Record envelope, standing records and threshold days for Cowles (USC00292139), New Mexico, United States, with 71 years of record.
Key Facts for Cowles
Cowles (USC00292139) is a weather station in New Mexico, United States at 35.82 latitude and -105.67 longitude, 2,471 m (8,107 ft) above sea level.
The station reports from 1894 to 1964, 71 years of record.
1,464 records set at Cowles still stand.
Records are tracked for tmax, tmin, prcp, snow: an element needs 30 years of data to be eligible.
Cowles set a daily record low minimum temperature of -12.8 C (9.0 F) on 25 October 1964.
About the Station
Location: New Mexico, United States, 35.82 latitude, -105.67 longitude.
Elevation: 2,471 m (8,107 ft).
Period of record: 1894 to 1964, 71 years.
Eligible elements: tmax, tmin, prcp, snow.
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 Cowles. 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 Cowles, with 2026 drawn through them
Month
Highest record high
Lowest record low
2026 highest maximum
2026 lowest minimum
Jan
19.4 C (66.9 F)
-35.6 C (-32.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Feb
18.3 C (64.9 F)
-32.8 C (-27.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Mar
23.3 C (73.9 F)
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Apr
24.4 C (75.9 F)
-22.8 C (-9.0 F)
n/a
n/a
May
29.4 C (84.9 F)
-12.8 C (9.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jun
32.2 C (90.0 F)
-12.2 C (10.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Jul
32.2 C (90.0 F)
-4.4 C (24.1 F)
n/a
n/a
Aug
31.7 C (89.1 F)
-7.2 C (19.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Sep
30.0 C (86.0 F)
-11.1 C (12.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Oct
26.1 C (79.0 F)
-16.1 C (3.0 F)
n/a
n/a
Nov
25.0 C (77.0 F)
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Dec
20.6 C (69.1 F)
-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
n/a
n/a
Which Years Hold Standing Records
1,464 standing records
Year with most
1,464 records at Cowles still stand. 1912 holds the most, with 47.
Standing records at Cowles by the year they were set
Year set
Standing records
1897
26
1898
33
1899
44
1900
26
1901
17
1902
29
1903
25
1904
20
1905
20
1906
30
1907
38
1908
27
1909
31
1910
26
1911
21
1912
47
1913
32
1914
19
1915
25
1916
25
1917
39
1918
41
1919
22
1920
30
1921
28
1922
35
1923
18
1924
23
1925
23
1926
22
1927
32
1928
22
1929
30
1930
23
1931
20
1932
18
1933
33
1934
37
1935
15
1936
33
1937
27
1938
16
1939
11
1940
4
1941
11
1942
11
1943
6
1944
9
1945
4
1946
2
1948
5
1949
8
1950
8
1954
7
1955
23
1956
38
1957
17
1958
32
1959
18
1960
30
1961
20
1962
9
1963
12
1964
31
All-Time Record Progression
4 new records
4 all-time records were set at Cowles between 15 September 1931 and 13 January 1963. Each dot is a new record.
When Cowles set new all-time records
Date
Kind
Detail
1931-09-15
Record daily precipitation
Record daily precipitation 66.3 mm (2.6 in)
1939-02-10
Record low maximum temperature
Record low maximum temperature -12.2 C (10.0 F)
1962-07-23
Record high minimum temperature
Record high minimum temperature 16.1 C (61.0 F)
1963-01-13
Record low minimum temperature
Record low minimum temperature -35.6 C (-32.1 F)
Wettest Day of Each Month
Sep: 66.3 mm (2.6 in)
The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Cowles. The most was 66.3 mm (2.6 in) on 15 September 1931.
Record daily precipitation for each month at Cowles
Month
Record daily precipitation (mm)
Date
Jan
31.8 mm (1.3 in)
8 January 1957
Feb
35.6 mm (1.4 in)
7 February 1937
Mar
39.4 mm (1.6 in)
21 March 1919
Apr
51.8 mm (2.0 in)
15 April 1900
May
43.2 mm (1.7 in)
23 May 1919
Jun
47.0 mm (1.9 in)
11 June 1913
Jul
51.1 mm (2.0 in)
13 July 1908
Aug
55.9 mm (2.2 in)
7 August 1932
Sep
66.3 mm (2.6 in)
15 September 1931
Oct
56.9 mm (2.2 in)
5 October 1911
Nov
31.2 mm (1.2 in)
2 November 1911
Dec
49.5 mm (1.9 in)
1 December 1933
Period of Record Coverage
1897 to 1964
Complete yearUnder 90 percent of days
64 years of record at Cowles, 1897 to 1964. 26 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1897, 1901, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1909, 1910 and others.
