FIRST ALERT: High winds expected over Christmas

The StormTRACK Weather team called a First Alert for high wind gusts forecast Christmas day.

A large Pacific storm system, called a trough, will move into the region over the afternoon. With the system, warmer air will bring temperatures up to the low 60s and winds will pick up to 20 to 30 mph. Gusts will be much higher.

The winds will begin to pick up Christmas morning, around 10 a.m., bringing breezy conditions.

Winds will continue to increase in gusting speed throughout the afternoon, with peak gusts forecast up to 50 mph. The strongest winds will hit between 2 and 8 p.m. on Christmas.

The system will also force another cold front across the region. This will bring rain chances to the region Thursday late day through Saturday morning.

The rain chance will move over El Paso and Las Cruces primarily Thursday late night through Friday.

Snow is expected again over the higher elevations with a very slight chance of overnight rain-snow mix over lower elevations.