Heat advisories issued throughout New Mexico as monsoon season begins

Heat advisory warnings have been issued in several parts of New Mexico as a heat wave bakes the Southwest United States.

Albuquerque reached 101 degrees Fahrenheit on June 13 – the third time the city has hit 100 degrees so far in June, according to the National Weather Service.

Monsoon season, marked by a change in wind direction that brings more rain and storms to the Southwest, began Saturday, June 15 and will last through September 30. This year’s monsoon season will be hotter than average, according to KRQE.

A heat advisory is generally issued within 12 hours of the beginning of dangerous heat conditions when “the maximum heat index temperature is expected to be 100 degrees or higher for at least two days,” according to the NWS.

On Monday, June 17, heat advisories were issued for Roswell and Carlsbad – where temperatures reached 108 and 106 degrees, respectively – according to KOAT.

Rising heat often comes with public health concerns, especially regarding heat-related illness among young children and the elderly. Last year, over 2,300 death certificates nationwide mentioned heat-related causes of death, according to the Associated Press.

As of Thursday, June 20, there have been 314 New Mexico Emergency Department visits for heat-related illness since April, according to a database by the New Mexico Department of Health.

Kris Pikaart, director of operations at Gallup Community Health, a nonprofit medical clinic that serves northwest New Mexico, said the weather has affected the clinic’s operations. While the clinic has not seen a significant increase in visits due to heat, Pikaart said the heat has been disruptive in other ways.

“The funny thing is, we do see a rise in complaints about wait times and treatment. I think it’s because the heat is affecting the mood of patients and staff, which also affects the quality of our customer service,” Pikaart said.

When air conditioning systems do not function properly, examination rooms get hot and offices frequently reach above 90 degrees, Pikaart said.

The upcoming weekend will see highs near 96 and 99 degrees in Albuquerque, according to the NWS. On Wednesday, June 26, the high will be near 102 degrees.

Shin Thant Hlaing is a freelance reporter at the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com