Editing El Paso, Texas (section)

==Geography==

[[File:El Paso, Texas.jpg|thumb|False-color satellite image of El Paso (upper right) and Ciudad Juárez (lower left): Paved streets and buildings appear in varying shades of blue-gray, and red indicates vegetation.]]
El Paso is located at the intersection of three states (Chihuahua, New Mexico, and Texas) and two countries (Mexico and the U.S.). It is the only major Texas city in the [[Mountain Time Zone]]. [[Ciudad Juarez]] was once in the [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central Time Zone]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/timezone.html?n=65&syear=1990 |title=Time changes in Chihuahua | publisher=Timeanddate.com |access-date=July 1, 2010}}</ref> but both cities are now on Mountain Time.
El Paso is closer to the capital cities of four other states: [[Phoenix, Arizona]] ({{convert|430|mi}} away);<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://check-distance.com/route/el-paso-tx/phoenix-az|title=Distance from El Paso, TX to Phoenix, AZ|website=check-distance.com|language=en|access-date=December 2, 2018}}</ref> [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]] ({{convert|273|mi}} away);<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://check-distance.com/route/el-paso-tx/santa-fe-nm|title=Distance from El Paso, TX to Santa Fe, NM|website=check-distance.com|language=en|access-date=December 2, 2018}}</ref> [[Chihuahua City|Ciudad Chihuahua]], Chihuahua, ({{convert|218|mi}} away),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://check-distance.com/search?from=El+Paso,+TX,+USA&to=Chihuahua,+Mexico&flat=31.7618778&flon=-106.4850217&tlat=28.6329957&tlon=-106.06910040000002|title=Distance from El Paso, TX, USA to Chihuahua, Mexico|language=en|access-date=December 2, 2018|archive-date=December 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202202804/https://check-distance.com/search?from=El+Paso,+TX,+USA&to=Chihuahua,+Mexico&flat=31.7618778&flon=-106.4850217&tlat=28.6329957&tlon=-106.06910040000002|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Hermosillo]], Sonora ({{convert|325|mi}} away)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://check-distance.com/search?from=El+Paso,+TX,+USA&to=Hermosillo,+Sonora,+Mexico&flat=31.7618778&flon=-106.4850217&tlat=29.0729673&tlon=-110.95591919999998|title=Distance from El Paso, TX, USA to Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico|language=en|access-date=December 2, 2018|archive-date=December 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202202755/https://check-distance.com/search?from=El+Paso,+TX,+USA&to=Hermosillo,+Sonora,+Mexico&flat=31.7618778&flon=-106.4850217&tlat=29.0729673&tlon=-110.95591919999998|url-status=dead}}</ref>—than it is to the capital of its own state, [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] ({{convert|528|mi}} away).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://check-distance.com/route/el-paso-tx/austin-tx|title=Distance from El Paso, TX to Austin, TX|website=check-distance.com|language=en|access-date=December 2, 2018}}</ref> It is closer to [[Los Angeles, California]] ({{convert|700|mi}} away)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://check-distance.com/route/el-paso-tx/los-angeles-ca|title=Distance from El Paso, TX to Los Angeles, CA|website=check-distance.com|language=en|access-date=December 2, 2018}}</ref> than it is to [[Orange, Texas]] ({{convert|858|mi}} away),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://check-distance.com/route/el-paso-tx/orange-tx|title=Distance from El Paso, TX to Orange, TX|website=check-distance.com|language=en|access-date=December 2, 2018}}</ref> the easternmost town in the same state as this city.

El Paso is located within the [[Chihuahuan Desert]], the easternmost section of the [[Basin and Range Region]]. The [[Franklin Mountains (Texas)|Franklin Mountains]] extend into El Paso from the north and nearly divide the city into two sections; the west side forms the beginnings of the [[Mesilla Valley]], and the east side expands into the desert and lower valley. They connect in the central business district at the southern end of the mountain range.

