Northeast El Paso Prepares For High Winds

Hang onto your hat! And everything else, if you live in Northest El Paso.

Here come the winds!

The Borderland is expecting gusts of up to 70 miles per hour tonight (Wednesday) on the Eastern slopes of the Franklin Mountains. And for those of you who live or do business in the Northeast, where the winds always seem to be the worst, it’s time to get prepared.

Jerry Ortiz of Rede Tint on Dyer Street said the winds in that area can be “crazy!”

He said he’s already replaced the sign on his business twice in recent years.

The 5000 block Dyer Street is where the winds have been particularly strong over the past few years. In December of 2009, a stereo shop had its roof blown off, a nearby 7-11 also suffered wind damage and across the street a barber shop had its roof blown off.

“It was about a month ago, one of those days when it got really windy,” said Magic Barber Salon manager Gabby Saenz.

But this time, Saenz says she’s ready.

“We have the wrought iron gates to block the window and we just hope that nothing happens,” she said.

Saenz said the mountains in the Northeast may be the reason why the winds get so bad along Dyer.

“The Northeast gets it really bad,” Saenz said.

Ali Hassan, owner of OD and K Sound on Dyer Street knows that all too well.

A security camera caught the roof of his business being blown off over a year ago.

“I live on the West Side and the kind of wind we see here on Dyer Street is very strange,” Hassan said.

So strange, it’s not only blown off roofs of businesses and several signs, almost on an annual basis, it’s also blown out windows in cars!

“It gets really, really windy,” Saenz said. “I mean, it’s actually scary. We can feel the whole building shake at times.”

Hassan is also worried.

“I’m very concerned,” he said. “I pray to god it’s not going to happen again. My roof is secure enough this time. Let’s see what’s going to happen.”

There are several things you can do around your house or business to make sure you’re ready for the big gusts tonight.

Take down any patio umbrellas, store your lawn furniture somewhere inside and just make sure any loose items are tied down or put away.

Also, park your cars in your garage and close all the windows in your house or business, as well.

Winds should stay strong until around 10 p.m. as a cold front approaches and moves through. Thursday will be cooler behind the front with a high around the upper-70s with wind gusts around 50 mph. There will be slightly less wind Friday and the weekend with gusts between 35 and 40 mph. No rain in the forecast over the next seven days.