ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Big Sur vs Taos: weather in July
Taos edges out Big Sur for sun in July: 48% clear historically versus 25% (8-year ERA5 average, a 23-point gap). Taos also sees measurably more rain than Big Sur this month (23% vs 0% of days). Both are viable — Taos is the safer bet.
What you are reading: 8-year historical averages, not a forecast.
Either destination can still surprise you this specific July. For this
week’s actual forecast, each destination links to its live page below.
Big Sur
CA
- Clear days, July
- 25%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 69°F
- Early July (1st–15th)
- 29%
- Late July (16th–end)
- 22%
- Rain frequency
- 0% of days
Taos
NM
- Clear days, July
- 48%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 85°F
- Early July (1st–15th)
- 52%
- Late July (16th–end)
- 45%
- Rain frequency
- 23% of days
Compare Big Sur vs Taos in another month
All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live 7-day outlook for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.