El Pasoans might have to hold onto their hats later this week as the weather forecast predicts windy conditions that could make the desert city smell like dust. The National Weather Service in El Paso has indicated that today, conditions are partly sunny with temperatures expected to peak at a comfortable 87 degrees. However, by Thursday, things are set to change, with areas of blowing dust after 1 p.m. and wind speeds that could gust as high as 37 mph.
The upswing in wind speed will usher in a series of blustery days. As reported by the National Weather Service, on Wednesday, winds will pick up in the afternoon with gusts as strong as 22 mph, though the day will be sunny with a high near 89. But the real hustle of the wind starts on Thursday when the forecast suggests a windy day with a southwest wind that will increase from 6 to 16 mph in the morning to 21 to 31 mph in the afternoon.
Come nightfall, the wind isn't expected to let up, with the NWS alerting to continued windy conditions and patches of blowing dust before 9 p.m. Despite the strong winds, the temperatures will remain relatively stable with Thursday night lows hovering around 62 degrees, another gusty day on Friday, and a slight cooldown over the weekend with a 30 percent chance of showers on Saturday.
While residents might enjoy a mostly sunny Friday with highs near 82, the breezy conditions are set to continue. The southwest winds will be blowing 8 to 13 mph in the morning, before increasing to speeds of 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon and could hit gusts as high as 31 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS also predicts a sunny Sunday with highs nearing 76, offering a potential reprieve from the earlier dusty conditions.
