Silver City sits alongside mountains reaching to 10,000 feet above sea level to the north, and semi-arid plains to the south that are as low as 4,000 feet.

The temperatures you encounter in the area vary almost as widely: The dry air of our region warms up quickly when the sun comes up, but cools off nicely after sundown. Even hot days in the county typically end as a cool evenings, with breezes coming off the mountains.

Summer
Summer starts in June with temperatures in the 80s and low 90s. June and July are typically the warmest and driest months. Even then, temperatures rarely get to 100. Beginning sometime in July, the seasonal monsoon rains start, so afternoons can be cooler and moister after a thunderstorm.

Fall
Fall usually starts around the end of September and a first freeze in October is not out of the question. Fall colors can be spectacular: Above 7000 feet the County has aspens and below that level cottonwoods, providing a range of brilliant colors framed against our deep blue skies. A Fall trip just to see mountain colors is well worth considering!

Winter
Winter is typically cool and clear. We occasionally see snow during the winter, although it is gone from the roads quite quickly. Higher in the mountains and in parts of the County above 7,000 feet, snow may persist for several days; at these times, planning ahead for remote travel — and especially for off-road travel — is advisable. On many winter days, the temperature can get to shirt-sleeve weather when out hiking or working. Nighttime temperatures in the 20s are common.

Spring
Spring is usually dry and may be windy. Wildflowers and other desert plants can provide a fantastic springtime show, depending upon winter moisture. Late Spring is often very dry, so there are typically no bad-weather days. Nighttime temperature can remain chilly into late May.