100 Degree Weather Facts for Albuquerque
and Other New Mexico Sites

Summer 2011 (June-July-August) was the warmest on record at the Albuquerque Sunport, with an average temperature of 80.4 F. The temperature reached 100 or greater just two times, which is the long term average. However, a record number of days (85)  with temperatures of 90 F or higher was reached.

Thus far in 2012, the temperature has reached at least 100 F twice - 100 F on June 20th and 101 F on June 30th.  However, the max temperatures in June were below 90 degrees on only two days - 88 degrees on June 5th and 89 degrees on June 11th. This is a new record of number of days 90 degrees or higher in the month of June. In addition, the average temperature for June was 80.3 degrees, which tied the warmest June on record (since 1892), matching 1994.

Temperatures easily climb to 100 or higher over the east central and southeast plains during the summer months, however, maximum temperatures reach the 100 degree or more threshold less often in Albuquerque.  For other sites across central and southern New Mexico, maximum summer temperatures exceed 100 degrees every year. Across portions of northern New Mexico, and the high terrain statewide, temperatures remain below 100 degrees. 100 degree data for sites around New Mexico are listed in the table at the end of this article.

The graph below depicts the number of days with a maximum temperature of 100 degrees (F) or more for the period 1939 through 2010. Temperatures remained below 100 degrees in 30 years during this period. In 1980, the temperature reached at least 100 degrees on 28 days!
Frequency of 100 degree days in KABQ
It is interesting to note that while we have documented an increase in temperatures in recent years, there had not been a corresponding increase in days over 100 degrees.  Miniumum temperature have increased more than maximum temperatures, and when we look at the frequency of minimum temperatures greater than 70 degrees, and increase in recent years is evident, and reflects conditions documented in the drought years of the 1950s.
annual frequency of days with min T over 70 at KABQ
   
100 Degree Days at the Albuquerque Sunport since 1990
   
The number of days with a maximum temperature of at least 100 degrees at the Albuquerque Sunport since 1990 are listed in the table below, along with the highest summer temperature recorded at the Sunport. For those interested in 100 degree facts for other cities across the state, annual average statistics for 14 additional sites are listed at the end of this feature.
   
Year June July August Annual

Hottest Days
1990 9 0 0 9 104 on 6/25 & 6/29
1991 2 0 0 2 101 on 6/25
1992 0 2 0 2 100 on 7/5 & 7/6
1993 2 2 0 4 100 on 6/27, 6/28, 7/2 & 7/7
1994 7 3 2 12 107 on 6/26
1995 0 5 0 5 103 on 7/27 & 7/28
1996 1 0 0 1 100 on 6/21
1997 0 0 0 0 98 on 6/30 & 7/2
1998 3 0 0 3 102 on 6/29
1999 1 1 0 2 100 on 6/30 & 7/1
2000 0 0 0 0 99 on 6/15
2001 0 0 0 0 98 on 7/1
2002 1 2 0 3 101 on 7/1
2003 0 8 0 8 104 on 7/14
2004 0 0 0 0 97 on 7/21
2005 0 0 0 0 99 on 7/11 and 7/19
2006 0 0 0 0
98 on 6/5, 6/19, & 7/14
2007 0 1 0 1
100 on 7/3
2008 0 0 0 0
97 on 6/17 & 18, 7/31 & 8/1
2009 0 1 0 1 
100 on 7/19
2010 2 3 0 5 102 on 7/20
2011  2  0 0 5 100 on 6/24 and 6/26
 
Variability Across Albuquerque

Depending on the location across the Albuquerque Metro Area, the number of days for which the temperature reaches at least 100 degrees varies. In the table below, 100 degree statistics for two cooperative stations in Albuquerque (Valley and Foothills) are compared to those for the Albuquerque Sunport for the period 1991 - 2010.  100 degree days occur much less frequently in the higher elevations of the Foothills, and just a bit more often in the Valley. Note, the Valley location has not reported since June 27th and likely has reached 100 degrees a couple of times this month.
Number of 100 Degree Days 1991-2010
 
May
June
July
August
Total
Albuquerque Sunport
0
       19
28
2
 49
Albuquerque Valley
1
17
37
 6        61
Albuquerque Foothills
0
3
4
0
7
   
100 Degree Weather Facts for the Albuquerque:

 

  • For the historical period 1897-2011*, the mercury reached at least 100 degrees in 52 of those 115 years, or 45 percent of the years

  • At the Sunport, 1939-2010, the mercury has reached at least 100 degrees in 43 of 73 years, or 58 percent of the years

  • Since 1939, the mercury reached at least 100 degrees 225 times, for an average of 3 times a year

  • The hottest  temperature ever recorded was 107 degrees, June 26, 1994.

  • The greatest number of consecutive 100 degree days was nine (June 22-30, 1980)

  • The earliest date 100 degrees or higher was reached in any year was June 5, 2010 (max  of 100 degrees)

  • The latest date 100 degrees or higher was reached in any year was September 5, 1979 (max of 100 degrees)

  • Average number of days between the first and last occurrence of 100+ degrees  is 17 days

  • The highest frequency of 100+ maximum temperatures occurs between June 28th and July 2nd.  Since 1939, 100+ temperatures have been observed 45 times during that  five day period. The temperature reached at least 100 degrees the most often on June 28th (13 occurrences).
   
*Note that historical weather records for Albuquerque are based on data collected from a number of sites. The official weather station has been on the grounds of what is now the Albuquerque International Airport (elev. 5313') since 1939.  Prior to that, in 1892, the official station was at the intersection of 4th and Gold streets (elev. 4950'), the University of New Mexico from 1893-1910, and again from 1918-1931 (elev. 5150').  Records were kept at the Kimo Theatre (elev. 4960') from 1931-33, and at the TWA Airport from 1933-1938. Click here for a map illustrating the various reporting locations.
   
Average Number of Days Reaching at least 100 Degrees, and Maximum Number of Occurrences, for Sites Across New Mexico
   
Site
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
Ave/Year
Max Days in a Year
Period of Record
Farmington
0
0
1
0
0
1
9 in 2003
1978-present
Clayton
0
‹1
‹1
0
0
1
8 in 1924
1909-present
Las Vegas
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1948-present
Los Lunas
0
2
   3
1
0
         6
29 in 2003
1957-present
Socorro
0
3
3
1
0
7
38 in 1934
1931-present
Ruidoso
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1948-present
Roswell
1
6
5
2
0
14
36 in 1980
1949-present
Clovis
0
2
3
2
0
7
58 in 1943
1911-present
Hobbs
1
5
4
2
0
12
54 in 1998
1913-present
Glenwood
0
2
2
0
0
5
19 in 2003
1948-present
Carlsbad     1    8    7     3
1
20
48 in 1998
1948-present
Santa Fe Coop
0
0
0
0
0
0
 1 in 2010
1972-Present
T or C     1    8    8     3
0
        20
49 in 1994
1951-present
Tucumcari Coop
0
3
4
2
0
9
40 in 1980
1904-present
   
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