textproduct: El Paso

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1003 PM MDT Mon Apr 13 2026

- Breezy to windy conditions again Tuesday, with at least some patchy blowing dust. Lighter winds for Wednesday. - Breezy to windy again Thursday into Friday with elevated to critical fire weather conditions.

- The weekend will be cooler with a slight chance for rain on Sunday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1003 PM MDT Mon Apr 13 2026

The upper level trough that brought gusty winds and some patchy blowing dust to the region on Monday, will be slowly making its way across northern New Mexico on Tuesday, so we will see another round of gusty southwest winds and patch blowing dust. The winds may be just slightly slower than we saw on Monday, but not by much. On Wednesday we will be between systems so we will see less winds but Wednesday's high temperatures will run a few degrees below average.

For Thursday and Friday, another upper level trough will approach the region and that will mean more winds. Winds both Thursday and Friday look to stay below advisory levels (30 to 40 mph), but the gusty winds could give us more patchy blowing dust. High temperatures both days will be at or a little above average.

On Saturday a backdoor cold front will push slightly cooler air into the area. The high temperatures on Saturday will run 2 to 4 degrees below average. Then for Sunday, the southeast winds will help usher in some moisture so we will see a slight chance for rain on Sunday afternoon and evening, mainly east of the Rio Grande. High temperatures on Sunday will run 4 to 6 degrees below average.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1003 PM MDT Mon Apr 13 2026

The dust has settled and the winds are beginning to slow down. We still have gusty winds at KELP and KTCS, but those wind gusts look to drop off in the next couple of hours. Our winds will stay out of the southwest tonight at around 10 mph. More gusty winds return Tuesday afternoon. The wind gusts will be a little lower than we saw on Monday. Also the winds showed drop off a little sooner Tuesday evening. Like today, we may see some patchy blowing dust, but right now it is not looking too impactful. We will continue to have mid and high ceilings tonight of BKN120-250. We may see a break in the ceilings during the morning hours of Tuesday, but by late morning and into the afternoon we will see a return of the mid and high ceilings.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1005 AM MDT Mon Apr 13 2026

Elevated to near critical fire weather concerns Tuesday due to breezy southwest 20 ft winds at 10-20 mph. Near critical to critical min RHs across a good portion of the lowlands of SW New Mexico with values generally 12-20% (30-40% in the area mountains). Drier air pushes in Wednesday, crashing min RHs down to the single digits (7-10% in the lowlands, 15-20% in mountains). However, winds will be the lightest on Wednesday with speeds of 5-10 mph. Breezy conditions expected Thursday and Friday, combined with critical min RHs will allow for near critical to critical fire weather concerns. Min RHs will still be in the single digits across the lowlands (5-10%) and 10-15% in the area mountains on Thursday. Wind speeds will be 10-20 mph out of the southwest. The Gila region, Black Range, Sierra County, high terrain in the NM Bootheel and even portions of the Sacramento Mtns will have the best chance to see Red Flag conditions. By Friday, will still see critical min RHs across the lowlands with values of 8-11% and 15-20% in the mountains. 20 ft wind speeds will be around 10-20 mph again.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

El Paso 61 80 52 77 / 0 10 10 0 Sierra Blanca 55 76 49 75 / 10 10 10 0 Las Cruces 51 76 43 74 / 10 10 10 0 Alamogordo 53 76 43 73 / 10 10 10 0 Cloudcroft 38 52 31 52 / 20 10 10 0 Truth or Consequences 52 74 45 75 / 20 0 0 0 Silver City 43 64 36 67 / 50 0 0 0 Deming 50 77 42 77 / 10 10 0 0 Lordsburg 46 72 38 73 / 20 0 0 0 West El Paso Metro 61 79 53 77 / 0 10 10 0 Dell City 53 80 47 78 / 0 10 10 0 Fort Hancock 60 84 53 82 / 10 20 10 0 Loma Linda 55 73 48 70 / 0 10 10 0 Fabens 59 82 52 80 / 0 10 10 0 Santa Teresa 55 78 47 76 / 0 10 10 0 White Sands HQ 58 78 50 75 / 10 10 10 0 Jornada Range 49 76 40 75 / 10 10 10 0 Hatch 52 79 40 78 / 10 0 0 0 Columbus 55 80 47 78 / 10 10 0 0 Orogrande 51 76 44 74 / 10 10 10 0 Mayhill 45 66 37 65 / 10 10 10 0 Mescalero 42 64 34 62 / 20 10 10 0 Timberon 40 61 36 60 / 10 10 10 0 Winston 39 65 30 68 / 20 0 0 0 Hillsboro 49 71 41 73 / 30 0 0 0 Spaceport 47 74 38 75 / 10 0 0 0 Lake Roberts 40 64 31 68 / 50 0 0 0 Hurley 42 69 34 70 / 30 0 0 0 Cliff 43 70 34 74 / 50 0 0 0 Mule Creek 40 66 34 71 / 40 0 0 0 Faywood 45 69 38 70 / 30 0 0 0 Animas 49 75 40 75 / 10 0 0 0 Hachita 49 75 39 74 / 10 10 0 0 Antelope Wells 50 76 40 76 / 10 0 0 0 Cloverdale 47 70 40 70 / 10 0 0 0

EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...None. NM...None.