ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Phoenix vs Taos: weather in October
Phoenix is the clear winner for sun in October: 85% of days historically clear versus just 17% in Taos — a 68-point gap across 8 years of ERA5 data. This isn't close.
What you are reading: 8-year historical averages, not a forecast.
Either destination can still surprise you this specific October. For this
week’s actual forecast, each destination links to its live page below.
Phoenix
AZ
- Clear days, October
- 85%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 89°F
- Early October (1st–15th)
- 79%
- Late October (16th–end)
- 91%
- Rain frequency
- 7% of days
Taos
NM
- Clear days, October
- 17%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 64°F
- Early October (1st–15th)
- 28%
- Late October (16th–end)
- 6%
- Rain frequency
- 17% of days
Compare Phoenix 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.