heat

New Mexicans should prepare for a historic heat wave peaking this weekend. On Tuesday, the New Mexico Department of Health issued a warning advising residents to look out for signs of heat illness as the temperature jumps to levels the National Weather Service said usually arrive just before June.

This past weekend brought record temperatures for the cities of Albuquerque, Roswell, Socorro, and most of southwest New Mexico. The unseasonably warm weather broke the previous daily record by five degrees.

On Thursday, health advocates told lawmakers that increasing extreme heat is impacting Indigenous people’s wellbeing and traditional ways of life.

Though summer doesn’t officially begin until next week, temperatures are already hitting the triple digits across parts of New Mexico. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Thursday in the middle and lower Rio Grande Valley. A shelter in Socorro is seeking volunteers to help keep its cooling center open on these sweltering days.

People around New Mexico have been blasting their swamp coolers for weeks. And folks with low incomes can apply through a statewide program for help with…