Southern Gila Foothills/Mimbres Valley-
Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley-Lowlands of the Bootheel- Uplands of the Bootheel-Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin- Sierra County Lakes-Northern Dona Ana County- Southern Dona Ana County/Mesilla Valley-Otero Mesa- Central Grant County/Silver City Area- West Central Tularosa Basin/White Sands- East Central Tularosa Basin/Alamogordo-Southeast Tularosa Basin- Western El Paso County-Eastern/Central El Paso County- Northern Hudspeth Highlands/Hueco Mountains-Salt Basin-
Southern Hudspeth Highlands- Rio Grande Valley of Eastern El Paso/Western Hudspeth Counties- Rio Grande Valley of Eastern Hudspeth County-
Including the cities of Hurley, Faywood, Grant County Airport, Lordsburg, Red Rock, Virden, Antelope Wells, Animas, Hachita, Cloverdale, Deming, Columbus,
Truth Or Consequences, Derry, Spaceport, Garfield, Hatch, Radium Springs, Las Cruces, Vado, Sunland Park, Crow Flats, Silver City, Mimbres, Fort Bayard, White Sands National Park, Chaparral, White Sands Range Headquarters, Alamogordo, Tularosa, Holloman AFB, Orogrande, Downtown El Paso, West El Paso, Upper Valley, East and Northeast El Paso, Socorro, Fort Bliss, Hueco Tanks, Loma Linda, Cornudas, Dell City, Salt Flat, Sierra Blanca, Fabens, Fort Hancock, Tornillo, and Indian Hot Springs
854 AM MDT Tue Mar 17 2026
...HISTORIC HEAT WAVE EXPECTED LATER THIS WEEK INTO THE WEEKEND...
An unseasonably strong area of high pressure aloft is expected to
move across the Desert Southwest through at least the weekend.
Temperatures will climb each afternoon, with the lowlands reaching
well into the 90s by Thursday. Saturday is expected to be the
hottest day of the week, followed by a minor cool down. Afternoon
high temperatures will be 20 to 25 degrees above seasonal averages,
and will be more reminiscent of late May or early June. All-time
temperature records for the month of March will be broken.
The abnormality of these high temperatures will increase health
risks, especially for populations more susceptible to heat-related
health issues.
People are encouraged to reduce outdoor activity during the
afternoon hours, wear light-colored loose-fitting clothing, drink
plenty of water, and wear sunscreen.
