Air Quality
New Mexico generally enjoys good air quality outside wildfire season, though ozone levels in the Permian Basin have raised health concerns.
Monitored days with good air quality
1990–2025U.S. EPA AirData, Annual AQI by County, all monitored New Mexico counties.
Monitored days unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse
1990–2025U.S. EPA AirData, Annual AQI by County (AQI above 100).
| Indicator | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Good air quality days | 300 | 280 |
Wildfires
New Mexico experiences severe wildfire seasons, including the 2022 Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, the largest wildfire in state history.
| Indicator | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. acres burned per year (thousands) | 150 | 7000 |
- •The 2022 Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, started by a prescribed burn, was the largest wildfire in New Mexico history.
Drought
New Mexico faces persistent drought, with much of the state classified in moderate to severe drought conditions in recent years, straining the Rio Grande basin.
Area in drought (D1–D4), yearly average
2000–2025U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC / USDA / NOAA), average of weekly maps.
Area in extreme or exceptional drought (D3–D4)
2000–2025U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC / USDA / NOAA), average of weekly maps.
| Indicator | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Land area in drought (%) | 55 | 25 |
Water Usage
Water usage in New Mexico is dominated by agricultural irrigation, drawing heavily on the Rio Grande and groundwater aquifers strained by drought.
| Indicator | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural water use share (%) | 76 | 42 |
Emissions
New Mexico's greenhouse gas emissions are driven heavily by the oil and gas sector, including methane leaks from Permian Basin operations.
Energy-related CO₂ emissions
1970–2021U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, all sectors and fuels (FRED EMISSCO2TOTVTTTONMA).
Transportation CO₂ emissions
1970–2021U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, transportation sector (FRED EMISSCO2TOTVTCTONMA).
| Indicator | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Per capita CO2 emissions (tons) | 28 | 14.5 |
Climate Indicators
New Mexico's climate is arid to semi-arid, with rising average temperatures and increasingly erratic monsoon rainfall patterns.
Average annual temperature
1895–2025NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance, statewide January–December average.
Annual precipitation
1895–2025NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance, statewide January–December total.
| Indicator | New Mexico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature rise since 1970 (°C) | 1.4 | 1.2 |