As of Thursday, the City of Champions is wearing a new, hopefully temporary crown: hottest spot in the state.
With a temperature of 101 recorded by the New Mexico State University Ag Science Center, Artesia’s streak of 100-degree days hit 19. That’s currently the longest stretch of triple-digit temps in New Mexico amidst a summer that’s seen heat records shattered throughout the state.
Residents in the Southeast corner are no strangers to hot weather, but many report this year’s wave feels more brutal than most.
Last week, residents were found installing misting systems on their patios and baking chocolate-chip cookies on the dashboards of their vehicles. The hottest hours of the day have even forced the majority of the community’s throngs of Pokémon hunters indoors, save a brave few this afternoon near Central Park, who stated they were tracking – appropriately enough – a Charmander.
The streak is likely to continue over the weekend, with forecasts topping 100 listed through Sunday. A possibility of highs backing into the 90s exists for Monday through Thursday of next week.
And in terms of Artesia’s new normal, that would be a welcome cold snap.
