El Paso woke up to clear skies and a comfortable 68°F at El Paso International early Tuesday, April 14, but the calm is on borrowed time. Southwest winds are on track to crank up this afternoon, with patchy blowing dust likely after noon and gusts into the low to mid 30s possible in the more exposed spots. Expect a high near 80°F and breezy conditions that hang around through the evening.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
Forecasters are calling for southwest winds of about 8 to 18 mph this afternoon, with stronger gusts funneled through open desert stretches and mountain passes. Around town, the public forecast points to gusts in the upper 20s and up to the 30s in exposed locations, enough to send dust plumes racing across the landscape. That, paired with very dry lowland air, means quick drops in visibility are likely wherever dust gets stirred up. The setup is detailed by NWS El Paso.
Travel And Visibility
Drivers should be ready for sudden visibility hits, with localized readings dropping toward 5 miles or lower inside a dust plume. If you roll into a brownout, slow down and pull well off the road until the air clears. El Paso International could see some delays this afternoon and into the evening when gusts peak, and high-profile vehicles and trailers would be wise to secure loads before the strongest winds arrive. Yesterday, we broke down the gusty pattern in El Paso Gets Sandblasted, which digs into the usual dust hot spots, as per Hoodline.
Fire Weather Through The Week
Relative humidity across some lowland areas is expected to sink into the teens, a combo with the wind that pushes fire weather into the elevated to near critical range by Thursday into Friday. Gusts on those days could make even small fires harder to corral. Officials are urging residents to skip outdoor burning and be cautious with anything that can throw sparks while conditions are dry and gusty. Check local fire restrictions and official forecasts before you fire up yardwork or equipment.
Weekend Outlook
Winds should back off on Wednesday before another gusty round arrives late in the week. Saturday looks a bit cooler, and there is a slight chance of afternoon and evening showers on Sunday, mainly east of the Rio Grande, with highs near 75°F. If you have outdoor plans, keep an eye on the forecast plus traffic or airport updates so the wind and dust do not catch you off guard.