Cooler than the station meanWarmer than the station mean
One stripe for each of 31 complete years at Cowles, 1898 to 1960. Blue stripes are years cooler than the station's own mean of 5.5 C (41.9 F); red stripes are warmer. The coolest year was 1960, at 4.0 C (39.1 F), and the warmest was 1927, at 6.7 C (44.1 F). The strongest colour marks a difference of 1.6 C (2.9 F).
Annual mean temperature at Cowles as warming stripes, 1898 to 1960
Year
Annual mean temperature
Difference from the station mean
1898
4.8 C
-0.69 C
1900
6.4 C
+0.86 C
1903
4.8 C
-0.68 C
1913
5.2 C
-0.31 C
1914
5.5 C
-0.04 C
1915
4.7 C
-0.78 C
1916
5.7 C
+0.17 C
1917
5.8 C
+0.26 C
1918
5.4 C
-0.07 C
1919
4.9 C
-0.56 C
1920
4.7 C
-0.81 C
1921
6.4 C
+0.88 C
1922
6.3 C
+0.84 C
1923
6.1 C
+0.55 C
1924
5.8 C
+0.28 C
1925
6.4 C
+0.91 C
1926
5.9 C
+0.36 C
1927
6.7 C
+1.24 C
1929
5.5 C
+0.00 C
1930
5.8 C
+0.31 C
1931
6.3 C
+0.76 C
1932
5.7 C
+0.20 C
1933
6.5 C
+1.01 C
1935
6.1 C
+0.60 C
1936
6.6 C
+1.09 C
1955
4.5 C
-0.98 C
1956
4.9 C
-0.57 C
1957
4.1 C
-1.38 C
1958
4.3 C
-1.23 C
1959
4.7 C
-0.76 C
1960
4.0 C
-1.55 C
The annual mean temperature here has fallen by 0.17 C (0.01 to 0.33) per decade over 1898 to 1960. In Fahrenheit: 0.31 F (0.02 to 0.60) per decade. The slope is a straight line fitted to 31 complete years; the brackets give its 95 percent interval.
Fitted temperature trends per decade at Cowles
Measure
Per decade (C)
Per decade (F)
Period
Complete years
Reading
Annual mean temperature
-0.17 C (-0.33 to -0.01) per decade
-0.31 F (-0.60 to -0.02) per decade
1898 to 1960
31
Fall
Mean daily maximum
0.1 C (-0.1 to 0.3) per decade
0.1 F (-0.2 to 0.5) per decade
1898 to 1960
31
Not clearly different from zero
Mean daily minimum
-0.4 C (-0.7 to -0.2) per decade
-0.8 F (-1.2 to -0.3) per decade
1898 to 1960
31
Fall
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
1894 to 1964
Yearly extremes at Cowles: the record and the median year
Measure
Record
Year of the record
Median year
Years with a value
Hottest day (TXx)
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1909
30.0 C (86.0 F)
64
Coldest night (TNn)
-35.6 C (-32.1 F)
1963
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
64
Wettest day (Rx1day)
66.3 mm (2.6 in)
1931
34.3 mm (1.4 in)
67
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
125.5 mm (4.9 in)
1931
58.9 mm (2.3 in)
67
Longest dry spell (CDD)
82 days
1903
28 days
67
Hottest day (TXx)
The hottest day of the year at Cowles, 1894 to 1964. The record is 32.2 C (90.0 F) in 1909, marked on the chart; the median year is 30.0 C (86.0 F).
