Windy weather is heading to the El Paso region.
Strong winds will gradually arrive in El Paso on Tuesday, Feb. 17, with gusts of up to 44 miles per hour by noon, according to the National Weather Service. El Paso, as well as much of Southern New Mexico, will be under a fire weather watch as winds combine with very dry air, creating dangerous conditions.
Outdoor burning is discouraged and any fires that do start will spread rapidly, the National Weather Service warned.
Strong winds will gradually arrive in El Paso on Tuesday, Feb. 17, with the strongest gusts of up to 44 miles per hour by the afternoon hours, according to the National Weather Service
Parts of New Mexico are also under a high wind warning, including Cloudcroft and Ruidoso, which are expected to see gusts of up to 70 miles per hour.
Winds are expected to taper down by Thursday, Feb. 19, but could make a comeback on Friday, Feb. 20, possibly triggering another fire weather watch, the National Weather Service said.
What are El Paso’s windiest months?
A dust storm brings high winds and low visibility to Downtown El Paso on May 14, 2025.
March, April and May are typically the windiest months of the year. This also coincides with our driest months, which leads to all the dust in El Paso, according to the National Weather Service. As the monsoon season begins in June, winds die down.
Tips for driving in the wind
Here are some tips for driving in windy weather, courtesy of the National Weather Service.
Maintain a safe distance from high profile vehicles
Keep a firm grip on the wheel with both hands
Keep a lookout for falling debris, fallen power lines and trees
Use caution on overpasses and bridges
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on X, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma on Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Windy weather headed to El Paso, Southern New Mexico