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FACT BRIEF

Did El Paso record only four inches of rain in 2023?

By Brandy Ruiz
View this fact brief on El Paso Matters
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YES

El Paso saw 4.34 inches of rainfall in 2023.

For the past three years, El Paso and other Texas cities have experienced drought conditions on and off. Levels of drought are determined by factors such as short- and long-term precipitation levels, snowpack, humidity, lake and reservoir levels, soil moisture, and vegetation health.

Drought, lack of rain and increasing temperatures contribute to an increase in water demand, according to the El Paso Water water resources manager. El Paso’s water supply relies on sources like Elephant Butte Lake in New Mexico, whose water derives from snowpack from the Rio Grande watershed.

El Paso’s average yearly temperatures have increased since the 1980s. The city last year experienced its hottest year in more than 130 years.

Total rainfall in El Paso through April this year was 0.81 inches, compared to 0.69 inches in that time period in 2023.

See a full discussion of this at El Paso Matters
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
National Weather Service El Paso Monthly Precipitation Totals
NOAA Annual Drought Reports, U.S. Drought Maps Gathered (2021-2023) Google Docs
US Drought Monitor Texas
National Weather Service Climate
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El Paso Matters
El Paso Matters is a member-supported nonpartisan media organization that uses journalism to expand civic capacity in our region. We inform and engage with people in El Paso, Ciudad Juárez and neighboring communities to create solutions-driven conversations about complex issues shaping our region.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.