Hottest day (TXx) at Cowles by year
Year
Hottest day (TXx)
1894
n/a
1895
n/a
1896
n/a
1897
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1898
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1899
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1900
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1901
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1902
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1903
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1904
28.3 C (82.9 F)
1905
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1906
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1907
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1908
26.7 C (80.1 F)
1909
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1910
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1911
27.2 C (81.0 F)
1912
27.8 C (82.0 F)
1913
27.8 C (82.0 F)
1914
27.2 C (81.0 F)
1915
27.8 C (82.0 F)
1916
28.3 C (82.9 F)
1917
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1918
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1919
26.7 C (80.1 F)
1920
27.8 C (82.0 F)
1921
28.9 C (84.0 F)
1922
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1923
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1924
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1925
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1926
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1927
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1928
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1929
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1930
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1931
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1932
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1933
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1934
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1935
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1936
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1937
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1938
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1939
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1940
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1941
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1942
31.7 C (89.1 F)
1943
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1944
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1945
27.8 C (82.0 F)
1946
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1948
15.0 C (59.0 F)
1949
26.1 C (79.0 F)
1950
15.6 C (60.1 F)
1954
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1955
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1956
30.6 C (87.1 F)
1957
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1958
31.1 C (88.0 F)
1959
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1960
30.0 C (86.0 F)
1961
32.2 C (90.0 F)
1962
29.4 C (84.9 F)
1963
21.1 C (70.0 F)
1964
30.0 C (86.0 F)
Coldest night (TNn)
The coldest night of the year at Cowles, 1894 to 1964. The record is -35.6 C (-32.1 F) in 1963, marked on the chart; the median year is -24.4 C (-11.9 F).
Coldest night (TNn) at Cowles by year
Year
Coldest night (TNn)
1894
n/a
1895
n/a
1896
n/a
1897
-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1898
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1899
-32.8 C (-27.0 F)
1900
-22.8 C (-9.0 F)
1901
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1902
-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
1903
-27.8 C (-18.0 F)
1904
-22.8 C (-9.0 F)
1905
-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1906
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1907
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1908
-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
1909
-27.8 C (-18.0 F)
1910
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
1911
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1912
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1913
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1914
-20.6 C (-5.1 F)
1915
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
1916
-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
1917
-22.8 C (-9.0 F)
1918
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1919
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1920
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1921
-17.8 C (0.0 F)
1922
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1923
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1924
-27.2 C (-17.0 F)
1925
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1926
-23.9 C (-11.0 F)
1927
-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
1928
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
1929
-26.1 C (-15.0 F)
1930
-27.8 C (-18.0 F)
1931
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1932
-22.2 C (-8.0 F)
1933
-31.7 C (-25.1 F)
1934
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1935
-25.6 C (-14.1 F)
1936
-21.7 C (-7.1 F)
1937
-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1938
-23.3 C (-9.9 F)
1939
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1940
-15.0 C (5.0 F)
1941
-15.6 C (3.9 F)
1942
-12.8 C (9.0 F)
1943
-3.9 C (25.0 F)
1944
-5.6 C (21.9 F)
1945
-20.0 C (-4.0 F)
1946
-6.7 C (19.9 F)
1948
-18.9 C (-2.0 F)
1949
-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1950
-14.4 C (6.1 F)
1954
-21.1 C (-6.0 F)
1955
-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1956
-24.4 C (-11.9 F)
1957
-28.3 C (-18.9 F)
1958
-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
1959
-26.7 C (-16.1 F)
1960
-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
1961
-28.9 C (-20.0 F)
1962
-25.0 C (-13.0 F)
1963
-35.6 C (-32.1 F)
1964
-29.4 C (-20.9 F)
Wettest day (Rx1day)
The wettest day of the year at Cowles, 1894 to 1964. The record is 66.3 mm (2.6 in) in 1931, marked on the chart; the median year is 34.3 mm (1.4 in).
