Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Carlsbad Caverns (USC00291480), New Mexico, United States, with 90 years of record.
Key Facts for Carlsbad Caverns
Carlsbad Caverns (USC00291480) is a weather station in New Mexico, United States at 32.18 latitude and -104.44 longitude, 1,352 m (4,435 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1935 to 2024, 90 years of record.
1,464 records set at Carlsbad Caverns still stand.
Records are tracked for tmax, tmin, prcp, snow, snwd: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Carlsbad Caverns tied a daily record high maximum temperature of 36.7 C (98.1 F) on 24 August 2024.
About the Station
Location: New Mexico, United States, 32.18 latitude, -104.44 longitude.
Elevation: 1,352 m (4,435 ft).
Period of record: 1935 to 2024, 90 years.
Eligible elements: tmax, tmin, prcp, snow, snwd.
Daily Record Envelope and 2026
0 days at or beyond a record
Record highRecord low2026 daily maximum2026 daily minimum
The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Carlsbad Caverns. The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 0 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius.
Daily record high and record low at Carlsbad Caverns, with 2026 drawn through them
Month
Highest record high
Lowest record low
2026 highest maximum
2026 lowest minimum
Jan
27.2 C (81.0 F)
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Feb
30.0 C (86.0 F)
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Mar
32.2 C (90.0 F)
-12.2 C (10.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Apr
35.6 C (96.1 F)
-6.1 C (21.0 F)
n/a
n/a
May
41.1 C (106.0 F)
-0.6 C (30.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Jun
43.3 C (109.9 F)
5.0 C (41.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jul
41.1 C (106.0 F)
5.6 C (42.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Aug
40.6 C (105.1 F)
8.3 C (46.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Sep
37.8 C (100.0 F)
0.6 C (33.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Oct
36.1 C (97.0 F)
-9.4 C (15.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Nov
30.6 C (87.1 F)
-13.3 C (8.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Dec
27.8 C (82.0 F)
-16.7 C (1.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Which Years Hold Standing Records
1,464 standing records
Year with most
1,464 records at Carlsbad Caverns still stand. 2011 holds the most, with 51.
Standing records at Carlsbad Caverns by the year they were set
Year set
Standing records
1935
20
1936
11
1937
19
1938
16
1939
15
1940
17
1941
12
1942
14
1943
19
1944
19
1945
18
1946
18
1947
15
1948
20
1949
7
1950
29
1951
33
1952
18
1953
15
1954
11
1955
15
1956
17
1957
12
1958
13
1959
18
1960
14
1961
9
1962
24
1963
23
1964
12
1965
12
1966
12
1967
17
1968
4
1969
13
1970
13
1971
27
1972
16
1973
13
1974
26
1975
13
1976
20
1977
10
1978
11
1979
30
1980
25
1981
18
1982
19
1983
23
1984
12
1985
11
1986
12
1987
21
1988
12
1989
39
1990
20
1991
10
1992
18
1993
7
1994
23
1995
20
1996
36
1997
29
1998
18
1999
16
2000
30
2001
8
2002
12
2003
11
2004
8
2005
8
2006
14
2007
15
2008
14
2009
19
2010
8
2011
51
2012
11
2013
3
2014
9
2016
14
2017
20
2018
15
2019
15
2020
4
2021
1
2022
5
2023
27
2024
13
All-Time Record Progression
9 new records
9 all-time records were set at Carlsbad Caverns between 23 August 1966 and 3 February 2011. Each dot is a new record.
When Carlsbad Caverns set new all-time records
Date
Kind
Detail
1966-08-23
Record daily precipitation
Record daily precipitation 118.6 mm (4.7 in)
1980-09-26
Record daily precipitation
Record daily precipitation 143.0 mm (5.6 in)
1982-12-31
Record daily snowfall
Record daily snowfall 35.6 cm (14.0 in)
1986-06-24
Record daily precipitation
Record daily precipitation 213.6 mm (8.4 in)
1987-12-15
Record daily snowfall
Record daily snowfall 45.7 cm (18.0 in)
1994-06-27
Record high maximum temperature
Record high maximum temperature 42.8 C (109.0 F)
1994-06-27
Record high minimum temperature
Record high minimum temperature 31.7 C (89.1 F)
1994-06-28
Record high maximum temperature
Record high maximum temperature 43.3 C (109.9 F)
2011-02-03
Record low maximum temperature
Record low maximum temperature -15.0 C (5.0 F)
Wettest Day of Each Month
Jun: 213.6 mm (8.4 in)
The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Carlsbad Caverns. The most was 213.6 mm (8.4 in) on 24 June 1986.
