Temperatures above 105 used to be rare in El Paso. Now it’s normal (2024)

El Paso’s high temperature hit 105 or more seven times in the first 16 days of this month. That’s more exteme heat days in two weeks than El Paso had in any decade between the 1890s and 1940s, weather records show.

The sharp increase in the number of extreme heat days in El Paso shows the impact of global warming and the urban heat island effect – which occurs when cities replace natural land cover with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings, and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat.

The forecast calls for 105+ temperatures Monday and Wednesday before finally cooling toward the end of the week. If the forecast holds, El Paso will have had more days of 105+ weather June 5-19 than the combined total in the city’s first 43 years of weather records, 1887-1929.

Here’s how many days of 105 degrees or more El Paso has experienced in each decade since 1900.

As El Paso began to urbanize following the arrival of railroads in 1881, the city rarely saw temperatures reach 105 or more, thanks in part to an elevation of 3,800 feet above sea level. Almost 10 years elapsed between the first recorded day of 105 or more on June 29, 1892, and the second such day on June 25, 1902. El Paso had nine years without a 105+ day between 1939 and 1948.

But extreme heat became more frequent starting in the 1950s and has become increasingly routine since the 1990s. It was once the norm for years to pass between 105+ temperatures in El Paso; since 2005, El Paso has had only one year (2015) where temperatures didn’t hit 105 or hotter.

El Paso has had as many 105+ days in the past four and a half years as the city had in its first 90 years of recorded weather history between 1887 and 1977. Last year was El Paso’s hottest on record and saw 33 days of temperatures 105 or more; it took 73 years for the city to record its first 33 days of 105+.

Before June 23, 1978, El Paso had never had a recorded temperature of 110 or higher. We’ve reached that level 22 times since, including three times in 2023. The highest temperature so far this year has been 109.

Heat impacts

Extreme heat kills more people in the United States than all other natural disasters combined. In El Paso, 106 people died of heat related causes between 1999 and 2023, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. That includes 11 heat deaths last year.

Rising heat also alters how people live. For example, many people have to spend a higher proportion of their income on electric and water bills to stay cool as temperatures rise.

A measure called cooling degree days is one way to estimate changing cooling needs. It measures the number of degrees above 65 over a period of time to show changes in cooling needs.

The average annual number of cooling degree days so far this decade in El Paso is 55% higher than at the beginning of the 20th century, and 22% higher than at the beginning of this century.

How you can reduce heat

Although the consensus among scientists is that increasing global temperatures are caused by man-made impacts that will require interventions by governments and industry, individuals can take some steps to reduce heat, especially in urban areas.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends these actions for reducing the impacts of urban heat islands.

• Increase shade around your home. Planting trees and other vegetation lowers surface and air temperatures by providing shade and cooling through evapotranspiration. Trees and vegetation that directly shade your home can decrease the need for air conditioning, making your home more comfortable and reducing your energy bill. Trees also protect your family’s health by improving air quality, by providing cooling shade for outdoor activities, and reducing exposure to harmful UV radiation.

• Install green roofs. A green roof, or rooftop garden, is a vegetative layer grown on a rooftop. Green roofs provide shade and remove heat from the air through evapotranspiration, reducing temperatures of the roof surface and the surrounding air. Green roofs absorb heat and act as insulators for your home, reducing energy needed to provide cooling and heating (which decreases your energy bill), improving indoor comfort, and lowering heat stress associated with heat waves.

• Install cool roofs. Cool (or reflective) roofs help to reflect sunlight and heat away from your home, reducing roof temperatures. This allows for your home to stay cooler, reducing the amount of air conditioning needed during hot days.

• Use energy-efficient appliances and equipment. Using efficient appliances and equipment in your home can help to lighten the load on the electric grid during heat waves, thus ensuring a more reliable supply of electricity to your community. When purchasing products, look for EPA’s Energy Star label to help you make the most energy-efficient decision.

• Check on your friends, family, and neighbors. Heat waves can be dangerous for people’s health and safety, particularly for the elderly, young, sick, and poor. Checking on your friends, family, and neighbors during hot days and making sure they have access to air conditioning or cooling centers will help to prevent heat-related illnesses and death.

12:15 p.m. Sunday, June 16: This story has been updated with the forecast for more extreme heat in coming days.