Record shattering warmth continued into March 2026 as the month was much warmer than average with very little precipitation. The average temperature was 48.1 degrees, about 9.9 degrees above average, making it by far the warmest March on record (the previous warmest March was 45.2 degrees in 1910). Most of the warmth came from daytime highs in the last half of the month, with the average high for the month of 68.2 degrees, a whopping 15.3 degrees above average.
During the last 2 weeks of the month, there were 10 daily record warm highs set, including a new record high for the month of March of 84 degrees on the 25th, (beating a pair of 83 degree highs just reached on the 20th and 21st). The previous record warm high for the month of 76 degrees was exceeded 8 times during this period. A high of 80 degrees on the 19th was the earliest 80 degree reading on record, beating the old record by nearly a month (April 15, 1937).
For the broad 6 month winter season of October through March, it was the warmest on record (previous warmest was in 2016-17). The average high for the period ended up at 57.0 degrees, the warmest on record (previous warmest was in 1999-2000).
March was also extremely dry, as precipitation for the month totaled only 0.02 inches, the 2nd driest on record, more than 3/4 of an inch below average. Snowfall was just 0.1 inch, 6 inches below average, making it the 5th least amount of snow in March.
The month started out rather warm and dry with highs in the mid 50s to mid 60s and lows from 15 to 30, with a record tying warm high of 69 degrees on the first. A cold front brought 2 days of cooler conditions on the 6th and 7th, along with a brief snow shower on the 6th, the only snowfall for the month. Another cool front brought some cooling on the 15th and 16th, before a massive and persistent upper level high pressure area moved into the region and lingered for the rest of the month. Highs soared into the record shattering 70s to low 80s, with lows in the 30s. A brief cooldown occurred on the 27th and 28th as highs fell back into the 60s.
The warmest high was 84 degrees on the 25th (a new March record), while the coldest high was 45 degrees on the 6th. The coldest low was 13 degrees on the 7th and 8th, while the warmest low was 41 degrees on the 31st.
Overall, wind speeds for the month were a little below average, but there were still 7 days with peak wind gusts over 35 mph. Strongest winds occurred on the 22nd and 27th, both with east canyon winds and peak gusts of 47 mph at my northside location.
Here are the actual numbers for the month at my location…
Average Temp . . . . 48.1 degrees, +9.9 degrees above average (1st warmest)
Average High . . . . . 68.2 degrees, +15.3 degrees above average (1st warmest)
Average Low. . . . . . 27.9 degrees, +4.5 degrees above average (9th warmest)
Total Pcpn . . . . . . . 0.02 inches, -0.84 inches below average (2nd driest)
Total Snow . . . . . . . 0.1 inches, 6.3 inches below average (5th least snow)
MAR 2026 DAILY DATA for 4 NNW Taos
| DATE | HIGH | LOW | DAILY DEP. | MON. DEP. | PCPN | SNOW | REMARK |
| 1 | 69* | 30 | +15.7 | +15.7 | *Tied record warm high | ||
| 2 | 68 | 32 | +15.2 | +15.5 | |||
| 3 | 63 | 30 | +11.5 | +14.1 | |||
| 4 | 62 | 20 | +6.2 | +12.1 | |||
| 5 | 59 | 25 | +6.9 | +11.1 | |||
| 6 | 45 | 19 | -3.2 | +8.7 | 0.01″ | 0.1″ | |
| 7 | 52 | 13 | -3.2 | +7.0 | |||
| 8 | 60 | 13 | +0.2 | +6.2 | |||
| 9 | 65 | 24 | +7.2 | +6.3 | |||
| 10 | 65 | 30 | +9.8 | +6.6 | |||
| 11 | 64 | 28 | +8.2 | +6.8 | |||
| 12 | 63 | 24 | +6.5 | +6.8 | |||
| 13 | 68 | 22 | +7.7 | +6.8 | |||
| 14 | 69 | 28 | +10.7 | +7.1 | |||
| 15 | 52 | 24 | -0.1 | +6.6 | |||
| 16 | 57 | 15 | -2.3 | +6.1 | |||
| 17 | 69 | 24 | +6.9 | +6.1 | |||
| 18 | 78* | 29 | +14.6 | +6.6 | *Record warm high | ||
| 19 | 80* | 29 | +15.5 | +7.1 | *Record warm high | ||
| 20 | 83* | 31 | +17.5 | +7.6 | *Record warm high | ||
| 21 | 83* | 30 | +16.7 | +8.0 | *Record warm high | ||
| 22 | 78* | 34 | +15.5 | +8.4 | *Record warm high | ||
| 23 | 71 | 33 | +11.7 | +8.5 | |||
| 24 | 79* | 34 | +16.1 | +8.8 | *Record warm high | ||
| 25 | 84* | 38# | +20.4 | +9.3 | #Record warm low *Record warm high (also new March record) | ||
| 26 | 79* | 37 | +17.5 | +9.6 | *Record warm high | ||
| 27 | 62 | 34 | +8.0 | +9.5 | |||
| 28 | 67 | 26 | +6.3 | +9.4 | |||
| 29 | 75* | 35 | +15.0 | +9.6 | *Record warm high | ||
| 30 | 74* | 34 | +14.1 | +9.8 | *Record warm high | ||
| 31 | 70 | 41 | +14.0 | +9.9 | 0.01″ | ||
| AVGS/ TOTAL | 68.2 | 27.9 | 48.1 | +9.9 | 0.02″ | 0.1″ |
DAILY DEP. – Departure from the long term daily average temperature
MON. DEP. – Cumulative departure from the long term monthly average temperature
PCPN – Precipitation
T – Trace of precipitation
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Taos Weather 