Record daily precipitation for each month at Carlsbad Caverns
Month
Record daily precipitation (mm)
Date
Jan
30.5 mm (1.2 in)
21 January 1968
Feb
27.4 mm (1.1 in)
22 February 1973
Mar
49.0 mm (1.9 in)
4 March 2020
Apr
49.5 mm (1.9 in)
1 April 1963
May
90.2 mm (3.6 in)
31 May 1965
Jun
213.6 mm (8.4 in)
24 June 1986
Jul
78.2 mm (3.1 in)
19 July 1943
Aug
118.6 mm (4.7 in)
23 August 1966
Sep
143.0 mm (5.6 in)
26 September 1980
Oct
90.4 mm (3.6 in)
7 October 1954
Nov
44.7 mm (1.8 in)
10 November 2016
Dec
25.4 mm (1.0 in)
24 December 2011
Period of Record Coverage
1935 to 2024
Complete yearUnder 90 percent of days
89 years of record at Carlsbad Caverns, 1935 to 2024. 18 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1945, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and others.
Cooler than the station meanWarmer than the station mean
One stripe for each of 57 complete years at Carlsbad Caverns, 1938 to 2019. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of 17.0 C (62.7 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 1979, at 15.5 C (59.9 F), and the warmest was 2011, at 19.0 C (66.1 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 2.0 C (3.6 F).
Annual mean temperature at Carlsbad Caverns as warming stripes, 1938 to 2019
Year
Annual mean temperature
Difference from the station mean
1938
17.1 C
+0.03 C
1939
17.3 C
+0.28 C
1940
16.5 C
-0.50 C
1941
16.0 C
-1.05 C
1942
16.0 C
-1.06 C
1943
16.9 C
-0.15 C
1947
16.8 C
-0.26 C
1948
17.1 C
+0.10 C
1949
16.7 C
-0.37 C
1950
18.7 C
+1.69 C
1951
18.3 C
+1.25 C
1952
17.8 C
+0.75 C
1953
18.1 C
+1.07 C
1954
18.6 C
+1.52 C
1955
17.8 C
+0.78 C
1956
18.4 C
+1.32 C
1958
16.6 C
-0.41 C
1959
17.5 C
+0.50 C
1960
16.9 C
-0.11 C
1961
16.8 C
-0.20 C
1962
17.6 C
+0.52 C
1963
17.7 C
+0.65 C
1964
17.2 C
+0.19 C
1965
17.5 C
+0.49 C
1966
17.0 C
-0.09 C
1967
17.9 C
+0.83 C
1968
16.5 C
-0.54 C
1969
16.7 C
-0.37 C
1970
16.2 C
-0.89 C
1971
16.3 C
-0.70 C
1977
17.1 C
+0.08 C
1978
15.6 C
-1.42 C
1979
15.5 C
-1.54 C
1980
16.8 C
-0.25 C
1981
16.8 C
-0.20 C
1982
16.0 C
-1.01 C
1983
15.7 C
-1.38 C
1984
15.8 C
-1.23 C
1985
16.1 C
-0.91 C
1986
16.4 C
-0.64 C
1987
15.8 C
-1.29 C
1988
16.3 C
-0.70 C
1989
16.9 C
-0.15 C
1990
17.0 C
-0.09 C
1991
16.1 C
-0.94 C
1992
16.4 C
-0.65 C
1994
18.1 C
+1.05 C
1995
17.3 C
+0.25 C
1996
17.4 C
+0.33 C
1997
16.1 C
-0.99 C
1998
17.7 C
+0.70 C
1999
18.2 C
+1.13 C
2000
18.1 C
+1.10 C
2010
17.4 C
+0.36 C
2011
19.0 C
+1.91 C
2017
18.0 C
+0.96 C
2019
17.3 C
+0.30 C
The fitted trend in annual mean temperature here over 1938 to 2019 is 0.00 C (-0.11 to 0.11) per decade. The interval includes zero, so the trend is not clearly different from zero. In Fahrenheit: 0.00 F (-0.19 to 0.20) per decade. The slope is a straight line fitted to 57 complete years; the brackets give its 95 percent interval.
