El Paso woke up Monday, March 16, to mostly clear skies and a brisk start near 42°F at El Paso International Airport, with east-southeast breezes making it feel cooler than the number on the thermometer.
Today: Brief Cooldown After a Backdoor Front
A backdoor cold front slipped in from the Plains overnight, trimming daytime highs to around 66°F on Monday, March 16, and keeping ESE winds in the 8 to 18 mph range with gusts near 25 mph. Skies should stay mostly sunny, and lows tonight are expected to drop to the mid 40s. National Weather Service forecasters say this cool spell will be short-lived, with a rapid warmup already queued up for later this week.
Midweek Heat Surge
Temperatures rebound quickly on Tuesday, March 17, climbing into the upper 70s and then into the upper 80s by Wednesday, March 18. By Thursday and Friday (March 19 to 20), many lowland neighborhoods could see highs in the lower to mid 90s, roughly 20 to 25°F above normal for mid-March and possibly flirting with monthly records. Very low humidity, dropping into the single digits by Friday, will dry fuels fast and push wildfire risk higher on any day that turns breezy.
Plan Ahead
With a quick swing from cool to very warm, it is smart to shift strenuous outdoor chores to the morning or evening hours, stay on top of hydration, and tie down or bring in lightweight outdoor furniture. The city maintains cooling centers and public libraries for relief during heat events; check specific locations and hours through the El Paso Office of Emergency Management. El Paso OEM also recommends calling 2-1-1 if you need help finding a cooling site.
Local Context
This warm pattern has been on our radar since early March, as a stubborn ridge set the stage for multiple heat spikes. For a deeper dive into how the same high-pressure setup is primed to amplify temperatures later this week, see El Paso Sizzles As March Heatwave Threatens Records, as per Hoodline.