The city's elevation is {{convert|3740|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level. [[North Franklin Mountain]] is the highest peak in the city at {{convert|7192|ft|m|abbr=on}} above sea level. The peak can be seen from {{convert|60|mi|km|-2|abbr=on}} in all directions. Additionally, this mountain range is home to the famous natural red-clay formation, the Thunderbird, from which the local [[Coronado High School (El Paso, Texas)|Coronado High School]] gets its mascot's name. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|663.7|sqkm|order=flip|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4824000| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212204035/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4824000| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): El Paso city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref>

The {{convert|24000|acre|ha|adj=on}} [[Franklin Mountains State Park]], [[List of urban parks by size|one of the largest urban parks]] in the United States, lies entirely in El Paso, extending from the north and dividing the city into several sections along with Fort Bliss and [[El Paso International Airport]].

The [[Rio Grande Rift]], which passes around the southern end of the Franklin Mountains, is where the Rio Grande flows. The river defines the border between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez to the south and west until the river turns north of the border with Mexico, separating El Paso from [[Doña Ana County, New Mexico]]. [[Urbici Soler|Mt. Cristo Rey]], an example of a [[pluton]], rises within the Rio Grande Rift just to the west of El Paso on the New Mexico side of the Rio Grande. Nearby volcanic features include [[Kilbourne Hole]] and [[Hunt's Hole]], which are [[Maar volcanic crater]]s {{convert|30|mi|-1}} west of the Franklin Mountains.

On November 8, 2023, a 5.3 magnitude [[Earthquake]] struck the El Paso region. The epicenter of the earthquake was 22 miles (35 kilometers) southwest of [[Mentone, Texas|Mentone]], according to the [[United States Geological Survey|USGS]]<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/us/1832768/breaking-texas-earthquake-updates-magnitude-el-paso | title=Texas earthquake - el Paso houses shake as USGS records 5.3 magnitude tremor | date=November 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.yahoo.com/earthquake-today-el-paso-5-132356476.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall | title=Earthquake in el Paso? 5.3 magnitude quake hits West Texas early Wednesday | date=November 9, 2023 }}</ref>

=== Cityscape ===
{{wide image|El_paso_city.jpg|1500px|align-cap=center|A panoramic view of El Paso, looking northeast through south, near Scenic Drive. The [[Hueco Mountains]] can be seen toward the east, and [[Downtown El Paso]] can be seen to the south (far right of the image).}}

==== Tallest buildings ====
[[File:Weststar Tower 2021.jpg|thumb|upright|[[WestStar Tower]]]]
[[File:Wells Fargo building1.jpeg|thumb|upright|[[Wells Fargo Plaza (El Paso)|Wells Fargo Plaza]]]]
{{See also|List of tallest buildings in El Paso}}

{| cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0 1em 1em 0; font-size: 90%;"
|- style="background:#ccc;"
!Rank||Building||Height||Floors||Built||
|-
| 1
| [[WestStar Tower]]
| {{convert|314|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="elpasoinc.com">{{cite web |author=Aaron Montes |date=May 14, 2018 |title=It's now 18 stories: Downtown tower plan gets big upgrade |url=http://www.elpasoinc.com/news/local_news/it-s-now-stories-downtown-tower-plan-gets-big-upgrade/article_ff1b95e4-56de-11e8-a210-3795d7f062d7.html |website=El Paso Inc.}}</ref>
| 20
| 2021
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| 2
| [[Wells Fargo Plaza (El Paso)|Wells Fargo Plaza]]
| {{convert|302|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="elpasoinc.com" />
| 21
| 1971
|- 
| 3
| [[Chase Tower (El Paso)|One San Jacinto Plaza]]
| {{convert|280|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="Emporis">{{cite web |title=El Paso – Statistics – EMPORIS |url=https://www.emporis.com/statistics/tallest-buildings/city/101044/el-paso-tx-usa |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519190129/http://www.emporis.com/statistics/tallest-buildings/city/101044/el-paso-tx-usa |archive-date=May 19, 2016 |website=[[Emporis]]}}</ref>
| 20
| 1962
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| 4
| Stanton Tower
| {{convert|260|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="Emporis" />
| 18
| 1982
|-
| 5
| [[Plaza Hotel (El Paso)|Plaza Hotel]]
| {{convert|246|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}
| 19
| 1930
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| 6
| [[Hotel Paso del Norte|Hotel Paso del Norte Tower]]
| {{convert|230|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}
| 17
| 1986
|- 
| 7
| El Paso County Courthouse
| {{convert|230|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}
| 14<ref>{{Cite web |title=El Paso County Historical Commission |url=http://www.epcounty.com/history/courthouse.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529130550/http://www.epcounty.com/history/courthouse.htm |archive-date=May 29, 2018 |access-date=May 29, 2018}}</ref>
| 1991
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| 8
| Blue Flame Building
| {{convert|230|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}
| 18
| 1954
|- 
| 9
| [[O. T. Bassett Tower]] – Aloft Hotel
| {{convert|216|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}
| 15
| 1930
|- style="background:#efefef;"
| 10
| One Texas Tower
| {{convert|205|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}
| 15
| 1921
|- 
| 11
| Albert Armendariz Sr. U.S. Federal Courthouse
| {{convert|205|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}
| 9<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview |url=https://www.clevelandconstruction.com/portfolio/el-paso-united-states-federal-courthouse/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917215415/https://www.clevelandconstruction.com/portfolio/el-paso-united-states-federal-courthouse/ |archive-date=September 17, 2018 |access-date=May 29, 2018}}</ref>
| 2010
|}

