El Paso under 'excessive heat warning' as August records melt, power outages strike

Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times
Updated ·2 min read
24

The El Paso-Juárez region is under an "excessive heat warning" as dangerous temperatures continue shattering records in an unrelenting heat wave.

El Paso hit a new record high of 112 degrees on Sunday, smashing the old daily record of 103 set in 2015 and making it the hottest day ever in August since records began in 1887, the National Weather Service Office for El Paso said.

Temperatures could reach 108 to 111 degrees on Monday and are forecast to continue to top 100 for the rest of the week, the National Weather Service Office in El Paso reported. There is a chance for afternoon rains and thunderstorms in the region.

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The weather service has issued an excessive heat warning that's in place through Monday, but could be extended, due to the increased potential of heat-related illness, especially for people who are working or doing outdoor activities.

El Paso Electric power outage

More than 300 customers in various parts of El Paso were without electricity at about 9 a.m. Monday, according to the El Paso Electric power outage map online. The largest outage was impacting more than 200 customers in the Marty Robbins section of the East Side.

Since Sunday evening, El Paso Electric repair crews have been dealing with widespread power outages impacting thousands of customers due to the extreme temperatures, the utility said.

An outage map on Sunday night showed blackouts stretching from Anthony, Texas, to far East El Paso.

Heat melts El Paso records

The high temperature in El Paso was 109 degrees on Saturday, Aug. 5, breaking the old record for the date of 104 set in 2020, the National Weather Service reported. It was also the hottest day for August since 108 in 1980. The record set on Saturday was then topped on Sunday.

On Friday, Aug. 4, El Paso hit 107 degrees, breaking the daily record of 103 from 2010, the weather service said on Twitter.

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Two women use umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun as they walk around Downtown El Paso on June 20.
Two women use umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun as they walk around Downtown El Paso on June 20.

Weather authorities remind residents to take precautions to avoid heat exhaustion and the potentially deadly heat stroke, which can cause brain and organ damage when a body overheats.

Heat safety measures:

  • drink more fluids but avoid alcoholic or very sugary drinks

  • limit outdoor activities

  • stay indoors in an air-conditioned place

  • wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing

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This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: 'Excessive heat warning' in place for El Paso as records melt