El Paso wakes up mostly clear and mild this morning, with temperatures hovering near 640F at El Paso International Airport. A steady southerly flow is pulling moisture into the Borderland, setting the stage for a warm and slightly unsettled afternoon with a high near 870F. If you have outdoor plans later today, keep one eye on the sky for those quickhitting, gusty downpours.
Afternoon Through Saturday
Isolated showers and thunderstorms are on the table for Friday, April 10, between about 3 and 6 p.m., with activity expected to ramp up to scattered storms through the evening and into Friday night. The best shot at measurable rain lines up east of the Rio Grande, where storms could deliver brief heavy rain, gusty outflow winds and pockets of blowing dust. Forecasters note that rain totals should stay on the lighter side, generally under a tenth of an inch, with Saturday still looking showery in the mountains and across eastern areas, according to NWS El Paso.
Sunday Through Early Next Week
By Sunday, the sun is back, but the pattern flips to much drier and breezier. Southwest winds of 15 to 65 mph with gusts up to about 30 mph are likely through Tuesday. Those winds will kick up blowing dust and drive afternoon relative humidity into the teens, creating elevated to nearcritical fireweather concerns, especially Monday if fuels stay dry. Plan on gusty afternoons and factor that in if you are timing yard work, hikes or any outdoor projects.
How To Prepare
For Friday evening, build in extra time for the commute and be ready for sudden gusts and quick drops in visibility from downpours or dust; ease off the gas on highways and leave plenty of space between vehicles. Before Sunday’s windy stretch, secure trash cans, patio furniture and anything else that might take flight, and hold off on open burning while humidity is low. You can get official alerts by signing up with the El Paso CityCounty OEM, and it is a good idea to check live radar and local forecasts before heading out.
