El Paso will see triple digit daily highs for the foreseeable future, as a yearlong streak of hot weather deepens its hold on the Chihuahuan Desert region, the National Weather Service predicts.
If that forecast proves accurate, El Paso will shatter June heat records. The hottest June on record came in 1994, when 23 of the 30 days that month had temperatures above 100 – including El Paso’s hottest day ever of 114 on June 30.
Through the first nine days of June – presumably a cooler part of the month as temperatures usually rise in the latter part of the month – the average daily temperature already is approaching the 1994 record.
The high for Monday, June 10, is predicted to be 96 degrees. Temperatures will be much warmer as the week goes along, with temperatures approaching 110 on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
In the past 12 months, El Paso has recorded its hottest-ever months for July and September; second-hottest October; third-hottest August and May; and the fourth-hottest November.
Last year was El Paso’s warmest on record, but temperatures didn’t regularly hit triple digits until the second half of June. El Paso already has seen six triple-digit days through June 9 this year.
Nights also have been warm. The temperature never dropped below 80 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Between 1887 and 2022, El Paso had only three occasions with three or more consecutive June days where temperatures didn’t drop below 80. It’s happened in both of the last two years.
Driven by the effects of climate change and a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect, the five hottest years on record in El Paso have come since 2016. Eight of our 10 hottest years have come since 2012.
Heat safety
El Paso’s Office of Emergency Management offers these tips for staying safe during extreme heat.
- Never leave a child, adult, or animal alone inside a vehicle on a warm day.
- Find places with air conditioning. Libraries, shopping malls, and community centers can provide a cool place to take a break from the heat.
- If you’re outside, find shade. Wear a hat wide enough to protect your face.
- Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. If you or someone you care for is on a special diet, ask a doctor how best to accommodate it.
- Do not use electric fans when the temperature outside is more than 95 degrees, as this could increase the risk of heat-related illness. Fans create air flow and a false sense of comfort, but do not reduce body temperature.
- Avoid high-energy activities.
- Check yourself, family members, and neighbors for signs of heat-related illness.
