The city of Gallup and a portion of McKinley County are located on the Colorado Plateau, an area of high broken country.  The elevation at Gallup is approximately 6,515 feet above sea level.  Precipitation averages about seven inches per year with roughly 40% falling in July, August and September, and 34% during December to March.  Snowfall seldom stays on the ground more than two or three days.

Old timers talk of the ever changing weather of Gallup.  If you don't like what you have at the moment, just wait and it will change.  Gallup winters are cold, but with low humidity and lots of sunshine, they are pleasant and seldom onerous.  Summer temperatures are moderated by low humidity and high elevation.  Evenings are cool and day time temperatures are comfortable.  The average minimum and maximum temperature range is 31.7ºF to 64.6ºF.  The maximum high temperature recorded was 99ºF and the maximum low was -57ºF.