Weather and climate in El Paso (Texas)

In El Paso, there is a desert climate, mild in winter, but with cold nights, and definitely hot in summer.
The city is located in the western tip of Texas, at 1,150 meters (3,750 ft) above sea level, and at the border with Mexico, beyond which is the city of Juarez, and a short distance from the state of New Mexico. The Rio Grande River (or Río Bravo) comes from the north and marks the border with Mexico from the city of El Paso onwards.
We are in the Chihuahuan desert, where some rainfall can occur from July to September (which can sometimes cause flash floods, given the nature of the terrain).
In winter, from late November to February, there may be cold days, with highs below 10 °C (50 °F). Typically, the temperature drops only a few degrees below freezing on the coldest nights of winter (-2/-4 °C or 25/28 °F), and sometimes it can even snow. On average, 7 cm (2.8 in) of snow fall per year (in past decades, it used to snow more often). But once every few years, there can be a real polar cold wave, which lasts a few days. One of the worst was the cold wave of February 2011, when the temperature dropped to -17 °C (1 °F). But the record was set in January 1962, when it went down to as low as -21 °C (-6 °F).
In spring, the wind can lift the desert dust, reducing visibility.
In summer, June is generally the hottest month, but in July and August, the humidity increases slightly, making the heat a bit more muggy. On the hottest days, usually in June and sometimes in July, it reaches 40/42 °C (104/108 °F). The record was set in July 1994, when the temperature reached 45.5 °C (114 °F).
The average temperature of the coldest month (December) is of 7.8 °C (46 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 29.1 °C (84 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 225 millimeters (8.8 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 5 mm (0.2 in) in the driest months (March, April) to 40 mm (1.6 in) in the wettest ones (July, August, September). Here is the average precipitation.

On average, there are around 3,760 sunshine hours per year. On average, the sun shines 85% of the time. In fact, El Paso is one of the sunniest cities in the United States. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best seasons to visit El Paso are spring and autumn, to avoid both the winter cold and summer heat, even if they are unstable periods. For example, the months of April and October can be chosen. In winter, it is usually sunny and not too cold, but sometimes there can be cold waves.

Return to the climate of Texas.

El Paso - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January is generally a quite mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 8.1 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 1.4 °C (34.5 °F) and a maximum of 14.8 °C (58.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -12 °C (10.4 °F) in January 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in January 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 43%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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February is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 10.8 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 3.8 °C (38.8 °F) and a maximum of 17.8 °C (64 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (23.5 °F). However, it dropped to -17.2 °C (1 °F) in February 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 29.4 °C (84.9 °F) in February 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 84% of the time.
The average humidity is 36%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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March is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.8 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 7.5 °C (45.5 °F) and a maximum of 22.2 °C (72 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30.5 °F). However, it dropped to -8 °C (17.6 °F) in March 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84.5 °F). However, it reached 33.9 °C (93 °F) in March 2017.
Precipitation amounts to only 6 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 88% of the time.
The average humidity is 28%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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April is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.2 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 11.8 °C (53.2 °F) and a maximum of 26.7 °C (80.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1.1 °C (30 °F) in April 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 35.6 °C (96.1 °F) in April 1992.
Precipitation amounts to only 4 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 89% of the time.
The average humidity is 22%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).

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May is generally a warm to hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 24.1 °C (75 °F), with a minimum of 16.7 °C (62.1 °F) and a maximum of 31.5 °C (88.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4.4 °C (39.9 °F) in May 2013.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99 °F). However, it reached 40.6 °C (105.1 °F) in May 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 11 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 12.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 90% of the time.
The average humidity is 22%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (10 mph).

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June is generally a very hot month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 28.8 °C (84 °F), with a minimum of 21.4 °C (70.5 °F) and a maximum of 36.2 °C (97.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 15.5 °C (59.5 °F). However, it dropped to 10.6 °C (51.1 °F) in June 1991.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 41 °C (105.5 °F). However, it reached 45 °C (113 °F) in June 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 13 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 90% of the time.
The average humidity is 25%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 29.1 °C (84 °F), with a minimum of 22.8 °C (73 °F) and a maximum of 35.4 °C (95.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). However, it dropped to 15.5 °C (59.9 °F) in July 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 40.5 °C (104.5 °F). However, it reached 45.6 °C (114.1 °F) in July 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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August is generally a very hot month. The average temperature is of 28.2 °C (83 °F), with a minimum of 22.1 °C (71.8 °F) and a maximum of 34.4 °C (93.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18 °C (64.5 °F). However, it dropped to 15.6 °C (60.1 °F) in August 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38.5 °C (101.5 °F). However, it reached 41.7 °C (107.1 °F) in August 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 82% of the time.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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September is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 25.0 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 18.6 °C (65.5 °F) and a maximum of 31.3 °C (88.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it dropped to 8.3 °C (46.9 °F) in September 1991.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (97.5 °F). However, it reached 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) in September 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 82% of the time.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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October is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.2 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 12.2 °C (54 °F) and a maximum of 26.3 °C (79.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.2 °C (28 °F) in October 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 36.1 °C (97 °F) in October 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 85% of the time.
The average humidity is 39%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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November is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 12.5 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 5.6 °C (42.1 °F) and a maximum of 19.4 °C (66.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (26.5 °F). However, it dropped to -8.3 °C (17.1 °F) in November 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27 °C (80 °F). However, it reached 31.1 °C (88 °F) in November 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 11 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 82% of the time.
The average humidity is 41%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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December, the coldest month of the year, is generally a quite mild month. The average temperature is of 7.8 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 1.3 °C (34.3 °F) and a maximum of 14.3 °C (57.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6.5 °C (20.5 °F). However, it dropped to -14 °C (6.8 °F) in December 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 24.4 °C (75.9 °F) in December 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 46%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).