El Paso's second-tallest building, the Wells Fargo Plaza, was built in the early 1970s as State National Plaza. The black-windowed, {{convert|302|ft|m|adj=on}}<ref name="elpasoinc.com" /> building is famous for its 13 white horizontal lights (18 lights per row on the east and west sides of the building, and seven bulbs per row on the north and south sides) that were lit at night. The tower did use a design of the United States flag during the [[Independence Day (United States)|July 4]] holidays, as well as the American hostage crisis of 1980, and was lit continuously following the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001 until around 2006. During the Christmas holidays, a design of a Christmas tree was used, and at times, the letters "UTEP" were used to support University of Texas at El Paso athletics. The tower is now only lit during the holiday months, or when special events take place in the city.

==== Neighborhoods ====

===== Downtown and central El Paso =====
{{main|Downtown El Paso|Central El Paso}}
[[File:Franklin Moutains from Ranger Peak.jpg|thumb|right|A view of the [[Franklin Mountains (Texas)|Franklin Mountains]] from central El Paso]]
This part of town contains some of the city's oldest and most historic neighborhoods. Located in the heart of the city, it is home to about 44,993 people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Central, El Paso, Texas |url=https://statisticalatlas.com/neighborhood/Texas/El-Paso/Central/Population |access-date=February 24, 2019}}</ref> Development of the area started in 1827 with the first resident, Juan Maria Ponce de Leon, a wealthy merchant from Paso del Norte (present-day Ciudad Juárez), who built the region's first structure establishing Rancho Ponce within the vicinity of S. El Paso Street and Paisano Dr. when the city was barely beginning. Today, central El Paso has grown into the center of the city's economy and a thriving urban community. It contains numerous historic sites and landmarks, many in the [[Sunset Heights]] district. Other historic districts in this area include the Rio Grade Avenue Historic District, Segundo Barrio Historic District, and the Magoffin Historic District. It is close to the El Paso International Airport, the international border, and Fort Bliss. It is part of the [[El Paso Independent School District]].
[[File:El Paso Star at Sunset.jpg|thumb|left|[[Star on the Mountain|A large, illuminated star]] on [[Franklin Mountains (Texas)|Franklin Mountains]] has become an informal symbol of El Paso.]]
Dr. James Day, an El Paso historian, said that downtown's main business area was originally centered between Second Avenue (now Paisano Drive) and San Francisco Avenue. At a later point, the main business area was centered around Stanton Street and Santa Fe Street. In the late 1800s, most of the [[White American]] residents lived to the north of the non-White areas, living in brick residences along Magoffin, Myrtle, and San Antonio Avenues. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic-American]] residents lived in an area called [[Chihuahuita]] ("little [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]]"), which was located south of Second Avenue and west of Santa Fe Street. Several African Americans and around 300 Chinese Americans also lived in Chihuahuita. Many of the Chinese Americans participated in the building of railroads in the El Paso area.<ref>Metz, Leon. "[http://www.elpasotimes.com/sunbowl/ci_4749639 Downtown El Paso has colorful history] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120731023721/http://www.elpasotimes.com/sunbowl/ci_4749639|date=July 31, 2012}}." [[El Paso Times]]. November 30, 2006. Retrieved on March 6, 2010.</ref> Another downtown neighborhood is [[El Segundo Barrio]], which is near the Mexico–U.S. border.<ref>{{Cite news |title=11 Most Endangered: Chihuahuita and El Segundo Barrio |url=https://savingplaces.org/places/el-paso-neighborhoods |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419103514/https://savingplaces.org/places/el-paso-neighborhoods |archive-date=April 19, 2017 |access-date=April 18, 2017 |work=National Trust for Historic Preservation |language=en-US}}</ref>