Fitted temperature trends per decade at Carlsbad Caverns
Measure
Per decade (C)
Per decade (F)
Period
Complete years
Reading
Annual mean temperature
0.00 C (-0.11 to 0.11) per decade
0.00 F (-0.19 to 0.20) per decade
1938 to 2019
57
Not clearly different from zero
Mean daily maximum
0.0 C (-0.1 to 0.1) per decade
0.0 F (-0.2 to 0.2) per decade
1938 to 2019
57
Not clearly different from zero
Mean daily minimum
0.00 C (-0.10 to 0.10) per decade
0.01 F (-0.18 to 0.19) per decade
1938 to 2019
57
Not clearly different from zero
A year is complete when all 12 months have at least 20 days of both daily maximum and daily minimum readings. The annual mean is the mean of the monthly means. The trend describes this one station over this period; it does not say what caused the change.
Extremes by Year
1935 to 2024
Yearly extremes at Carlsbad Caverns: the record and the median year
Measure
Record
Year of the record
Median year
Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)
43.3 C (109.9 F)
1994
38.9 C (102.0 F)
89
Coldest night (TNn)
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1962
-11.1 C (12.0 F)
89
Wettest day (Rx1day)
213.6 mm (8.4 in)
1986
47.2 mm (1.9 in)
89
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
345.1 mm (13.6 in)
1986
67.0 mm (2.6 in)
89
Longest dry spell (CDD)
161 days
2011
51 days
89
Hottest day (TXx)
The hottest day of the year at Carlsbad Caverns, 1935 to 2024. The record is 43.3 C (109.9 F) in 1994, marked on the chart; the median year is 38.9 C (102.0 F).
Hottest day (TXx) at Carlsbad Caverns by year
Year
Hottest day (TXx)
1935
42.2 C (108.0 F)
1936
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1937
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1938
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1939
40.6 C (105.1 F)
1940
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1941
35.0 C (95.0 F)
1942
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1943
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1944
40.0 C (104.0 F)
1945
40.0 C (104.0 F)
1946
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1947
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1948
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1949
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1950
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1951
41.1 C (106.0 F)
1952
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1953
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1954
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1955
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1956
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1957
41.1 C (106.0 F)
1958
41.1 C (106.0 F)
1959
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1960
40.0 C (104.0 F)
1961
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1962
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1963
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1964
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1965
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1966
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1967
36.1 C (97.0 F)
1968
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1969
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1970
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1971
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1972
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1973
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1974
37.2 C (99.0 F)
1975
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1976
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1977
40.0 C (104.0 F)
1978
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1979
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1980
40.6 C (105.1 F)
1981
40.0 C (104.0 F)
1982
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1983
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1984
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1985
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1986
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1987
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1988
36.7 C (98.1 F)
1989
40.6 C (105.1 F)
1990
41.1 C (106.0 F)
1991
37.8 C (100.0 F)
1992
39.4 C (102.9 F)
1993
38.3 C (100.9 F)
1994
43.3 C (109.9 F)
1995
41.1 C (106.0 F)
1996
40.6 C (105.1 F)
1997
38.9 C (102.0 F)
1998
42.2 C (108.0 F)
1999
40.6 C (105.1 F)
2000
41.1 C (106.0 F)
2001
39.4 C (102.9 F)
2002
39.4 C (102.9 F)
2003
38.9 C (102.0 F)
2004
38.3 C (100.9 F)
2005
40.0 C (104.0 F)
2006
39.4 C (102.9 F)
2007
40.6 C (105.1 F)
2008
40.0 C (104.0 F)
2009
39.4 C (102.9 F)
2010
42.2 C (108.0 F)
2011
41.1 C (106.0 F)
2012
39.4 C (102.9 F)
2013
40.0 C (104.0 F)
2014
39.4 C (102.9 F)
2016
40.6 C (105.1 F)
2017
40.0 C (104.0 F)
2018
39.4 C (102.9 F)
2019
40.6 C (105.1 F)
2020
36.7 C (98.1 F)
2021
35.0 C (95.0 F)
2022
30.0 C (86.0 F)
2023
41.1 C (106.0 F)
2024
39.4 C (102.9 F)
Coldest night (TNn)
The coldest night of the year at Carlsbad Caverns, 1935 to 2024. The record is -20.0 C (-4.0 F) in 1962, marked on the chart; the median year is -11.1 C (12.0 F).
