New Mexico experiences monsoons due to seasonal wind shifts that bring moisture and thunderstorms during the summer.

New Mexico experiences monsoons during the summer months due to seasonal wind shifts. These monsoons are caused by winds that shift, bringing moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean into the region. As the moist air is lifted over the mountainous terrain of New Mexico, it cools and condenses, resulting in heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, especially in the afternoons. This monsoon season typically runs from July to September and is a defining weather feature of the southwestern U.S., including New Mexico, Arizona, and parts of Texas. The state's dry desert climate contrasts sharply with the intense monsoonal rains.