Week of February 7-14, 1996
Spring weather in southern New Mexico
Q: What kind of weather can we expect to encounter in an early April backpack trip between 5,000 and 8,000 feet in southern New Mexico? We will be going to Gila, Badlands, etc. Thanks!
Paul G. Fischer
Minneapolis, MN
fisc0040@gold.tc.umn.edu
A: Because April is that in-between season with hard-to-predict weather, your best bet is to hope for warm weather but prepare for winter. Average daily highs at 7,000 feet range anywhere from the mid-40s to the low 70s, while nighttime temperatures usually bottom out in the 20s or low 30s. As a general rule, once you leave the piñnon
and brush flatlands for the mountainous ponderosa pine forests, high-altitude snowstorms are always a possibility, even in April. So don’t be surprised to wake up to a light, or not-so-light, dusting of snow. Before you go, check with the Gila National Forest office in Silver City (505-538-2771) for weather updates.
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