Wettest day (Rx1day) at Cowles by year
Year
Wettest day (Rx1day)
1894
24.4 mm (1.0 in)
1895
24.4 mm (1.0 in)
1896
35.1 mm (1.4 in)
1897
42.9 mm (1.7 in)
1898
31.2 mm (1.2 in)
1899
28.4 mm (1.1 in)
1900
51.8 mm (2.0 in)
1901
54.9 mm (2.2 in)
1902
29.2 mm (1.1 in)
1903
34.3 mm (1.4 in)
1904
19.8 mm (0.8 in)
1905
44.5 mm (1.8 in)
1906
25.1 mm (1.0 in)
1907
35.6 mm (1.4 in)
1908
51.1 mm (2.0 in)
1909
32.0 mm (1.3 in)
1910
22.6 mm (0.9 in)
1911
56.9 mm (2.2 in)
1912
33.0 mm (1.3 in)
1913
47.0 mm (1.9 in)
1914
36.6 mm (1.4 in)
1915
48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1916
27.9 mm (1.1 in)
1917
27.4 mm (1.1 in)
1918
23.1 mm (0.9 in)
1919
43.2 mm (1.7 in)
1920
34.3 mm (1.4 in)
1921
42.2 mm (1.7 in)
1922
30.0 mm (1.2 in)
1923
29.0 mm (1.1 in)
1924
30.5 mm (1.2 in)
1925
32.5 mm (1.3 in)
1926
45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1927
46.2 mm (1.8 in)
1928
31.5 mm (1.2 in)
1929
38.4 mm (1.5 in)
1930
50.3 mm (2.0 in)
1931
66.3 mm (2.6 in)
1932
55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1933
49.5 mm (1.9 in)
1934
42.7 mm (1.7 in)
1935
35.1 mm (1.4 in)
1936
45.7 mm (1.8 in)
1937
35.6 mm (1.4 in)
1938
31.8 mm (1.3 in)
1939
31.8 mm (1.3 in)
1940
50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1941
38.1 mm (1.5 in)
1942
44.5 mm (1.8 in)
1943
32.0 mm (1.3 in)
1944
48.3 mm (1.9 in)
1945
31.2 mm (1.2 in)
1946
14.5 mm (0.6 in)
1948
15.2 mm (0.6 in)
1949
14.0 mm (0.6 in)
1950
22.4 mm (0.9 in)
1954
26.7 mm (1.1 in)
1955
36.8 mm (1.4 in)
1956
24.9 mm (1.0 in)
1957
50.8 mm (2.0 in)
1958
20.3 mm (0.8 in)
1959
51.3 mm (2.0 in)
1960
47.0 mm (1.9 in)
1961
31.8 mm (1.3 in)
1962
20.3 mm (0.8 in)
1963
23.9 mm (0.9 in)
1964
36.6 mm (1.4 in)
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
The wettest five days of the year at Cowles, 1894 to 1964. The record is 125.5 mm (4.9 in) in 1931, marked on the chart; the median year is 58.9 mm (2.3 in).
Wettest five days (Rx5day) at Cowles by year
Year
Wettest five days (Rx5day)
1894
60.7 mm (2.4 in)
1895
52.4 mm (2.1 in)
1896
83.0 mm (3.3 in)
1897
57.3 mm (2.3 in)
1898
57.7 mm (2.3 in)
1899
49.8 mm (2.0 in)
1900
67.5 mm (2.7 in)
1901
55.8 mm (2.2 in)
1902
47.2 mm (1.9 in)
1903
61.0 mm (2.4 in)
1904
45.5 mm (1.8 in)
1905
55.4 mm (2.2 in)
1906
51.5 mm (2.0 in)
1907
75.9 mm (3.0 in)
1908
100.6 mm (4.0 in)
1909
51.6 mm (2.0 in)
1910
51.6 mm (2.0 in)
1911
82.1 mm (3.2 in)
1912
50.7 mm (2.0 in)
1913
68.6 mm (2.7 in)
1914
86.4 mm (3.4 in)
1915
85.7 mm (3.4 in)
1916
81.0 mm (3.2 in)
1917
72.4 mm (2.9 in)
1918
40.9 mm (1.6 in)
1919
75.8 mm (3.0 in)
1920
68.3 mm (2.7 in)
1921
79.8 mm (3.1 in)
1922
36.8 mm (1.4 in)
1923
35.4 mm (1.4 in)
1924
55.9 mm (2.2 in)
1925
64.0 mm (2.5 in)
1926
70.3 mm (2.8 in)
1927
58.9 mm (2.3 in)
1928
54.1 mm (2.1 in)
1929
92.0 mm (3.6 in)
1930
87.0 mm (3.4 in)
1931
125.5 mm (4.9 in)
1932
60.2 mm (2.4 in)
1933
77.0 mm (3.0 in)
1934
54.9 mm (2.2 in)
1935
47.5 mm (1.9 in)
1936
73.6 mm (2.9 in)
1937
62.2 mm (2.4 in)
1938
58.7 mm (2.3 in)
1939
77.2 mm (3.0 in)
1940
101.7 mm (4.0 in)
1941
68.5 mm (2.7 in)
1942
61.0 mm (2.4 in)
1943
38.3 mm (1.5 in)
1944
78.1 mm (3.1 in)
1945
46.8 mm (1.8 in)
1946
30.0 mm (1.2 in)
