Earlier this month, Albuquerque reached a record of three consecutive days of triple digit temperatures, along with record high temperatures for August, with August 3 and 4 reaching 101 degrees, and August 9 reaching 100 degrees, according to a National Weather Service Albuquerque statement sent to the Daily Lobo.
Three consecutive days of triple digit temperatures for August is a record, according to the statement. Temperatures are recorded at the Albuquerque Sunport, which is the official observation site.
For the month of August, the National Weather Service recorded 101 degrees as the highest temperature so far, occurring three consecutive days from August 3 to August 5, plus a fourth separate day — totalling four triple digit days as of August 12, which is also a record for August, according to NWS Albuquerque.
Temperatures are still forecasted to rise at or above 100 degrees around the state later this week.
“People should always remain hydrated, take breaks if working outdoors for long (including finding air conditioned interiors), and make sure to never leave children or pets in cars,” the statement reads.
On August 6, a New Mexico Department of Health press release warned residents to watch for heat illness starting last week and moving forward, as temperatures exceeded 100 degrees across much of New Mexico.
“Since April 1, about 770 people have visited New Mexico health facilities for heat-related emergencies,” the statement reads.
NMDOH advises people to watch for symptoms of heat related illness including “a fever or chills, nausea or vomiting, or confusion from the heat”, and to stay inside or in the shade.
On June 16, the city launched “Operation Cool Down 2026,” a “citywide effort to help residents stay safe, healthy, and connected to cooling resources during extreme summer heat,” according to a City of Albuquerque press release.
“Extreme heat is a serious public safety issue, and we are treating it that way,” Mayor Tim Keller wrote in the press release. “Our job is to make sure people know where to go, how to get help, and that no one is left outside without options. Whether someone needs a library, a community center, a pool, shelter, or emergency transportation, the City is ready to help residents cool down and stay safe.”
NWS issued multiple heat advisories across the state this month, which are issued based on different thresholds depending on the forecast zone. Mountain zones have a threshold of 95 degrees for “Advisory” and 100 degrees for “Warning,” while lower elevation locations west of the central mountains have thresholds of 100 degrees and 105 degrees, respectively, according to NWS.
“The heat has been caused by an area of high pressure over the region, a good measure to see the strength of the high pressure is to identify at what height above mean sea level (MSL) the 500 millibar pressure level is. For example, the 500 millibar pressure height above MSL was 5980 meters on our August 6th afternoon atmospheric sounding. This height is above the 90th percentile for early August when looking at climatology of soundings. This can put it into perspective of why it was so hot across the area for several days,” the statement reads.
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The heat in Albuquerque is coupled with dryness as Bernalillo County is classified under “extreme drought”, according to the U.S Drought Monitor.
July was the hottest month on record for the contiguous United States since recording began in 1895, with a monthly average temperature of 76.89 degrees, according to NOAA.
Leila Chapa is the photo editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06
Paloma Chapa is the news and multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @paloma_chapa88
Leila Chapa is the photo editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @paloma_chapa88