Coldest night (TNn) at Carlsbad Caverns by year
Year
Coldest night (TNn)
1935
-8.3 C (17.1 F)
1936
-12.2 C (10.0 F)
1937
-12.8 C (9.0 F)
1938
-8.3 C (17.1 F)
1939
-9.4 C (15.1 F)
1940
-15.6 C (3.9 F)
1941
-6.1 C (21.0 F)
1942
-14.4 C (6.1 F)
1943
-17.8 C (0.0 F)
1944
-10.6 C (12.9 F)
1945
-9.4 C (15.1 F)
1946
-10.0 C (14.0 F)
1947
-12.2 C (10.0 F)
1948
-15.0 C (5.0 F)
1949
-14.4 C (6.1 F)
1950
-11.1 C (12.0 F)
1951
-17.2 C (1.0 F)
1952
-8.3 C (17.1 F)
1953
-16.1 C (3.0 F)
1954
-7.2 C (19.0 F)
1955
-8.3 C (17.1 F)
1956
-13.3 C (8.1 F)
1957
-8.9 C (16.0 F)
1958
-10.0 C (14.0 F)
1959
-13.3 C (8.1 F)
1960
-12.2 C (10.0 F)
1961
-9.4 C (15.1 F)
1962
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1963
-18.3 C (-0.9 F)
1964
-12.2 C (10.0 F)
1965
-11.7 C (10.9 F)
1966
-11.1 C (12.0 F)
1967
-9.4 C (15.1 F)
1968
-10.0 C (14.0 F)
1969
-8.3 C (17.1 F)
1970
-12.8 C (9.0 F)
1971
-15.6 C (3.9 F)
1972
-10.6 C (12.9 F)
1973
-11.1 C (12.0 F)
1974
-11.7 C (10.9 F)
1975
-12.8 C (9.0 F)
1976
-13.3 C (8.1 F)
1977
-13.3 C (8.1 F)
1978
-12.8 C (9.0 F)
1979
-16.7 C (1.9 F)
1980
-10.6 C (12.9 F)
1981
-14.4 C (6.1 F)
1982
-13.3 C (8.1 F)
1983
-16.7 C (1.9 F)
1984
-12.2 C (10.0 F)
1985
-15.6 C (3.9 F)
1986
-10.0 C (14.0 F)
1987
-12.2 C (10.0 F)
1988
-9.4 C (15.1 F)
1989
-16.7 C (1.9 F)
1990
-12.2 C (10.0 F)
1991
-9.4 C (15.1 F)
1992
-8.9 C (16.0 F)
1993
-7.8 C (18.0 F)
1994
-11.1 C (12.0 F)
1995
-9.4 C (15.1 F)
1996
-12.8 C (9.0 F)
1997
-14.4 C (6.1 F)
1998
-13.3 C (8.1 F)
1999
-10.0 C (14.0 F)
2000
-7.2 C (19.0 F)
2001
-7.2 C (19.0 F)
2002
-10.0 C (14.0 F)
2003
-10.6 C (12.9 F)
2004
-12.2 C (10.0 F)
2005
-6.1 C (21.0 F)
2006
-7.8 C (18.0 F)
2007
-8.3 C (17.1 F)
2008
-8.9 C (16.0 F)
2009
-7.2 C (19.0 F)
2010
-9.4 C (15.1 F)
2011
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
2012
-5.6 C (21.9 F)
2013
-5.6 C (21.9 F)
2014
-11.7 C (10.9 F)
2016
-13.3 C (8.1 F)
2017
-11.7 C (10.9 F)
2018
-12.8 C (9.0 F)
2019
-9.4 C (15.1 F)
2020
-8.3 C (17.1 F)
2021
6.7 C (44.1 F)
2022
-13.9 C (7.0 F)
2023
-6.7 C (19.9 F)
2024
-14.4 C (6.1 F)
Wettest day (Rx1day)
The wettest day of the year at Carlsbad Caverns, 1935 to 2024. The record is 213.6 mm (8.4 in) in 1986, marked on the chart; the median year is 47.2 mm (1.9 in).
