textproduct: El Paso

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 422 PM MST Fri Jan 2 2026

- Breezy to windy conditions this afternoon with gusts 30 to 40 mph along east slopes and mountain tops and passes. - Dry weather with above normal temperatures will continue through early next week with no significant weather impacts.

- There is a chance of light rain showers and mountain snow showers next Wednesday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 916 AM MST Fri Jan 2 2026

A weak upper level short wave trough will pass through northern New Mexico today with minimal weather impacts in the form of breezy to windy westerly winds this afternoon and early evening. Day time temperatures will remain around 10 degrees above normal with generally mild overnight temperatures for this time of year. Skies will be mostly sunny with a few clouds an no chance for precipitation.

For this weekend, a ridge of high pressure will build over the state for a quiet weather pattern with dry conditions, above normal temperatures, light winds, and partly sunny skies with variable high clouds.

The ridge will have shifted more to the east of the area by late Sunday with a deep southwest flow aloft becoming established over the area for Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures will continue to warm to well above normal values both days with upper 60s to near 70 across the lowlands. Conditions will remain dry with increasing mid and high level cloudiness as upper level moisture streams in from the eastern Pacific. With the steady southwest flow aloft, light breezes in the afternoon are likely Monday and Tuesday.

A Pacific storm system will move inland and move into New Mexico by Wednesday for a chance of lowland rain showers and mountain snow showers area wide. Specific features remain uncertain at this time with slight changes in timing and storm track having a big impact on precipitation amounts. There is also a potential for windy conditions over all or part of the forecast area at the same time. With the increased weather activity, temperatures will drop closer to seasonal averages with upper 50s to lower 60s lowlands.

Unsettled weather will continue into Friday as a secondary system sweeps through the state. Chances for precipitation appear lower from this system, but wind speeds may be higher. Unsettled weather may continue into the following weekend as the storm track has repositioned closer to the region for follow-on weather systems for the first part of January.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 422 PM MST Fri Jan 2 2026

VFR conditions are expected with SKC-FEW250. Winds will remain breezy with speeds of 15-20 knots and gusts up to 30 knots through 4z before gradually diminishing, mainly from the west. Light winds are expected overnight into Saturday.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 916 AM MST Fri Jan 2 2026

A fast moving weak upper level system will bring another round of breezy west winds today. The winds will stay below critical levels and the gusts will drop off a few hours after sunset. Min RH's today will stay above 20% across the area. For the weekend, upper level high pressure set up light surface winds and mostly of clear skies. Min RH's this weekend will be a little drier, but continue to run above 20% across the region. For the start of next week, we will have a dry southwest flow aloft and that will give us occasionally breezy afternoons. Min RH's will continue to run at or above 20%. Ventilation rates today will be good to very good, but then drop back to poor for Saturday.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

El Paso 41 68 43 70 / 0 0 0 0 Sierra Blanca 39 66 41 69 / 0 0 0 0 Las Cruces 36 63 38 66 / 0 0 0 0 Alamogordo 34 65 37 66 / 0 0 0 0 Cloudcroft 29 50 33 49 / 0 0 0 0 Truth or Consequences 36 62 40 65 / 0 0 0 0 Silver City 34 60 38 61 / 0 0 0 0 Deming 36 66 38 69 / 0 0 0 0 Lordsburg 33 64 37 65 / 0 0 0 0 West El Paso Metro 43 66 45 68 / 0 0 0 0 Dell City 32 67 33 70 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Hancock 39 70 39 73 / 0 0 0 0 Loma Linda 39 62 42 63 / 0 0 0 0 Fabens 37 68 39 71 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Teresa 36 64 39 68 / 0 0 0 0 White Sands HQ 42 66 44 68 / 0 0 0 0 Jornada Range 29 64 34 67 / 0 0 0 0 Hatch 34 66 36 69 / 0 0 0 0 Columbus 39 66 39 68 / 0 0 0 0 Orogrande 35 64 38 66 / 0 0 0 0 Mayhill 32 62 34 64 / 0 0 0 0 Mescalero 29 61 33 60 / 0 0 0 0 Timberon 29 57 31 58 / 0 0 0 0 Winston 25 59 29 61 / 0 0 0 0 Hillsboro 36 63 39 66 / 0 0 0 0 Spaceport 31 63 34 65 / 0 0 0 0 Lake Roberts 28 63 33 61 / 0 0 0 0 Hurley 33 63 37 64 / 0 0 0 0 Cliff 28 67 32 66 / 0 0 0 0 Mule Creek 29 63 32 63 / 0 0 0 0 Faywood 36 62 39 64 / 0 0 0 0 Animas 36 66 38 66 / 0 0 0 0 Hachita 34 64 35 67 / 0 0 0 0 Antelope Wells 34 66 37 69 / 0 0 0 0 Cloverdale 39 63 43 61 / 0 0 0 0

EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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