textproduct: El Paso

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 901 PM MST Tue Feb 17 2026

- Windy conditions will prevail through Friday, with a risk of blowing dust across southern New Mexico and far west Texas. This may cause impact travel conditions by reducing visibility on area roadways.

- Critical fire weather conditions are expected Wednesday as strong winds combine with very dry humidity. Outdoor burning is discouraged. Any fires that do start will spread rapidly.

- Drier conditions with near to slightly below normal temperatures for the weekend along with lighter winds.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 901 PM MST Tue Feb 17 2026

One mega trough with repeated bouts of energy will continue to bring breezy to windy conditions through the remainder of the work week. The first wave of energy was seen today and the next wave will be tomorrow. We rinse and repeat Wednesday with very similar conditions will be seen compared to what we saw today: strong winds and blowing dust. In addition, critical fire danger is expected across much of the area with the exception of the Gila region. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged as any fires that do start will spread rapidly. Zonal upper level flow will create breezy conditions Thursday. Winds won't be as strong as what we're expecting Wednesday but will be noticeable. The last wave of energy will be on Friday. Friday's winds aren't looking as strong as previously been modeled but rather more of a breezy scenario like what we're expecting Thursday.

Blowing dust will be an issue again Wednesday afternoon with the highest confidence being El Paso to see dust causing reductions in visibilities. Wind speeds won't be as strong Thursday and Friday limiting some of the dust threat. Lower wind speeds may suggest that some locations will see dust (given a favorable southwesterly direction) but the reductions in visibilities won't be as severe as a high wind day like Tuesday and Wednesday. By the time the weekend rolls around, much quieter and nicer conditions are expected as upper level ridging builds in over the area. Light winds and dry conditions can be expected.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 428 PM MST Tue Feb 17 2026

Windy conditions will persist the next couple hours or so but winds are expected to diminish during the overnight hours to around 10-12KT at terminals. Another windy day expected tomorrow afternoon with speeds very similar to what we saw today as well as more BLDU. KELP will see BLDU tomorrow. With similar wind direction and wind speeds, we can probably bet that KELP will get down to 1-2SM tomorrow afternoon. KDMN and KLRU will probably see more BLDU again tomorrow as well.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1050 AM MST Tue Feb 17 2026

Windy conditions will continue through Friday with daily speeds of 20-35mph, strongest Wed and Fri. RH's will fluctuate through the period with Wed looking to be the driest with teens over the lowlands and 20s and 30s in the mountains. ERC's are still not very high, so will just hold off on upgrading watch for now. RH's rise to the 20s over the lowlands Thu with a little drier air for Fri, but looking to remain above 15%. Another chance for rain/snow in the Gila Thu into early Fri will help keep the fire risk lower in this area. Drier air moves in for the weekend and early next week, but winds will be much less of an issue.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

El Paso 41 70 42 66 / 0 0 0 0 Sierra Blanca 38 69 37 64 / 0 0 0 0 Las Cruces 32 65 36 59 / 0 0 0 0 Alamogordo 35 65 34 61 / 0 0 0 0 Cloudcroft 24 40 23 38 / 0 0 0 0 Truth or Consequences 33 62 36 60 / 0 0 10 0 Silver City 29 52 31 48 / 0 0 20 30 Deming 32 65 37 61 / 0 0 0 10 Lordsburg 30 60 34 57 / 0 0 20 10 West El Paso Metro 41 69 43 64 / 0 0 0 0 Dell City 34 69 37 64 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Hancock 41 76 40 71 / 0 0 0 0 Loma Linda 37 63 37 58 / 0 0 0 0 Fabens 39 73 40 68 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Teresa 36 68 38 63 / 0 0 0 0 White Sands HQ 40 67 41 61 / 0 0 0 0 Jornada Range 33 65 36 61 / 0 0 0 0 Hatch 34 66 37 63 / 0 0 0 0 Columbus 37 68 41 64 / 0 0 0 0 Orogrande 34 65 35 61 / 0 0 0 0 Mayhill 29 54 30 52 / 0 0 0 0 Mescalero 26 52 26 49 / 0 0 0 0 Timberon 30 50 29 47 / 0 0 0 0 Winston 24 52 26 51 / 0 0 10 10 Hillsboro 33 59 34 57 / 0 0 10 10 Spaceport 29 63 31 61 / 0 0 0 0 Lake Roberts 25 50 28 47 / 0 0 20 30 Hurley 28 57 31 52 / 0 0 10 20 Cliff 27 58 31 54 / 0 10 30 40 Mule Creek 27 53 31 49 / 0 10 40 40 Faywood 31 56 34 52 / 0 0 10 10 Animas 31 63 36 60 / 0 0 10 10 Hachita 32 63 36 60 / 0 0 0 0 Antelope Wells 34 64 37 62 / 0 0 0 0 Cloverdale 34 57 35 56 / 0 0 0 0

EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...Wind Advisory from 11 AM to 8 PM MST Wednesday for Northern Hudspeth Highlands/Hueco Mountains-Rio Grande Valley of Eastern El Paso/Western Hudspeth Counties-Salt Basin- Western El Paso County.

Red Flag Warning from 11 AM to 6 PM MST Wednesday for Texas Fire Weather Zone 055 El Paso County- Texas Fire Weather Zone 056 Hudspeth County.

High Wind Warning from 11 AM to 8 PM MST Wednesday for Eastern/Central El Paso County.

NM...High Wind Warning from 9 AM to 11 PM MST Wednesday for East Slopes Sacramento Mountains Below 7500 Feet-Sacramento Mountains Above 7500 Feet-Southern Gila Region Highlands/Black Range.

Wind Advisory from 11 AM to 8 PM MST Wednesday for Central Grant County/Silver City Area-East Central Tularosa Basin/Alamogordo-Eastern Black Range Foothills-Lowlands of the Bootheel-Northern Dona Ana County-Otero Mesa-Sierra County Lakes-Southeast Tularosa Basin-Southern Dona Ana County/Mesilla Valley-Southern Gila Foothills/Mimbres Valley-Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley-Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin-Uplands of the Bootheel-Upper Gila River Valley-West Slopes Sacramento Mountains Below 7500 Feet.

Red Flag Warning from 11 AM to 6 PM MST Wednesday for Capitan and Sacramento Mountains/Lincoln NF/LNZ- South Central Lowlands and Southern Rio Grande Valley/BLM/GLZ- Southwest Deserts and Lowlands/Las Cruces BLM/GLZ.

High Wind Warning from 11 AM to 8 PM MST Wednesday for West Central Tularosa Basin/White Sands.