El Paso woke up to partly cloudy skies and comfortable low 70s this morning, but the calm start will not last. Temperatures are expected to jump to around 80°F, and by midday, the west-southwest winds will crank up, turning gusty through the afternoon. That means a decent shot at patchy blowing dust during the commute. There is also a slight chance of a few brief, light rain showers when the winds peak, though most lowland neighborhoods will likely stay dry. The mountains will take the brunt of the wind and see the biggest impacts.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
The headline act is the wind: sustained west-southwest flow of about 7 to 24 mph, with gusts pushing into the upper 30s across the lowlands. In exposed mountain areas, especially the Sacramento Mountains, gusts could reach around 50 mph. A Wind Advisory is in place for portions of the mountains from noon to 7 p.m. MDT, where stronger gusts may toss unsecured items and make driving tricky for high-profile vehicles. For the latest watches, timing, and local zone details, check the National Weather Service El Paso.
Dust And Spotty Showers
Patchy blowing dust is most likely between about 1 and 3 p.m., with short-lived drops in visibility possible along I-10 and other open desert stretches. Rain chances stay low at roughly 20%, but a few brief, light showers could brush higher terrain and parts of the Gila region this afternoon. Winds will start to back off after sunset, and overnight lows should slide into the mid-50s.
How To Prepare
Bring in or tie down loose outdoor items and ease off the gas around large trucks; give extra room to buses and RVs when the gusts kick up. Anyone with respiratory issues should limit outdoor activity during dusty periods and keep medications close. If you are flying, check your flight status at El Paso International (KELP) before heading to the airport in case the wind stirs up delays.
Through The Weekend
Temperatures are set to climb into the mid-80s on Thursday and Friday before a cooler front moves in late Friday into Saturday, bringing readings back to around or slightly below normal for the weekend. Winds will shift to the east on Saturday, with breezy conditions hanging around. For updates and any new advisories, keep an eye on the National Weather Service El Paso.
