November 2017: El Paso’s Warmest November on record

Now that November has come to a close and the numbers are in, last month is now officially the warmest November in El Paso’s recorded history.

The average temperature (average of highs and lows) was 61.2 degrees, smashing the previous record setting November (1927) by 1.2 degrees. Typically we should be around 52.7 degrees.

These warm temperatures are more typical of October than November, with our average high for this past month over 75 degrees, 9 degrees above the average. As I’m writing this, we have still yet to record a freeze at the El Paso International Airport, the latest first freeze since observations began there in 1943.

The reason for the warmth was a stubborn, benign weather pattern that kept above average temperatures across the Southwest for almost the entirety of November. Nearly all cold fronts stayed to our north and east, only grazing us with the weaker tail end.

December is starting off on the same foot, but it finally looks as though we will see our first push of really cold air by Tuesday. At this point, this month is looking just slightly above normal, so keep your jackets handy.