Climate Insights for Portales

The climate in Portales is temperate. The average annual temperature is 16°C and approximately 321mm of precipitation falls per year. August is the wettest month, receiving around 89mm of rainfall. Portales is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: July, June, August. The coldest months are January, December, February, when temperatures can drop to -1°C. Light snow can occur between January and December.

Portales has a wide annual temperature range, spanning 38°C from the coldest to warmest months. July is the hottest month, with daytime highs reaching 37°C and an average of 29°C. The coldest month is January, when overnight lows fall to -1°C and the daily average is 4°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 15°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between October and November, with a 7°C shift in average temperatures.

Portales is a quite dry location, receiving approximately 321mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 27mm per month. The wettest month is August, averaging 89mm of rainfall. September and May also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is March, with just 1mm. That's 88mm less than August, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic. Light snowfall can occur between January and December, totalling around 19cm annually. January is the snowiest month with approximately 9cm.

Portales is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 4km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is March, averaging 5km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in August, with average winds dropping to 4km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 1km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently summer in Portales, which began on June 21, 2026. Portales is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in July at around 37°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near -1°C. Autumn is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 52 days from now.

The best time to visit Portales is during April, May, August, September and October, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 19°C with modest rainfall averaging 44mm per month. By contrast, July can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 37°C, while January is the coldest period with lows dropping to -1°C. A light rain jacket is recommended, though showers are generally brief and shouldn't disrupt your plans.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Portales based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.