El Paso woke up to clear skies and a crisp start around 55°F at the airport, with a light northeast breeze nudging the morning along. The sun takes over from here, with afternoon highs near 83°F expected today. Temperatures will climb quickly through the weekend, with a strong warm-up likely to push lowland highs into the lower to mid 90s by Saturday. If you have outdoor plans, you may want to shift them to earlier or later in the day as the heat ramps up.
Warming Today, Near-95°F Heat By Saturday
According to the National Weather Service El Paso, highs should land near 83°F on Thursday, rise into the upper 80s on Friday, and then surge to around 95°F on Saturday. Drier air will bring humidity down, with forecasters noting that single-digit relative humidity is possible across some desert lowlands Friday and Saturday. That combo of hotter temperatures and very dry air can increase outdoor heat stress and create elevated fire-weather concerns. Daytime winds should stay generally light, but expect shifting morning and evening breezes as surface flow changes.
Storm Slim Chance, Morning Gusts In The Mix
A weak backdoor front sliding through this morning will turn winds east to northeast and kick up some gustiness; west-facing slopes could see gusts near 30 mph during the morning hours. There is also a slight chance of isolated thunderstorms late Friday for far west Texas and Hudspeth County. Any storm that pops up should be brief but could still bring lightning and gusty outflow winds. No watches or warnings are in effect for El Paso or Hudspeth counties right now, but forecasters will keep an eye on conditions as the thermometer climbs.
Beat The Heat: Cooling Centers And Smart Timing
The City of El Paso operates free cooling stations during heat events; you can call 2-1-1 to find the nearest location and get hours of operation. Two of the sites listed by the city are Galatzan Rec Center at 650 Wallenberg Dr. and Gary Del Palacio Rec Center at 3001 Parkwood St., both of which keep extended hours during heat activations. For a full list of locations and updated hours, check the City of El Paso. In the meantime, stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor work during the hottest part of the day, and keep tabs on local updates if you or family members are sensitive to the heat.