Wettest day (Rx1day) at Carlsbad Caverns by year
Year
Wettest day (Rx1day)
1935
70.9 mm (2.8 in)
1936
32.3 mm (1.3 in)
1937
33.8 mm (1.3 in)
1938
43.7 mm (1.7 in)
1939
38.1 mm (1.5 in)
1940
62.2 mm (2.4 in)
1941
97.8 mm (3.9 in)
1942
42.4 mm (1.7 in)
1943
78.2 mm (3.1 in)
1944
57.2 mm (2.3 in)
1945
68.6 mm (2.7 in)
1946
68.6 mm (2.7 in)
1947
19.3 mm (0.8 in)
1948
50.3 mm (2.0 in)
1949
37.1 mm (1.5 in)
1950
46.7 mm (1.8 in)
1951
22.9 mm (0.9 in)
1952
37.3 mm (1.5 in)
1953
34.0 mm (1.3 in)
1954
90.4 mm (3.6 in)
1955
53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1956
49.5 mm (1.9 in)
1957
24.6 mm (1.0 in)
1958
43.4 mm (1.7 in)
1959
27.2 mm (1.1 in)
1960
49.8 mm (2.0 in)
1961
50.0 mm (2.0 in)
1962
48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1963
91.9 mm (3.6 in)
1964
18.8 mm (0.7 in)
1965
94.2 mm (3.7 in)
1966
118.6 mm (4.7 in)
1967
41.4 mm (1.6 in)
1968
59.2 mm (2.3 in)
1969
64.5 mm (2.5 in)
1970
57.2 mm (2.3 in)
1971
30.0 mm (1.2 in)
1972
37.1 mm (1.5 in)
1973
47.2 mm (1.9 in)
1974
59.2 mm (2.3 in)
1975
32.5 mm (1.3 in)
1976
55.1 mm (2.2 in)
1977
36.3 mm (1.4 in)
1978
106.7 mm (4.2 in)
1979
43.7 mm (1.7 in)
1980
143.0 mm (5.6 in)
1981
42.4 mm (1.7 in)
1982
33.3 mm (1.3 in)
1983
52.3 mm (2.1 in)
1984
89.4 mm (3.5 in)
1985
43.7 mm (1.7 in)
1986
213.6 mm (8.4 in)
1987
44.2 mm (1.7 in)
1988
76.7 mm (3.0 in)
1989
53.3 mm (2.1 in)
1990
27.2 mm (1.1 in)
1991
44.5 mm (1.8 in)
1992
44.5 mm (1.8 in)
1993
23.9 mm (0.9 in)
1994
28.4 mm (1.1 in)
1995
33.8 mm (1.3 in)
1996
58.4 mm (2.3 in)
1997
37.6 mm (1.5 in)
1998
29.0 mm (1.1 in)
1999
39.1 mm (1.5 in)
2000
39.1 mm (1.5 in)
2001
27.9 mm (1.1 in)
2002
50.8 mm (2.0 in)
2003
20.1 mm (0.8 in)
2004
38.1 mm (1.5 in)
2005
18.0 mm (0.7 in)
2006
53.3 mm (2.1 in)
2007
50.8 mm (2.0 in)
2008
55.4 mm (2.2 in)
2009
50.5 mm (2.0 in)
2010
76.2 mm (3.0 in)
2011
47.5 mm (1.9 in)
2012
57.9 mm (2.3 in)
2013
133.4 mm (5.3 in)
2014
14.7 mm (0.6 in)
2016
70.6 mm (2.8 in)
2017
28.7 mm (1.1 in)
2018
50.8 mm (2.0 in)
2019
22.4 mm (0.9 in)
2020
49.0 mm (1.9 in)
2021
50.5 mm (2.0 in)
2022
27.9 mm (1.1 in)
2023
34.3 mm (1.4 in)
2024
72.9 mm (2.9 in)
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
The wettest five days of the year at Carlsbad Caverns, 1935 to 2024. The record is 345.1 mm (13.6 in) in 1986, marked on the chart; the median year is 67.0 mm (2.6 in).
Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Carlsbad Caverns by year
Year
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1935
103.2 mm (4.1 in)
1936
84.4 mm (3.3 in)
1937
47.5 mm (1.9 in)
1938
67.3 mm (2.6 in)
1939
51.3 mm (2.0 in)
1940
107.2 mm (4.2 in)
1941
237.5 mm (9.4 in)
1942
70.6 mm (2.8 in)
1943
90.4 mm (3.6 in)
1944
88.6 mm (3.5 in)
1945
79.4 mm (3.1 in)
1946
106.9 mm (4.2 in)
1947
25.6 mm (1.0 in)
1948
61.0 mm (2.4 in)
1949
62.3 mm (2.5 in)
1950
58.4 mm (2.3 in)
1951
25.5 mm (1.0 in)
1952
53.6 mm (2.1 in)
1953
43.7 mm (1.7 in)
1954
128.2 mm (5.0 in)
1955
79.0 mm (3.1 in)
1956
52.0 mm (2.0 in)
1957
63.3 mm (2.5 in)
1958
88.7 mm (3.5 in)
1959
43.2 mm (1.7 in)
1960
67.9 mm (2.7 in)
1961
50.0 mm (2.0 in)
1962
61.1 mm (2.4 in)
1963
117.8 mm (4.6 in)
1964
35.1 mm (1.4 in)
1965
95.7 mm (3.8 in)
1966
213.9 mm (8.4 in)
1967
44.4 mm (1.7 in)
1968
116.7 mm (4.6 in)
1969
86.9 mm (3.4 in)
1970
68.0 mm (2.7 in)
1971
58.4 mm (2.3 in)
1972
83.4 mm (3.3 in)
1973
67.5 mm (2.7 in)
1974
183.9 mm (7.2 in)
1975
46.8 mm (1.8 in)
1976
110.5 mm (4.4 in)
1977
52.6 mm (2.1 in)
1978
215.4 mm (8.5 in)
1979
52.8 mm (2.1 in)
1980
169.2 mm (6.7 in)
1981
104.3 mm (4.1 in)
1982
63.5 mm (2.5 in)
1983
109.2 mm (4.3 in)
1984
166.1 mm (6.5 in)
1985
57.4 mm (2.3 in)
1986
345.1 mm (13.6 in)
1987
83.4 mm (3.3 in)
1988
108.7 mm (4.3 in)
1989
67.0 mm (2.6 in)
1990
40.2 mm (1.6 in)
1991
57.9 mm (2.3 in)
1992
53.4 mm (2.1 in)
1993
30.5 mm (1.2 in)
1994
33.5 mm (1.3 in)
1995
73.4 mm (2.9 in)
1996
110.0 mm (4.3 in)
1997
53.4 mm (2.1 in)
1998
42.2 mm (1.7 in)
1999
41.1 mm (1.6 in)
2000
54.6 mm (2.1 in)
2001
60.6 mm (2.4 in)
2002
68.1 mm (2.7 in)
2003
33.0 mm (1.3 in)
2004
67.3 mm (2.6 in)
2005
18.0 mm (0.7 in)
2006
121.9 mm (4.8 in)
2007
84.6 mm (3.3 in)
2008
71.6 mm (2.8 in)
2009
51.5 mm (2.0 in)
2010
114.3 mm (4.5 in)
2011
58.2 mm (2.3 in)
2012
59.2 mm (2.3 in)
2013
138.2 mm (5.4 in)
2014
19.8 mm (0.8 in)
2016
103.7 mm (4.1 in)
2017
64.0 mm (2.5 in)
2018
55.7 mm (2.2 in)
2019
45.2 mm (1.8 in)
2020
53.3 mm (2.1 in)
2021
79.2 mm (3.1 in)
2022
30.2 mm (1.2 in)
2023
32.8 mm (1.3 in)
2024
73.9 mm (2.9 in)
Longest dry spell (CDD)
The longest dry spell of the year at Carlsbad Caverns, 1935 to 2024. The record is 161 days in 2011, marked on the chart; the median year is 51 days.
