El Paso woke up to blue skies and mild air Sunday, but the calm start is not sticking around. Temperatures around El Paso International Airport are in the low 60s as of Sunday, March 15, and west-northwest winds are already on the move. Those winds will ramp up through midmorning and peak this afternoon, making travel on exposed roads a handful and bumping up fire danger in nearby mountains and eastern valleys.
Afternoon Winds Take Over
By this afternoon, west-northwest winds should run about 15 to 26 mph with frequent gusts into the mid 30s. Stronger, more sporadic gusts are expected in passes and gaps. The Sacramento Mountains remain under a High Wind Warning into the afternoon, where gusts well above 50 mph are possible, and forecasters say some mountain spots could see gusts near 70 mph. Red Flag Warnings also stay in effect through the evening for several mountain and valley zones. For the latest watches and warnings, check the NWS El Paso.
Fire Weather And Safety
Humidity will drop into the single digits to the teens in many areas during the windiest part of the day, creating near-critical to critical fire weather where fuels are already dry, especially over the Lincoln and Sacramento ranges. Outdoor burning should be avoided, loose yard items and grills should be secured, and high-profile vehicles on I-10 and other exposed desert stretches will need extra space and caution. Pilots should check flight status at KELP before heading out. For background on the warm, dry pattern that set up today's wind and dust, see desert winds whipped up dust and delays, as per Hoodline.
Looking Ahead
A backdoor front moves through Sunday night into Monday and will cool things down a bit, with Monday highs near the upper 60s before temperatures bounce back. A rapid warmup starts Tuesday with highs near 80, then climbs into the 90s later in the week, roughly 20 to 25 degrees above normal. Many lowland neighborhoods could see their first 90-degree days of the year. Anyone with outdoor plans later in the week should shift the hardest work to the mornings and keep an eye on local advisories.
