El Paso residents are battening down the hatches as a strong Pacific cold front is expected to sweep through the area, bringing with it a noticeable drop in temperatures and gusty winds. According to the National Weather Service, gusts may reach up to 30-40 mph in some regions overnight through Tuesday morning, affecting locations such as the Sierra Lakes region and Luna and Dona Ana Counties.
The NWS warns that the frontal passage will produce brisk winds that will significantly drop the perceived temperature, with apparent temperatures in the mountains hitting a chilling 5 to 15 degrees and 15 to 25 degrees across the lowlands by early Tuesday morning. While the actual daytime temperatures will climb to a nippy 40s and lower 50s in the lowlands on Tuesday, the winds are likely to make it feel much colder throughout the day.
Following Tuesday's winds, the weather conditions are expected to settle, but not before the region experiences the coldest temperatures of the season by Wednesday morning. Low temperatures at this time are expected to be around 15 to 25 degrees in the lowlands and 10 to 20 degrees in the mountains, the NWS cautioned. The frigid conditions have prompted advisories for residents to protect against the season's harshness, safeguarding pets and outdoor equipment, such as any exposed piping vulnerable to the temperatures.
It's not all drearily cold forecasts, though, as there's a silver lining in knowing that Wednesday will remain on the cooler end before a gradual warmup begins Thursday, with more significant improvements by Friday and into the weekend. The impending warmth brings a bit of a reprieve from an otherwise starkly cold week as the region anticipates sunny skies and highs gradually rising to the mid-60s. Residents looking forward to enjoying this shift in the weather can expect mostly clear skies, mild winds, and an overall calmer weather pattern to round out the week.
