August 2026 was the hottest on record for Albuquerque, along with the cumulative months of June, July and August, making it also the hottest summer on record for the city, according to a statement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Meteorologist Brian Guyer.
August saw an average temperature of 82.5 degrees — the average of the high and low temperature each day from the Sunport — breaking the previous record warmest August from 2011, which had an average temperature of 81.1 degrees. The 30-year normal (1991-2020) for August is 76.9 degrees, according to Guyer.
The average temperature for the summer was 81.0 degrees, also breaking the previous 2011 record of 80.4 degrees.
“The 30-year normal (for the summer) is 77.5 degrees. A +3.5 degree departure from normal for an entire season is significant and rare,” Guyer wrote. “Moderate to major heat stress occurred for an extended period this summer. This type of heat affects anyone without adequate cooling/hydration and will impact health systems and many industries.”
In addition to record heat, this summer was the ninth driest on record, with a total rainfall amount of 1.47 inches at the Sunport, which is 42% of the normal summer rainfall of 3.52 inches, according to Guyer.
Guyer wrote that other parts of the metro, such as the Sandia Mountain foothills, saw more rainfall, but amounts were still “below normal.”
“Summer 2023 was the last time it was drier than this summer with a total of only 0.69. The combination of heat and dryness has resulted in drought conditions deteriorating across the region,” Guyer wrote. “The Albuquerque area is currently in Extreme drought with Exceptional drought (worst category) covering parts of northern and northeast NM. Typically, we look for drought conditions to improve throughout the summer when chances for beneficial rainfall are supposed to be much higher.”
The record heat and below-normal rainfall resulted from a persistent area of high pressure over the region, according to Guyer.
“The area of high pressure will continue to impact the region through the end of this week with more hot temperatures. Rain chances will remain low but we are expecting a few showers and thunderstorms in the area Monday through Wednesday,” Guyer wrote.
Guyer also wrote that the fall and winter season are predicted to see above-normal precipitation across the region.
“The amount of precipitation needed to recover from the ongoing drought will require more than just one above normal winter season as impacts to area rivers, groundwater supply, and reservoir levels have been severe,” Guyer wrote.
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
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Paloma Chapa is the news and multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @paloma_chapa88
