Get ready for a scorcher: Carlsbad prepares for first 100 degree day as summer heat sets in

Carlsbad's perilous summer heat is coming a little early this spring, as temperatures were predicted to cross into the triple digits by the end of the week after a slight cool-down.

Tuesday’s high was expected to be up to 98 degrees, with a low of 59, and a cold front was expected to enter the region on Wednesday, dropping the high to 81 degrees with a low of 55.

But the respite from potentially dangerous heat wouldn’t last long.

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On Thursday, south to southwest winds were expected to come down from the mountains, raising the temperature to a high of 95 degrees and low of 63.

Then, on Friday the high was forecast at 102 degrees – the first time this year Carlsbad got hotter than 100.

“We have a cold front coming in that could give us some relief,” said Michelle Schuldt, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Midland-Odessa Office. “The warm-up will continue through Thursday.”

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Schuldt said late April was “a little early” for such high heat which usually strikes by the late spring and early summer.

She said the area will also experience significant dryness with humidity dropping into the single digits and up to 15 percent on Thursday.

That means the area will heat up faster, Schuldt said, as winds come down from the mountains.

“That’s pretty low. The dryness is contributing,” she said. “Air heats up faster when it’s dryer.”

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And with the northwest winds coming down from higher elevations, Schuldt said the heat could set in for the coming weeks.

Heavy rains weren’t expected until June at the earliest, meaning the region could be looking forward to a hot and dry late spring.

“Right now, we have an upper ridge to our west. The wind direction is having an impact,” she said. “It warms as it moves lower.”

Carlsbad’s low elevation could also make it hotter than other surrounding cities like Hobbs and Roswell, Schuldt said.

About an hour to the east, Hobbs had a high of about 95 degrees on Tuesday, cooling off to 78 degrees on Wednesday.

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The area was expected to heat up to 89 degrees on Thursday, and 98 on Friday.

Roswell was also not expected to cross the 100 degree threshold, peaking this week at 99 degrees on Friday from a high of 95 degrees on Thursday.

“Looking at the terrain, Hobbs is a little higher in elevation than Carlsbad,” Schuldt said. “It’s kind of this valley of lower terrain. Lower terrain tends to heat up more. For experiencing it this early, it’s not a good sign. We might have a pretty warm summer, unless we have a significant pattern change.”

In high-heat environments, people risk suffering from heat exhaustion and illness when recreating outside.

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The National Weather Service's Hazardous Weather Outlook said the unseasonably warm weather could put southeast New Mexicans at risk. 

"Unseasonably warm temperatures could pose heat-related health risks such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke for those working outdoors today," the Outlook read. "Those in east central to southeastern New Mexico will be most susceptible."

Schuldt cautioned residents to avoid strenuous activities and stay hydrated.

“If people are outside, avoid any heavy exertion,” she said. “Drink lots of water. Staying inside with the air conditioning on would probably be the safest option.”

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.