===== Northwest El Paso =====
[[File:El Paso's Upper Valley.jpeg|thumb|right|El Paso's upper valley in northwest El Paso]]

Better known as West El Paso or the West Side, the area includes a portion of the Rio Grande floodplain upstream from downtown, which is known locally as the Upper Valley and is located on the west side of the [[Franklin Mountains (Texas)|Franklin Mountains]]. The Upper Valley is the greenest part of the county due to the Rio Grande. The West Side is home to some of the most affluent neighborhoods within the city, such as the Coronado Hills, Country Club, and Three Hills neighborhoods. It is one of the fastest-growing areas of El Paso. The main high schools in the westside include [[Canutillo High School]], [[Coronado High School (El Paso, Texas)]], and [[Franklin High School (El Paso, Texas)]].

===== West-central El Paso =====
{{main|West central El Paso}}
[[File:Madeline_Park_Kern_Place.jpg|thumb|Madeline Park in Kern Place]]
West-central El Paso is located north of Interstate 10 and west of the Franklin Mountains. [[The University of Texas at El Paso]] (UTEP) and the Cincinnati Entertainment district are located in the heart of the area. Historic districts [[Kern Place]] and [[Sunset Heights]] are in this part of town.

Kern Place was founded in 1914 by [[Peter E. Kern]], for whom the neighborhood was named.<ref name="Magruder-2004">{{Cite journal |last1=Magruder |first1=Alicia |last2=Dickey |first2=Gretchen |date=2004 |title=Kern Place Neighborhood: The Man Behind a Name |url=http://epcc.libguides.com/content.php?pid=309255&sid=2603479 |journal=Borderlands |volume=23}}</ref> The homes of Kern Place are unique in architecture and some were built by residents themselves.<ref name="Magruder-2004" /> One of the better known homes is the Paul Luckett Home located at 1201 Cincinnati Ave. above Madeline Park, and is made of local rock. It is known as "The Castle" due to its round walls and a crenelated rooftop.<ref name="Magruder-2004" />

Kern Place is extremely popular with college and university students. The area is known for its glitzy entertainment district, restaurants and coffee shops that cater to both business patrons and university students.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gray |first=Robert |date=July 5, 2016 |title=Cincinnati Street claws back losses |url=http://www.elpasoinc.com/news/local_news/article_49533a06-42bc-11e6-829f-6f25b97ceb1f.html |access-date=May 2, 2017 |work=El Paso Inc.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gray |first=Robert |date=September 14, 2015 |title=Vacancies trouble Cincinnati district |url=http://www.elpasoinc.com/news/local_news/article_144844b4-5afa-11e5-ac50-0b49fe340843.html |access-date=May 2, 2017 |work=El Paso Inc.}}</ref> After UTEP's basketball and football games, UTEP fans pack the Kern Place area for food and entertainment at Cincinnati Street, a small bar district. This bar scene has grown over the years and has attracted thousands to its annual [[Mardi Gras]] [[block party]], as well as after sporting events or concerts. Young men and women make up the [[majority]] of the crowds who stop in between classes or after work.{{Citation needed|date=May 2017}}

Sunset Heights is one of the most historic areas in town, which has existed since the latter part of the 1890s. Many wealthy residents have had their houses and mansions built on this hill. Although some buildings have been renovated to their former glory,  many have been neglected and have deteriorated. During the Mexican Revolution widely popular revolutionary leader [[Pancho Villa]] owned and resided in this area during the 1910s.<ref>Worthington, Patricia. ''El Paso and the Mexican Revolution''. Arcadia Publishing, 2010, p. 20.</ref> During the 1910 Mexican Revolution many Mexicans fled Mexico and settled in Sunset Heights.<ref>Corchado, Alfredo. "[http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/030710dnintexodus.3eab4f7.html Families, businesses flee Juárez for U.S. pastures]." ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]''. Sunday March 7, 2010. Retrieved on March 10, 2010.</ref>

