textproduct: El Paso

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 436 AM MST Fri Feb 20 2026

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

- Lighter winds with seasonal temperatures for the weekend, followed by a warm-up next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 914 PM MST Thu Feb 19 2026

The large and broad upper trough that has brought us several windy days this week will finally exit late Friday. But before that, one last shortwave will approach the area bringing another round of windy conditions Friday afternoon. Expect winds to increase by mid-morning and maxing out by the middle afternoon hours with west winds of 20-30 mph in the lowlands and 25-35 mph sustained winds in the area mountains. The Sacramento Mtns is under a wind advisory due to the very windy conditions expected up there. East slopes of the Organs and San Andres may reach wind advisory criteria here and there as well. Blowing dust may become a concern tomorrow. Local dust sources in and around Deming, the Lordsburg Playa, White Sands, and the dry lake beds in northern Mexico will be the areas to watch for tomorrow.

Heading into Saturday, much quieter conditions can be expected with upper ridging building in. Lighter winds expected over the weekend with a weak cold front pushing in Saturday and Sunday. Later into the forecast period, upper ridging will build over the Pacific/west of Baja California allowing for a major rebound in temperatures. Maybe El Paso could see 80 degrees by Wednesday?

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 436 AM MST Fri Feb 20 2026

Winds increase from the west around 15z as brisk low-level winds mix down to the surface. Gusts to 35-40kts expected into the afternoon, subsiding this evening and overnight. Some VIS reductions to 3SM due to BLDU possible during the day, most likely for KDMN and KELP. Winds decrease to AOB 10kts late in the period, shifting NW. Other than FEW250 passing by and mid clouds over area mountains this morning, mainly SKC expected.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 436 AM MST Fri Feb 20 2026

Elevated fire weather conditions are forecast for today due to the combination of 20-ft winds from the west at 20-25 mph and min RHs approaching critical thresholds. FWZ056 is most likely to see critical fire danger with RHs right near 15%, but fuels remain relatively moist across the area. Higher RHs in FWZ113 and west of the RGV will mitigate fire wx concerns this afternoon. Other than a low chance of AM rain/snow showers in FWZ110, dry conditions are forecast today. Overnight recoveries will be fair to very good tonight. Winds settle down this weekend, shifting northerly Sat then E on Sun. Dry conditions prevail into next week with no chance of precip. As temperatures warm to well above normal into the middle of next week, winds look to increase from the west, resulting in a drying trend for fuels.

Min RHs range from 12-30% E of RGV today, 20-35% W of RGV; then 10-25% area-wide. Ventilation will be mostly excellent today, then poor to fair.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

El Paso 37 62 38 65 / 0 0 0 0 Sierra Blanca 34 62 33 61 / 0 0 0 0 Las Cruces 29 60 31 61 / 0 0 0 0 Alamogordo 29 60 29 63 / 0 0 0 0 Cloudcroft 19 41 21 44 / 0 0 0 0 Truth or Consequences 29 57 32 62 / 0 0 0 0 Silver City 26 54 33 57 / 0 0 0 0 Deming 28 62 33 65 / 0 0 0 0 Lordsburg 27 60 38 62 / 0 0 0 0 West El Paso Metro 38 62 40 65 / 0 0 0 0 Dell City 30 63 29 62 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Hancock 37 68 36 69 / 0 0 0 0 Loma Linda 34 57 34 58 / 0 0 0 0 Fabens 36 66 38 68 / 0 0 0 0 Santa Teresa 33 60 35 63 / 0 0 0 0 White Sands HQ 35 60 36 62 / 0 0 0 0 Jornada Range 27 60 28 63 / 0 0 0 0 Hatch 27 62 28 65 / 0 0 0 0 Columbus 33 62 37 65 / 0 0 0 0 Orogrande 30 59 32 62 / 0 0 0 0 Mayhill 23 53 23 56 / 0 0 0 0 Mescalero 21 51 23 55 / 0 0 0 0 Timberon 26 49 28 52 / 0 0 0 0 Winston 17 52 23 56 / 0 0 0 0 Hillsboro 27 56 32 60 / 0 0 0 0 Spaceport 25 59 27 62 / 0 0 0 0 Lake Roberts 21 56 27 58 / 0 0 0 0 Hurley 24 56 30 59 / 0 0 0 0 Cliff 23 62 29 66 / 0 0 0 0 Mule Creek 23 58 30 63 / 0 0 0 0 Faywood 28 55 34 57 / 0 0 0 0 Animas 29 63 36 65 / 0 0 0 0 Hachita 29 61 35 62 / 0 0 0 0 Antelope Wells 30 63 33 65 / 0 0 0 0 Cloverdale 32 59 38 61 / 0 0 0 0

EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...None. NM...Wind Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 6 PM MST this evening for East Slopes Sacramento Mountains Below 7500 Feet- Eastern Black Range Foothills-Otero Mesa-Sacramento Mountains Above 7500 Feet-Southern Gila Region Highlands/Black Range-West Central Tularosa Basin/White Sands-West Slopes Sacramento Mountains Below 7500 Feet.