995
FXUS64 KEPZ 221128
AFDEPZ

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service El Paso TX/Santa Teresa NM
428 AM MST Mon Dec 22 2025

...New AVIATION, FIRE WEATHER...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 408 AM MST Mon Dec 22 2025

 - Near-record warmth this week, lowland highs in the lower to
   mid seventies.

 - Increasing clouds midweek with low chance of rain showers west
   of the Continental Divide.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 924 PM MST Sun Dec 21 2025

Tranquil weather continues through Tue as the upper ridge shifts
east over the Gulf states by midweek, turning our winds aloft to SW-
early. Winds will be generally light under fair skies with near-
record, fall-like temps.

Not much change in the midweek forecast from this time yesterday.
Longwave troughing develops along the West Coast on Tue, creating
unsettled weather for the Desert SW through midweek. Most of the
impacts will be west of our area, but increased clouds and showery
activity is modeled to reach western areas on Wed associated with a
plume of subtropical moisture. The Gila Region is most likely to see
precip Wed-Thu (30-50% chance Wed night), which would be light and
all rain with snow levels holding AOA 11kft. Elsewhere, rain chances
are very low (about 10% or less).

Troughing persists over the West Coast for the rest of the week with
SW flow overhead. Mainly dry conditions are expected for us after
Thu. Christmas Day looks a bit rainy along and west of the Divide
with modestly breezy winds (10-20 mph) as an impulse comes across.
The next storm system to watch out for would move in next weekend
from the Pacific, but models have a wide range of solutions as it
approaches (does it linger to the west or progress eastward?).

Temperatures stay at record warm levels through most of the week
with lowland highs into the 70s. Highs will be around 15 degrees
above normal each day through the workweek. A slight cool down is
signaled next weekend as we wrap up 2025, but still above normal.

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 408 AM MST Mon Dec 22 2025

Quiet weather pattern with VFR conditions at all terminals. SKC
with occasional FEW250. Winds variable in direction at 6 knots or
less through the period.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 408 AM MST Mon Dec 22 2025

Very warm and continued dry for much of this week. Near record
high temperatures will continue through the week. Minimum RH
values will be in the teens today and Tuesday. An influx of
moisture will begin to increase minimum RH values into the 20s and
eventually 30s toward the end of the week. Winds will remain very
light during the day with drainage winds overnight through
Wednesday with poor to fair vent rates. Breezy afternoons will
begin to occur Thursday and the rest of the week, with improvement
in vent rates. The Gila Region will have a chance of light rain
Wednesday and Thursday.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
El Paso                  44  76  47  75 /   0   0   0   0
Sierra Blanca            43  74  44  72 /   0   0   0   0
Las Cruces               38  71  42  70 /   0   0   0   0
Alamogordo               39  73  42  71 /   0   0   0   0
Cloudcroft               37  57  39  54 /   0   0   0   0
Truth or Consequences    41  70  44  69 /   0   0   0   0
Silver City              43  68  44  63 /   0   0   0  20
Deming                   38  74  42  73 /   0   0   0  10
Lordsburg                39  73  43  68 /   0   0   0  10
West El Paso Metro       46  73  48  73 /   0   0   0   0
Dell City                34  75  37  75 /   0   0   0   0
Fort Hancock             41  80  43  77 /   0   0   0   0
Loma Linda               46  71  47  68 /   0   0   0   0
Fabens                   41  77  43  75 /   0   0   0   0
Santa Teresa             39  72  42  72 /   0   0   0   0
White Sands HQ           46  73  49  73 /   0   0   0   0
Jornada Range            35  72  39  71 /   0   0   0   0
Hatch                    36  74  39  74 /   0   0   0   0
Columbus                 40  72  44  73 /   0   0   0   0
Orogrande                41  72  43  71 /   0   0   0   0
Mayhill                  40  71  42  68 /   0   0   0   0
Mescalero                38  68  40  64 /   0   0   0   0
Timberon                 36  66  38  62 /   0   0   0   0
Winston                  34  67  37  64 /   0   0   0  10
Hillsboro                43  71  44  69 /   0   0   0  10
Spaceport                35  71  39  70 /   0   0   0   0
Lake Roberts             38  69  39  62 /   0   0   0  20
Hurley                   39  71  42  67 /   0   0   0  10
Cliff                    36  76  39  67 /   0   0  10  20
Mule Creek               38  72  41  63 /   0   0  10  30
Faywood                  44  70  44  67 /   0   0   0  10
Animas                   39  76  44  70 /   0   0   0  10
Hachita                  37  73  42  69 /   0   0   0   0
Antelope Wells           41  75  44  72 /   0   0   0  10
Cloverdale               49  71  49  66 /   0   0  10  10

&&

.EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...None.
NM...None.
&&

$$

FORECASTER...04-Lundeen