Albuquerque hits 100 degrees as weeklong heat wave continues

Albuquerque reached 100 degrees Wednesday afternoon, June 17, at Albuquerque International Airport, its first triple-digit reading of the year as a Heat Advisory and Red Flag Warning covered the metro. More heat was forecast right behind it, with highs of 102 on Thursday, 101 on Friday and 100 on Saturday under sunny skies.

Albuquerque’s average first 100-degree day is June 30, and the most frequent date for a triple-digit high is June 28. The June 17 reading came nearly two weeks early, in a city that reaches 100 degrees less often than many other parts of central and southern New Mexico.

June usually starts much milder here. Albuquerque’s long-term average June temperature is 73.8 degrees, with average June precipitation of 0.61 inches. 1980 produced 28 days at or above 100 degrees at Albuquerque Sunport, the high-water mark in the local record.

Some vulnerable neighborhoods can see daytime temperature differences of more than 15 degrees because of asphalt and limited tree cover. The City of Albuquerque puts metro-area emergency room visits tied to heat-related illness at more than 60,000 each year.

City cooling resources were open as the heat settled in. The city’s Summer Cool Down options include multigenerational centers, senior centers, community centers, service centers, shelters, public pools and splash pads. Residents should stay hydrated, wear loose, light-colored clothing, use hats for protection and avoid outdoor activities when possible, with extra attention to pets, which need water and protection from hot pavement.

The same afternoon Albuquerque was under both a Heat Advisory, from noon to 8 p.m. MDT, and a Red Flag Warning, from noon to 9 p.m. MDT. National Weather Service guidance identifies extreme heat as the deadliest weather phenomenon over the last 10 years, and lists confusion, fainting, loss of consciousness and a body temperature above 103 degrees as heat-stroke warning signs.