===== Northeast El Paso =====
{{main|Northeast El Paso}}
[[File:Sugarloaff_Hill_at_sunset.jpg|thumb|right|A view of northeast El Paso from the Franklin Mountains]]
This part of town is located north of [[central El Paso]] and east of the Franklin Mountains. Development of the area was extensive during the 1950s and 1960s. It is one of the more ethnically diverse areas in the city due to the concentration of military families. The Northeast has not developed as rapidly as other areas, such as [[east El Paso]] and northwest El Paso, but its development is steadily increasing. The population is expected to grow more rapidly as a result of the troop increase at Ft. Bliss in the coming years. The area has also gained recognition throughout the city for the outstanding high-school athletic programs at [[Andress High School]], [[Parkland High School (Texas)|Parkland High School]], [[Irvin High School]], and [[Captain John L. Chapin High School|Chapin High School]].

In May 2021 a major developer announced plans for a Master Planned Community in the Northeast modeled after Scarborough's Sunfield Master Planned Community in Buda, Texas. The first phase of the development is to include about 2,500 homes, 10-acre park, walking trails, a four-acre resort-like area with a lazy river, kiddy splash pad, pool, grass areas, and a food truck area, the developers reported. Jessica Herrera, director of the city of El Paso Economic and International Development Department, in a statement released by the developers, said Campo del Sol will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues, "which will stimulate other growth and development on the north side of town".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kolenc |first1=Vic |title=Billionaire Paul Foster ready to develop huge residential community in Northeast El Paso |url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2021/05/25/paul-foster-to-develop-huge-residential-community-el-paso/7436410002/ |access-date=28 May 2021}}</ref>

===== East El Paso =====
{{main|East El Paso}}

The area is located north of Interstate 10, east of Airway Blvd., and south of Montana Ave. It is the largest and fastest growing area of town with a population over 200,000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census Explorer |url=https://www.census.gov/censusexplorer/censusexplorer.html |access-date=February 25, 2019 |website=census.gov}}</ref> It includes the 79936 ZIP Code, which was considered in 2013 as the most populous in the nation with over 114,000 people.<ref>{{cite web |year=2013 |title=The ZIP Code Turns 50 Today; Here Are 9 That Stand Out |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/07/01/197623129/the-zip-code-turns-50-today-here-are-9-that-stand-out |access-date=February 13, 2014 |publisher=NPR}}</ref>

===== Mission Valley =====
{{main|Mission Valley (El Paso)}}

Formerly known as the lower valley, it includes part of Eastside and all lower valley districts. It is the third-largest area of the city, behind east El Paso and central El Paso. Hawkins Road and Interstate 10 border the Mission Valley. This location is considered the oldest area of El Paso, dating back to the late 16th century when present-day Texas was under the rule of [[New Spain]].
[[File:YsletaMission.JPG|thumb|right|[[Ysleta Mission]]]]
In 1680, the Isleta Pueblo tribe revolted against the Spaniards who were pushed south to what is now El Paso. Some Spaniards and tribe members settled here permanently. Soon afterward, three Spanish missions were built; they remain standing, currently functioning as churches: [[Ysleta Mission]]-1682 (La Misión de Corpus Christi y de San Antonio de la Ysleta del Sur/Our Lady of Mt. Carmel), [[Socorro Mission]]-1759 (Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción del Socorro)-1759, and [[San Elizario Chapel]] (Capilla de San Elcear)-1789.

On April 30, 1598, the northward-bound Spanish conquistadors crossed large sand dunes about 27 miles south of present-day downtown El Paso. The expeditionaries and their horses reportedly ran toward the river, and two horses drank themselves to death. [[Don Juan de Oñate]], a New Spain-born conquistador of Spanish parents, was an expedition leader who ordered a big feast north of the Río Grande in what is now San Elizario. This was the first documented and true Thanksgiving in North America.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}} Oñate declared'' [[la Toma]]'' (taking possession), claiming all territory north of the Río Grande for King [[Philip II of Spain]].