Longest dry spell (CDD) at Carlsbad Caverns by year
Year
Longest dry spell (CDD)
1935
51 days
1936
51 days
1937
49 days
1938
65 days
1939
46 days
1940
56 days
1941
26 days
1942
34 days
1943
109 days
1944
34 days
1945
53 days
1946
62 days
1947
46 days
1948
46 days
1949
32 days
1950
87 days
1951
59 days
1952
42 days
1953
56 days
1954
101 days
1955
52 days
1956
77 days
1957
43 days
1958
44 days
1959
31 days
1960
57 days
1961
36 days
1962
32 days
1963
46 days
1964
57 days
1965
54 days
1966
85 days
1967
51 days
1968
35 days
1969
49 days
1970
58 days
1971
51 days
1972
97 days
1973
86 days
1974
54 days
1975
51 days
1976
64 days
1977
54 days
1978
33 days
1979
84 days
1980
30 days
1981
70 days
1982
33 days
1983
46 days
1984
56 days
1985
59 days
1986
62 days
1987
37 days
1988
46 days
1989
106 days
1990
36 days
1991
91 days
1992
34 days
1993
55 days
1994
55 days
1995
86 days
1996
73 days
1997
28 days
1998
66 days
1999
68 days
2000
60 days
2001
41 days
2002
50 days
2003
52 days
2004
46 days
2005
39 days
2006
41 days
2007
24 days
2008
56 days
2009
38 days
2010
71 days
2011
161 days
2012
75 days
2013
66 days
2014
35 days
2016
23 days
2017
57 days
2018
54 days
2019
45 days
2020
45 days
2021
13 days
2022
8 days
2023
7 days
2024
46 days
Each chart shows one value per year; the dot marks the record year. TXx is the hottest daily maximum, TNn the coldest daily minimum, Rx1day and Rx5day the largest one-day and five-day rain totals, and CDD the longest run of days with less than 1 mm of rain. A year with missing days can understate an extreme.
Frost Dates and Growing Season
57 years with a frost
Across 57 years with a frost, the median last spring frost at Carlsbad Caverns falls on 1 April and the median first autumn frost on 9 November, which leaves a median of 222 days between them.
Fitted over all years, the growing season changes by -0.2 days per decade at this station.
Frost dates and growing season at Carlsbad Caverns
Measure
Median, all years
Earliest period
Recent period (1969 to 2019)
Recent against earliest
Fitted trend
Last spring frost
1 April
n/a
3 April
n/a
-0.5 days per decade
First autumn frost
9 November
n/a
4 November
n/a
-0.7 days per decade
Growing days
222 days
n/a
219 days
n/a
-0.2 days per decade
A frost day is a day with a daily minimum at or below 0 C (32 F). The last spring frost and the first autumn frost are the last and first such days of the cold season, and growing days are the days between them. A negative trend for the last spring frost means it comes earlier.
Rainfall Return Levels
70 years, 1935 to 2018
A day with at least 45.6 mm (1.8 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 171.1 mm (6.7 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.
Rainfall return levels at Carlsbad Caverns: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in
A day with at least
Note
2 years
45.6 mm (1.8 in)
5 years
67.8 mm (2.7 in)
10 years
86.2 mm (3.4 in)
25 years
114.8 mm (4.5 in)
50 years
140.7 mm (5.5 in)
100 years
171.1 mm (6.7 in)
Longer than the 70 years of record
The levels come from a generalised extreme value (GEV) distribution fitted by L-moments to the wettest-day total of each year, 70 years of values from 1935 to 2018.
A return level is an estimate. It is least reliable for the long periods, 50 and 100 years, and for any period longer than the record behind the fit, where the fit has to reach past the largest day actually observed. It is not a forecast.
The largest wettest-day totals in the fit: 213.6 mm (8.4 in) in 1986; 143.0 mm (5.6 in) in 1980; 118.6 mm (4.7 in) in 1966.
Station Changes
No change in the annual mean temperature of this station was found against its neighbours.
Download the Data
Data for Carlsbad Caverns standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Carlsbad Caverns threshold days by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Climatology Network Daily (GHCN-Daily). Records are computed by World Extreme Weather Monitor and are not official NOAA products. (US Government open data (NOAA NCEI)) Data as of 2026-10-15 (15 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.