1948
21.5 mm (0.8 in)
1949
20.3 mm (0.8 in)
1950
37.2 mm (1.5 in)
1954
49.6 mm (2.0 in)
1955
58.7 mm (2.3 in)
1956
39.6 mm (1.6 in)
1957
100.6 mm (4.0 in)
1958
52.5 mm (2.1 in)
1959
67.0 mm (2.6 in)
1960
67.6 mm (2.7 in)
1961
49.9 mm (2.0 in)
1962
40.4 mm (1.6 in)
1963
42.2 mm (1.7 in)
1964
72.1 mm (2.8 in)
Longest dry spell (CDD)
The longest dry spell of the year at Cowles, 1894 to 1964. The record is 82 days in 1903, marked on the chart; the median year is 28 days.
Longest dry spell (CDD) at Cowles by year
Year
Longest dry spell (CDD)
1894
21 days
1895
22 days
1896
24 days
1897
18 days
1898
33 days
1899
26 days
1900
25 days
1901
28 days
1902
27 days
1903
82 days
1904
25 days
1905
24 days
1906
30 days
1907
27 days
1908
31 days
1909
24 days
1910
27 days
1911
17 days
1912
33 days
1913
32 days
1914
37 days
1915
32 days
1916
52 days
1917
50 days
1918
28 days
1919
26 days
1920
30 days
1921
33 days
1922
25 days
1923
31 days
1924
31 days
1925
32 days
1926
26 days
1927
33 days
1928
33 days
1929
27 days
1930
29 days
1931
20 days
1932
44 days
1933
22 days
1934
25 days
1935
24 days
1936
28 days
1937
75 days
1938
59 days
1939
31 days
1940
38 days
1941
17 days
1942
61 days
1943
13 days
1944
22 days
1945
38 days
1946
31 days
1948
17 days
1949
28 days
1950
22 days
1954
35 days
1955
36 days
1956
42 days
1957
20 days
1958
31 days
1959
34 days
1960
45 days
1961
44 days
1962
24 days
1963
20 days
1964
28 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
31 years with a frost
Across 31 years with a frost, the median last spring frost at Cowles falls on 15 June and the median first autumn frost on 7 September, which leaves a median of 79 days between them.
Fitted over all years, the growing season changes by -7.6 days per decade at this station.
Frost dates and growing season at Cowles
Measure
Median, all years
Earliest period
Recent period (1900 to 1960)
Recent against earliest
Fitted trend
Last spring frost
15 June
n/a
15 June
n/a
+2.7 days per decade
First autumn frost
7 September
n/a
8 September
n/a
-4.9 days per decade
Growing days
79 days
n/a
79 days
n/a
-7.6 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
39 years, 1897 to 1960
A day with at least 36.7 mm (1.4 in) of rain is expected about once in 2 years. A day with at least 69.7 mm (2.7 in) of rain is expected about once in 100 years.
Rainfall return levels at Cowles: the daily rain expected about once in a given number of years
Expected about once in
A day with at least
Note
2 years
36.7 mm (1.4 in)
5 years
46.6 mm (1.8 in)
10 years
52.6 mm (2.1 in)
25 years
59.9 mm (2.4 in)
50 years
65.0 mm (2.6 in)
Longer than the 39 years of record
100 years
69.7 mm (2.7 in)
Longer than the 39 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, 39 years of values from 1897 to 1960.
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: 66.3 mm (2.6 in) in 1931; 56.9 mm (2.2 in) in 1911; 55.9 mm (2.2 in) in 1932.
Download the Data
Data for Cowles standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
Data for Cowles 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 2026-10-16 (16 October 2026). Records are computed by this site and are not official.