[[Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo]] (related to the insurgent Isleta Pueblo Tribe) is also located in this valley. The Tigua is one of three Indian tribes in Texas whose sovereignty is recognized by the United States government. Ysleta is spelled with a "Y" because 19th-century script did not differentiate between a capital "Y" and a capital "I".

Some people in this area and its twin city across the river, Ciudad Juárez, are direct descendants of the Spaniards.

===== Texas and New Mexico suburbs =====
El Paso is surrounded by many cities and communities in both Texas and New Mexico. The most populated suburbs in Texas are [[Socorro, Texas|Socorro]], [[Horizon City, Texas|Horizon City]], Fort Bliss, and San Elizario. Other Texas suburbs are [[Anthony, Texas|Anthony]], [[Canutillo, Texas|Canutillo]], [[Sparks, Texas|Sparks]], [[Fabens, Texas|Fabens]], and [[Vinton, Texas|Vinton]].

Although [[Anthony, New Mexico|Anthony]], [[Santa Teresa, New Mexico|Santa Teresa]], [[Sunland Park, New Mexico|Sunland Park]], and [[Chaparral, New Mexico|Chaparral]] lie adjacent to El Paso County, they are considered to be part of the [[Las Cruces, New Mexico]] metropolitan area by the United States Census Bureau.<ref>[https://www.census.gov/population/estimates/metro-city/List4.txt.html] {{dead link|date=September 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
{{climate chart
|El Paso, Texas
|35|59|0.4
|39|64|0.4
|45|72|0.2
|53|80|0.4
|62|89|0.7
|71|97|0.9
|73|96|1.6
|72|94|1.7
|65|88|1.5
|54|79|0.6
|42|67|0.4
|34|58|0.6
|float     = left
|clear     = left
|units     = imperial
|source    = <ref>{{cite web |title=Zipcode 79916 |url=https://plantmaps.com/79916 |website=www.plantmaps.com |access-date=April 10, 2021}}</ref>}}
[[File:West_El_Paso_Sunset.jpg|thumb|upright|Sunset in [[West central El Paso|west El Paso]]]]
El Paso has a [[hot desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BWh'') featuring hot summers, with little humidity, and cool to mild, dry winters. Rainfall averages {{convert|8.8|in|abbr=on}} per year, much of which occurs from June through September, and is predominantly caused by the [[North American Monsoon]]. During this period, southerly and southeasterly winds carry moisture from the Pacific, the [[Gulf of California]], and the [[Gulf of Mexico]] into the region. When this moisture moves into the El Paso area and places to the southwest, orographic lift from the mountains, combined with strong daytime heating, causes [[thunderstorm]]s, some severe enough to produce flash flooding and hail, across the region.

