Thousands of El Paso residents woke up without electricity after powerful winds swept through the Borderland overnight.
Nearly 6,600 El Paso Electric customers were without power as of 5 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16, according to the utility company's outage map.
The outages were reported throughout El Paso, though it appears West El Paso was mostly impacted. According to the outage map, many of the disruptions began during the early morning hours, with electricity expected to be restored by noon Friday.
El Paso winds cause downed power lines, trees
The widespread outages come as El Paso and surrounding communities remain under a high wind warning through late Friday night. A blowing dust advisory is also in effect until 9 a.m. Friday.
The powerful winds have already caused damage across the Borderland.
Photos and videos shared by FitFam El Paso show downed utility poles and fallen trees as the windy conditions moved through the area.
The National Weather Service is urging residents to secure loose outdoor items and exercise caution while traveling, particularly those driving high-profile vehicles such as trucks, SUVs and recreational vehicles, which can be more difficult to control during strong wind gusts.
Residents are also advised to stay away from downed power lines and report any damaged electrical equipment to their utility provider.
Colder temperatures expected in El Paso this weekend
Along with the damaging winds, the Borderland is bracing for a sharp drop in temperatures as colder air moves into the region.
Temperatures are expected to plunge by double digits Friday, Oct. 16, with overnight lows potentially dipping into the 40s during the early weekend hours, according to the National Weather Service.
By 6 a.m. Friday, temperatures are forecast to reach 52 degrees, with even colder conditions expected early Saturday, Oct. 17, when temperatures could drop to 45 degrees by 6 a.m.
The combination of strong winds, blowing dust and falling temperatures could make for a chilly and potentially hazardous start to the weekend, particularly for residents dealing with power outages.
How to check power outages in El Paso
Residents can monitor outages and estimated restoration times through the El Paso Electric website.
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on X, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Nearly 6,600 lose power as damaging winds slam El Paso
