textproduct: El Paso

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 433 PM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

- Record warmth through the weekend with lowland highs in the lower to mid eighties.

- Lighter winds, but still some occasionally breezy afternoons.

- Next week, continue fair, dry, and warm. Temperatures not quite as warm as this weekend, but still well above average. No precipitation in sight, but windy periods likely Tuesday through Thursday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1019 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

Models and ensemble means in good agreement as would be expected with this type of pattern with a well established ridge starting out west and slowly shifting eastward and flattening out. Generally west to northwest flow over the area with near record or record highs continuing through Sunday. KELP records are 85 tomorrow which may come up just short and then 83 on Sat and 81 on Sun. Almost certain these records will fall. 86 is the all time Feb high temperature which will likely be broken this weekend as well. Winds will also behave the next few days with generally 5-15mph speeds with some occasional 10-20G30mph periods. Overnight lows will also be mild with 40s to mid 50s in the lowlands and some 30s in the higher valleys of the area mountains.

There is some change in the forecast going into early next week. As was speculated yesterday, the system models have moving out of the Great Basin Mon and crossing the Rockies Tue has trended further north and quicker. This means the moisture will not get into the area and we will just have a breezy to windy day with less cooling than advertised in previous days. Another system will be moving through Wed/Thu and again looks like more of a wind maker than anything with temperatures remaining well above normal.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 433 PM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

VFR conditions prevail through the forecast period. Some lingering gusts to 20kts early this evening from the W-NW, otherwise winds AOB 10kts, becoming more variable on Friday. FEW-SCT250 pass by this evening with more clearing overnight.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1019 AM MST Thu Feb 26 2026

Record high temperatures will be the norm through at least the weekend with RH's falling into the upper single digits to mid teens. Winds will remain under 15 mph so the fire threat will not be high. Going into next week, well above normal temperatures will continue and spring returns with breezy to windy days Tuesday through Thursday. With ERC's coming up with the prolonged dry air, there is a good chance that some Red Flag days will occur. Vent rates will be fair to good Fri and improve to good to very good for the weekend.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

El Paso 53 84 56 88 / 0 0 0 0 Sierra Blanca 54 81 56 84 / 0 0 0 0 Las Cruces 48 82 50 85 / 0 0 0 0 Alamogordo 46 80 48 83 / 0 0 0 0 Cloudcroft 38 59 40 63 / 0 0 0 0 Truth or Consequences 48 80 49 84 / 0 0 0 0 Silver City 49 76 51 79 / 0 0 0 0 Deming 49 84 51 86 / 0 0 0 0 Lordsburg 46 82 48 84 / 0 0 0 0 West El Paso Metro 52 83 54 87 / 0 0 0 0 Dell City 45 84 47 87 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Hancock 51 88 53 92 / 0 0 0 0 Loma Linda 46 77 48 80 / 0 0 0 0 Fabens 51 85 52 89 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Teresa 49 82 51 85 / 0 0 0 0 White Sands HQ 54 82 56 85 / 0 0 0 0 Jornada Range 40 81 42 85 / 0 0 0 0 Hatch 46 84 48 88 / 0 0 0 0 Columbus 51 84 53 88 / 0 0 0 0 Orogrande 48 79 50 82 / 0 0 0 0 Mayhill 45 75 47 77 / 0 0 0 0 Mescalero 40 72 42 74 / 0 0 0 0 Timberon 37 69 39 72 / 0 0 0 0 Winston 38 76 40 79 / 0 0 0 0 Hillsboro 46 80 46 84 / 0 0 0 0 Spaceport 42 81 43 84 / 0 0 0 0 Lake Roberts 30 76 32 78 / 0 0 0 0 Hurley 44 78 46 82 / 0 0 0 0 Cliff 34 82 36 83 / 0 0 0 0 Mule Creek 33 78 35 80 / 0 0 0 0 Faywood 49 78 51 82 / 0 0 0 0 Animas 47 82 49 86 / 0 0 0 0 Hachita 47 81 49 85 / 0 0 0 0 Antelope Wells 49 83 51 87 / 0 0 0 0 Cloverdale 51 80 53 81 / 0 0 0 0

EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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