Strong winds sweeping through El Paso on the first day of the windy season brought downed trees, blowing dust and even reports of trampolines flying across parts of the Borderland, prompting some residents to cut trips short and take extra precautions on the roads.
“It’s awful. It’s blowing us away,” one woman said.
Though windy season arrives every year, several El Pasoans said the gusts felt especially strong and frustrating.
“Well, we don’t like it, but you know, El Paso it changes very quick,” one man said.
Some people said they were limiting travel and being more cautious while driving until conditions improved.
Emily Schmalz reports on Strong winds kick off El Paso’s windy season, toppling trees and blowing dust (Credit: KFOX14)
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Asked whether he was trying to stay safer on the roads, one man replied, “Oh, yes, definitely.”
Another woman said, “Yes. Yeah, if I don’t have to go out, I mean, I don’t make long trips.”
Others said they were heading home early to check on their property after the strong gusts. “Yeah, that’s why we’re going to go home. See if my house is still there,” one woman said.
Another resident compared the scene to a movie. “It looks like a dystopian sci-fi,” he said.
Some said the winds felt like a return to what used to be more typical in past years. “Well, we were long due for this. It’s been, this used to be common in past years, past decades. And I haven’t seen it like this in a while,” one man said.
The gusts were strong enough to be felt throughout the city, residents said. “I mean, it’s a lot. You see how it’s going. You feel y’all’s hair, you feel the movement,” one person said.
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Drivers also reported feeling their vehicles pushed around on the road.
“You see my Iri-Biri car, my sedan, the wind was, I don’t know how fast is the wind, but it was moving my vehicle almost, driving my vehicle onto the next lane,” one man said.
Another said, “Well, I just saw while standing under a red light, I could feel the car like a violent wind pushing my car, almost like a car could just feel like it was going to fall over.”
A blowing dust advisory ended at 5 p.m., but a high wind advisory remained in effect until 8 p.m. tonight. Residents are urged to stay cautious on roadways during the windy season.
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