The sun shines 302 days per year on average in El Paso, 83% of daylight hours, according to the [[National Weather Service]]; from this, the city is nicknamed "The Sun City".<ref>
{{Cite book
 |chapter = Solving Transboundary Air Quality Problems in the Paso Del Norte Region
 |title = Both Sides of the Border
 |first = Carlos A.
 |last = Rincón
 |editor-first1=Linda|editor-last1=Fernandez|editor-first2=Richard|editor-last2=Carson|publisher = Springer
 |year = 2002
 |isbn = 1-4020-7126-4
 |chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-80qhQ3mLDQC&q=%22el+paso%22+%22the+sun+city%22&pg=PA259
}}</ref> Due to its arid, windy climate, El Paso often experiences sand and dust storms during the dry season, particularly during the springtime between March and early May. With an average wind speed often exceeding {{convert|30|mi/h|-1|abbr=on}} and gusts that have been measured at over {{convert|75|mi/h|-1|abbr=on}}, these wind storms kick up large amounts of sand and dust from the desert, causing loss of visibility.
[[File:East El Paso.jpg|thumb|Palm trees in East El Paso]]
El Paso and the nearby mountains also receive snow. Weather systems have produced over {{convert|1|ft|cm|abbr=on}} of snow on several occasions. In the 1982–1983 winter season, three major snowstorms produced record seasonal snowfall. On December 25–26, 1982, {{convert|6.0|in|cm|abbr=on}} of snow fell, producing a white Christmas for the city.<ref name=NOAA/> This was followed by another {{convert|7.0|in|cm|abbr=on}} on December 30–31, 1982. On April 4–7, 1983, {{convert|16.5|in|cm|abbr=on}} of snow fell on El Paso, bringing the seasonal total to nearly {{convert|30|in|cm|abbr=on}}. On December 13–14, 1987, a record storm dumped over {{convert|22|in|cm|abbr=on}} of snow on El Paso, and two weeks later (December 25–26), another {{convert|3|in|cm|abbr=on}} fell, bringing the monthly total for December 1987 to an all-time record high of {{convert|25.9|in|cm|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/epz/?n=elpaso_heavy_snow|title=El Paso Heavy Snow Events|access-date=September 14, 2014}}</ref> of snow.<ref name=NCDC>{{cite web
 |url          = http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/tx/412797.pdf
 |title        = Climatography of the United States No. 20: El Paso Intl AP, TX 1971–2000
 |publisher    = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
 |access-date   = April 27, 2010
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130907174043/http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/tx/412797.pdf
 |archive-date = September 7, 2013
|url-status     = dead
 |df           = mdy-all
}}</ref>
The average annual snowfall for the city varies widely between different neighborhoods at different elevations, but is {{convert|2.6|in|cm|abbr=on}} at the airport (but with a median of 0, meaning most years see no snow at all).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/state-pdf/tx.pdf|title=National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) formerly known as National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) – NCEI offers access to the most significant archives of oceanic, atmospheric, geophysical and coastal data.|work=noaa.gov|access-date=July 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212022845/http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/state-pdf/tx.pdf|archive-date=February 12, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Snow is most rare around [[Ysleta]] and the eastern valley area, which usually include large numbers of [[palm trees]]; in the higher neighborhoods, palm trees are more vulnerable to snow and cold snaps and are often seen with brown, frost-damaged fronds.
[[File:Franklin Mountain Snow.jpg|thumb|Snow in the [[Franklin Mountains (Texas)|Franklin Mountains]] in west El Paso]]
One example of El Paso's varying climate at its most extreme was the damaging winter storm of early February 2011, which caused closures of schools, businesses, and City Hall. The snow, which was light, stopped after about a day, but during the ensuing cold episode, municipal utilities went into a crisis. The high temperature on February 2, 2011, was {{convert|15|°F|0}}, the lowest daily maximum on record. In addition, the low temperature on February 3 was {{convert|1|°F|0}}, breaking the {{convert|5|°F|0}} monthly record low set during the [[Great Blizzard of 1899#Arctic cold|cold wave of 1899]].<ref name=NOAA/> Loss of desert vegetation, such as Mexican/California palm trees, oleanders, and [[Aizoaceae|iceplant]]s to the cold weather was one of the results. Two local power plants failed, forcing El Paso Electric to institute [[rolling blackout]]s over several days,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kvia.com/news/rolling-blackouts-resume-friday-morning/53355261|title=Rolling Blackouts Resume Friday Morning|date=February 4, 2011|access-date=December 6, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220074712/http://www.kvia.com/news/rolling-blackouts-resume-friday-morning/53355261|url-status=dead}}</ref> and electric wires were broken, causing localized blackouts. Many water utility pipes froze, causing areas of the city to be without water for several days.

Monthly means range from {{convert|46.1|°F|1}} in December to {{convert|84.4|°F|1}} in July, but high temperatures typically peak in June before the monsoon arrives, while daily low temperatures typically peak in July or early August with the higher humidity the monsoon brings (translating to warmer nights). On average,  42 night lows are at or below freezing, with 118 days of {{convert|90|°F|0}}+ highs and 28 days of {{convert|100|°F|0}}+ highs annually; extremely rarely do temperatures stay below the freezing mark all day.<ref name = NCDC /> The city's record high is {{convert|114|°F|0}} on June 30, 1994, and its record low is {{convert|−8|°F|0}} on January 11, 1962; the highest daily minimum was {{convert|85|°F|0}} on July 1 and 3, 1994, with weather records for the area maintained by the [[National Weather Service]] since 1879.

