
- Cloud cover
- 46%
- Daylight
- ~9 h 39 min
- Comfort score
- 68/100 · Good
What December feels like
Afternoons only reach about 48°F (9°C), so plan on a warm jacket.
Nights drop below freezing, with an average low of 26°F (-3°C), so expect frost and ice.
Precipitation is light, about 0.7 in (17 mm) of rain or snow, and since nights fall well below freezing, what does fall may well be snow.
Plan around December
December sits mid-table; the best months are March – May and September – November.
- Freezing nights return: average lows drop to 26°F.
- Snow becomes likely from December, so check road and trail conditions.
- Shortest days of the year, about 9 h 39 min of daylight.
- Comfort slips from 90/100 in November to 68/100.
- Our Santa Fe & Albuquerque route is planned for Mid-Dec – early Jan, a window set by the holiday season rather than the weather — December is part of it.
What to pack for December
- Insulated jackethighs only 48°F
- Hat, gloves and thermal base layerslows around 26°F
- Shoes with gripfrost and ice are possible
- Comfortable walking shoesmost places below are best reached on foot or with short walks
What to do in Albuquerque in December
With conditions on your side, the picks below favor time outside.
Albuquerque Museum
City museum at the edge of Old Town with Southwestern art and a history gallery covering four centuries.
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Museum run by New Mexico's 19 Pueblos, with weekend dances and a café serving Pueblo dishes.
Frontier Restaurant
Busy diner across from the university since 1971, known for breakfast burritos and sweet rolls.
Church Street Cafe
New Mexican cooking in one of Old Town's oldest adobe houses, with a courtyard and a big fireplace.
Sandia Peak Tramway
Aerial tram climbing about 4 km to the 3,163 m crest of the Sandias, often snowy in winter, with views over the city.
Why now December scores 68/100 for comfort, good conditions for being outside.
Nearby in December
- Santa Fe in December~58 mi · highs 40°F, 0.9 in rain or snow · 4°C (8°F) cooler by day, about as wet
- Abiquiú in December~80 mi · highs 43°F, 1.2 in rain or snow · 3°C (5°F) cooler by day, about as wet
- Taos in December~110 mi · highs 40°F, 1.3 in rain or snow · 5°C (8°F) cooler by day, wetter
- Aspen in December~284 mi · highs 30°F, 2.0 in rain or snow · 10°C (18°F) cooler by day, wetter
These averages also cover Nob Hill and Old Town Albuquerque.
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid, temperatures adjusted from the grid cell's ~1,687 m to Albuquerque's ~1,510 m elevation (standard lapse rate). Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Albuquerque in December: quick answers
Is December a good time to visit Albuquerque?
It's middling, scoring 68/100. The best months are March – May and September – November, at up to 99. Expect highs of 48°F (9°C) and 0.7 in (17 mm) of rain or snow.
How cold is Albuquerque in December?
Average highs are 48°F (9°C) and average lows 26°F (-3°C), making it the coldest month by daytime highs, with nights below freezing on average.
Does it snow a lot in Albuquerque in December?
Not much: about 0.7 in (17 mm) of rain or snow falls across December on average, the 5th-wettest month of the year. With temperatures this low, much of it may fall as snow. The annual total is about 10.2 in (258 mm).
What should I pack for Albuquerque in December?
Bring insulated jacket (highs only 48°F), hat, gloves and thermal base layers (lows around 26°F), shoes with grip (frost and ice are possible) and comfortable walking shoes (most places below are best reached on foot or with short walks).
More on Albuquerque
Routes in season in December
- Santa Fe & Albuquerque Mid-Dec – early Jan
Planning Albuquerque in December?
Plan it together in TripsCircle: one itinerary, one shared packing list and costs split as you go.