2023 was Austin's hottest year on record since 1897, NWS says. See more weather facts

Bianca Moreno-Paz, Austin American-Statesman
Updated ·2 min read
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Austin saw some of its most extreme weather last year, with hot, dry weather dominating Central Texas for a large percentage of the year. The World Meteorological Organization had already predicted by November that 2023 would be the warmest year on record, citing an increase in greenhouse gases, rising sea levels, and death and devastation caused by extreme weather.

Records indicate 2023 hottest year in over a century

2023 was Austin's average hottest year on record in the 126 years since records have been kept by the National Weather Service. Austin's average daily temperature, recorded at Camp Mabry, was 72.3 degrees, an increase of 0.1 degrees from 2017, the previous record-holder.

From Austin to Del Rio on the southwestern border, meteorologists at the National Weather Service's Central/South Texas station chronicled record-breaking temperatures over the course of the last year.

A sign on East 51st Street displays an unofficial temperature on a hot afternoon Aug. 25. The actual temperature was about 10 degrees cooler at the time. Austin's high did hit 110 degrees on Aug. 17.
A sign on East 51st Street displays an unofficial temperature on a hot afternoon Aug. 25. The actual temperature was about 10 degrees cooler at the time. Austin's high did hit 110 degrees on Aug. 17.

Austin weather: These are Texas and Austin's hottest days on record

When was the hottest month in Austin in 2023?

Temperatures at Camp Mabry averaged 91 degrees during the month of August — and soared to 110 degrees on Aug. 17 — making it the hottest month of the year. In total, there were 138 days over the year that rose to over 90 degrees, with nearly 60% of those peaking over 100 degrees, meaning approximately 40% of the year experienced sweltering temperatures.

Temperatures did not ease to a comfortable level until the end of October, when the Austin area had its last 90-degree day on Oct. 21.

Summer in Austin: Austin breaks 100-year-old record of 105-plus temperatures — again

2023 was the hottest year on record at Austin's weather station at Camp Mabry, the National Weather Service announced.
2023 was the hottest year on record at Austin's weather station at Camp Mabry, the National Weather Service announced.

What was Austin's coldest day of the year?

The coldest days of last year, Jan. 31 and Feb. 8, reached a low of 29 degrees, while December was, on average, the coldest month, with an average temperature of 55 degrees.

More: Starting with 2021, compare how the past three winter storms have looked in Austin

What month saw the most rain in Austin?

The month of October in 2023 was the wettest, with 7.15 inches of rainfall recorded. A third of the month's rainfall came down on Oct. 26, causing flash floods across Central Texas and Shoal Creek, flowing through downtown Austin, to swell.

Total yearly rainfall totaled 26 inches, well below the average of approximately 35 inches per year, with the vast majority of Travis County still experiencing "extreme drought" conditions, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System.

More: 'Texans will need to bundle up,' Farmers' Almanac forecasts, but how accurate are these predictions?

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 2023 was Austin's hottest year since records started 126 years ago