El Paso is starting Monday, April 13, calm and mostly clear at about 64°F near El Paso International, but the quiet is on borrowed time. Expect a high near 82°F this afternoon as southwest winds ramp up through the day, with patchy blowing dust developing after about 1 p.m. and gusts topping out around 36 mph in spots.
According to NWS El Paso, Monday and Tuesday are on track to be the breeziest stretch of the week. Isolated high-based showers could briefly punch out stronger downburst winds, which may kick up thicker dust plumes in localized areas. Forecasters say gusts could reach 40–45 mph Tuesday in exposed locations, and lowland relative humidity may dip into the low teens, which bumps up fire-weather concerns.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
Exposed desert stretches and mountain passes are most vulnerable to sudden drops in visibility and quick bursts of stronger wind, so high-profile vehicles, trailers and anyone hauling gear should take it slow and stay alert. If you hit a dust plume and visibility sinks, ease off the gas and pull well off the roadway until conditions settle down.
What to Expect This Week
Winds back off on Wednesday before another round of breezy conditions returns Thursday and Friday. Highs stay seasonable in the upper 70s to low 80s, but the pattern of afternoon gusts and spotty showers could still complicate things for outdoor workers, construction crews and event planners. It is a good week to double-check tie-downs, secure loose items and build some wiggle room into any afternoon schedule.
We covered a similar gusty setup in late March; for a refresher on how messy it can get when the wind really lets loose, see our earlier piece on when 65 mph gusts are coming, as per Hoodline. This update zeroes in on today and Tuesday, when dust-driven visibility drops are most likely…