- Scientists agree that climate change caused by human activity pushesup temperatures across the United States, particularly in the Southwest.
2021 will be remembered as one of El Paso's hottest years and wettest monsoon seasons dating back to 1879. From a February snowstormto torrential summerrains and an unseasonably warmholiday season, 2021weather kept El Pasoans on their toes.
Instead of anomalies, these conditions signifywhat is to come. Scientists agree that climate change caused by human activity pushesup temperatures across the United States, particularly in the Southwest. 2021 was the ninth warmest year on record in El Paso. Eightof the top 10 warmest years took place in the past decade.
More:El Paso not messing around with Sun City nickname: Weather expected to be warm, dry this winter
Shorts weather in December
El Paso had its second warmestDecember on record, with an average temperature of52.7 degrees. The same trend played out across the state and country. Texas had its warmest December since 1889, according to state climatologistJohn Nielsen-Gammon of Texas A&M University.Preliminary datashows the continental United States had its warmest December ever.
"Not only is it by far the warmest December since the beginning of comprehensive weather records, it will probably also turn out to be the warmest winter month, period," Nielsen-Gammon said in a press release.
El Paso'sfirst freeze of the season was not until Dec. 20, tying the record for the latest in the year.
On Christmas, El Paso hit a toasty 72 degrees. But that was nothing compared to Rio Grande Village, Texas, where a National Weather Service (NWS)station hit94 degrees. The station in Big Bend National Parknow holds the dubious distinction of the hottest Christmas temperature on record in the entire U.S.
The past year had the fourth warmest fall on record in El Paso. November was the seventh warmest on record in El Paso, with an average temperature of 57.4degrees.
Wet and wild monsoon season
Between June 15 and Sep. 30, a record-breaking monsoon season defined the summer months. El Paso received 10.08 inches of rain, whichtied the record for the fourth wettest monsoon season.
Downpours in July and August flooded neighborhoodsand brought traffic to a standstill. The city's official weather station at the airport recorded the most daily precipitation at 1.93 inches on July 18.
More:El Paso's monsoon season brought relief from drought, caused disaster preparedness challenges
However, the Aug. 12storm will be remembered as the year's most damaging. The airport weather station received only received 1.27 inches of rain that day, but Central El Paso recorded 4.65 inches. A 65-year-old grandmother and her 2-year-old granddaughter diedwhen a wall collapsed in their home In Central El Paso. The rains also damagedstormwater channels and drainage systems, requiring costly repairs.
Despite the prodigious monsoon season, theNational Integrated Drought Information System ranks El Paso as "abnormally dry," one step removed from an official drought. The cumulative effect of several dry years means that one above-average rain year isn't enough —2020 was among the top 10 driest monsoon seasons.
More:Tuesday's 200-mile-wide dust storm brought 64 mph winds to El Paso
The Sun City is only getting hotter
In2021, six daily temperature high records in El Paso were tied or broken. Only one dailylow-temperature record was set.
The year's hottest dayswere June 12 and 20, when the mercury peaked at 109 degrees. Feb. 14 and 15 werethe year's coldest days at 14 degrees. A Valentine's Day snowstorm blanketed the region.
More:Valentine's Day snow covers El Paso as winter storm hits Borderland region
But don't let the occasional snowfall fool you:Temperatures in El Paso are increasing faster than in almost any other metro area nationwide.
An October reportfrom theTexas climatologist found that out of Texas' 254 counties, El Paso's average temperature increase was greater than all but one.Between 1975 and 2020, El Paso County'saverage temperaturerose 0.83 degrees.
The non-profitClimate Central analyzed temperature data across the country and found that among metro areas, El Paso had the greatest spring average temperature increase over the past 40 years, at1.1 degrees. El Paso also tied with Odessa, Texas, and Las Cruces, New Mexico, for the highest average summer temperature increase, at 1.2 degrees.
More:State climatologist: El Paso can expect more extreme heat, 100 degree days to double by 2036
If 2021 was any indication, El Paso couldexpect more extremes this year. The first days of January 2022brought a cold snap, with temperatures dropping to the low 20s at night. Temperatures will be creeping back up in the next few days.La Niña is expected to keep the rest of the winter dry and relatively warm.
Staff writer Martha Pskowski may be reached at mpskowski@elpasotimes.com and @psskow on Twitter.
