Albuquerque is edging toward rewriting its climate history as the hot New Mexico city approaches its all-time record for days at 90°F or higher, a mark set during the intense summer of 1983.
By the end of last week, Albuquerque International Sunport had recorded 88 days with temperatures over 90 degrees.
Experts predict that temperatures will stay in the 90s into early September, and the 43-year-old record of 92 days is likely to be surpassed this week.
This milestone is not new for many longtime Albuquerque residents, who remember 1983 as one of the city’s toughest summers.
The record, however, has come close to falling several times, including more than 90 days over 90°F in 2011; both 2020 and 1994 saw 88 such days. But none of these years has surpassed the 1983 record.
Unusually early heat
This year, the heat started much earlier than usual. On March 21, Albuquerque hit 91°F, breaking the record for the city’s earliest 90-degree day.
Prior to 2026, the earliest 90-degree day was May 3, so this year’s first arrived more than six weeks earlier. The rest of the summer brought steady heat, with only short breaks from the high temperatures.
By late August, Albuquerque had seen more 90-degree days than almost any other year since weather records began in 1931.
Forecasters think temperatures will stay in the low-to-mid 90s at least through the week. This means the city will likely pass the 90-day mark and could break the 92-day record.
A sudden stretch of cooler weather could still keep the 1983 record intact. But with forecasts calling for more 90-degree days, the record will probably be broken.
How the relentless summer affects people
The record heat has adverse effects on people’s health and lifestyle.
Hospitals have seen an increase in heat-related emergency room visits. Health records showed more than 900 heat-related illnesses since April, breaking the record for the same period.
Officials said the toll on health may intensify. Describing this grim picture as a serious threat to public health, they warned that heat-related illness can be particularly dangerous to children, adults aged 65 and older, outdoor workers, and people with pre-existing health conditions. Health officials advised outdoor workers to consider shifting their work hours to avoid the hottest part of the afternoon.
As residents struggle to escape the heat, air-conditioning systems have been running for hours, driving up electricity costs.
A warming trend
Climate scientists say New Mexico is getting warmer over time, with more hot days, especially at lower elevations.
The stronger greenhouse effect is the main driver of extreme weather. Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, operating factories, and changing land use trap heat in the atmosphere.
Climate Central noted that Albuquerque’s average temperatures have increased by almost 4°F in recent decades, leading to more frequent and longer summer heatwaves.
If the forecast is right, just a few more 90-degree days will be enough for Albuquerque to break a record that has lasted 43 years.
