100 Degree Facts for Albuquerque and Other New Mexico Sites

Summer 2013 has seen two 100+ degree high temperatures now at the Albuquerque Sunport. On June 11th a high of 101 was reached. This tied the record high for the date. The Albuquerque Valley reached 100 degrees as well on the 10th and 102 on the 11th. On June 27th the high at the Sunport reached 105 degrees, the highest since June 25th, 1994 (also 105). The 105 degree temperature tied with 6 other days for the 2nd hottest temperature on record. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 107 degrees on June 26th, 1994. The Albuquerque Valley also reached 105 on June 27th, their highest temperature on their relatively short (since 1991) period or record. The Albuquerque Foothills reached 102 on June 27th, tying their all time high temperature on record (since 1991).

Summer 2012 (June-July-August) was the 3rd warmest on record at the Albuquerque Sunport, with an average temperature of 79.7 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.

Summer 2012 for New Mexico's other two climate sites, Clayton and Roswell had their 3rd (77.1) and 4th (82.7) warmest summers on record, respectively. Clayton reached 100 or greater nine times, which was a record number of times for any year since 1909. Roswell had 40 days at or above 100 degrees, the second most in any given year. The 2011 year had a record 60 days of 100 degrees F or higher.

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. One hundred degree data for sites around New Mexico are listed in the table at the end of this feature.

The graph below depicts the number of days with a maximum temperature of 100 degrees (F) or more for the period 1939 through 2012. Temperatures remained below 100 degrees in 30 years during this period. In 1980, the temperature reached at least 100 degrees on 28 days!

 

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 temperatures have increased more than maximum temperatures, and when we look at the frequency of minimum temperatures greater than 70 degrees, an increase in recent years is evident, and reflects conditions documented in the drought years of the 1950s.
 
   
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 (ABQ record high)
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
2012 2 0 0 2 101 on 6/30
2013 2       100 on 6/11
 
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 1992 - 2012. 100 degree days occur much less frequently in the higher elevations of the Foothills, and more often in the Valley.
Number of 100 Degree Days 1992-2013
 
May
June
July
August
Total
Albuquerque Sunport
0
       23
28
2
 51
Albuquerque Valley
1
 19
39
 6       67
Albuquerque Foothills
0
3
4
0
7
   
100 Degree Weather Facts for the Albuquerque:

 

  • For the historical period 1897-2012*, the mercury reached at least 100 degrees in 54 of those 116 years, or 47 percent of the years

  • At the Sunport, 1939-2012, the mercury has reached at least 100 degrees in 43 of 74 years, or 58 percent of the years

  • Since 1939, the mercury reached at least 100 degrees 227 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

  • Highest frequency of 100+ maximum temperatures occurs between June 28th and July 2nd.  Since 1939, 100+ temperatures have been observed 48 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 Ag
0
0
1
0
0
1
9 in 2003
1978-present
Clayton
0
 < 1 < 1 < 1
0
1
9 in 2012
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
 5 4
2
0
14
61 in 2011
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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