Albuquerque in October

October brings perfect weather and the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Over 500 hot air balloons launch at sunrise from Balloon Fiesta Park. Book hotels months ahead — prices triple during the nine-day event. Dawn patrol launches start at 5:45am in near-freezing temperatures, so pack layers. Spring (March through May) offers mild days and blooming desert wildflowers. The cottonwoods along the Rio Grande turn bright green. This is ideal hiking weather with temperatures in the 60s and 70s. But spring winds can be fierce — dust storms occasionally close the interstate. Summer gets hot but not unbearable. Afternoon thunderstorms cool things down and create dramatic sunsets over the volcanoes. The monsoon season runs July through September. Many locals escape to the mountains or northern New Mexico. Winter brings snow to the Sandia Mountains but rarely to the city. December through February sees daytime highs in the 40s and 50s. The low humidity makes it feel warmer. Plus, hotel rates drop significantly.