=== Flooding ===
[[File:Rio Grande EP Upper Valley.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Rio Grande]] in west El Paso, near New Mexico–Texas state line]]
[[File:Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) - El Paso Area, TX(ThreadEx).svg|thumb|right|Climate chart for El Paso]]
Although the average annual rainfall is only about 8.8&nbsp;in (225&nbsp;mm), many parts of El Paso are subject to occasional flooding during intense summer monsoonal thunderstorms. In late July and early August 2006, up to {{convert|10|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain fell in a week, the flood-control reservoirs overflowed and caused major flooding citywide.<ref>{{cite news
 |title = Meteorological Aspects of the 2006 El Paso Texas Metropolitan Area Floods
 |author1=J. Rogash|author2=M. Hardiman|author3=D. Novlan|author4=T. Brice|author5=V. MacBlain|publisher = NOAA/National Weather Service, Weather Forecast Office, Santa Teresa, New Mexico/El Paso, Texas
}}</ref> The city staff estimated damage to public infrastructure at $21&nbsp;million, and to private property (residential and commercial) at $77&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elpasotexas.gov/community/_archive/090606/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080520215453/http://www.elpasotexas.gov/community/_archive/090606/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 20, 2008 |title=Storm 2006 Hits El Paso |publisher=www.elpasotexas.gov |year=2006 |access-date=February 16, 2014 }}</ref> Much of the damage was associated with development in recent decades in [[Arroyo (watercourse)|arroyos]] protected by flood-control dams and reservoirs, and the absence of any storm drain utility in the city to handle the flow of rain water.<section begin="weather box" />{{Weather box 
| location = [[El Paso International Airport|El Paso Int'l]], Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1879–present){{efn|Official records for El Paso kept January 1879 to June 1947 at downtown and at El Paso Int'l since July 1947. For more information, see [http://threadex.rcc-acis.org Threadex]}}
| collapsed = yes
|single line = Y
| Jan high F = 58.6
| Feb high F = 64.1
| Mar high F = 71.9
| Apr high F = 80.0
| May high F = 88.7
| Jun high F = 97.1
| Jul high F = 95.8
| Aug high F = 94.0
| Sep high F = 88.3
| Oct high F = 79.4
| Nov high F = 67.0
| Dec high F = 57.8
| year high F = 78.6
|Jan mean F = 46.5
|Feb mean F = 51.5
|Mar mean F = 58.7
|Apr mean F = 66.6
|May mean F = 75.4
|Jun mean F = 83.9
|Jul mean F = 84.4
|Aug mean F = 82.9
|Sep mean F = 76.9
|Oct mean F = 66.7
|Nov mean F = 54.5
|Dec mean F = 46.1
|year mean F = 66.2
| Jan low F = 34.5
| Feb low F = 38.9
| Mar low F = 45.5
| Apr low F = 53.3
| May low F = 62.1
| Jun low F = 70.6
| Jul low F = 73.0
| Aug low F = 71.8
| Sep low F = 65.4
| Oct low F = 54.0
| Nov low F = 42.0
| Dec low F = 34.4
| year low F = 53.8
| Jan record high F = 80
| Feb record high F = 86
| Mar record high F = 93
| Apr record high F = 98
| May record high F = 105
| Jun record high F = 114
| Jul record high F = 112
| Aug record high F = 112
| Sep record high F = 104
| Oct record high F = 96
| Nov record high F = 87
| Dec record high F = 80
| year record high F = 114
| Jan record low F = −8
| Feb record low F = 1
| Mar record low F = 14
| Apr record low F = 23
| May record low F = 31
| Jun record low F = 46
| Jul record low F = 56
| Aug record low F = 52
| Sep record low F = 41
| Oct record low F = 25
| Nov record low F = 1
| Dec record low F = −5
| year record low F = −8
| Jan avg record high F  = 71.2
| Feb avg record high F  = 76.9
| Mar avg record high F  = 85.9
| Apr avg record high F  = 90.7
| May avg record high F  = 98.7
| Jun avg record high F  = 105.7
| Jul avg record high F  = 103.6
| Aug avg record high F  = 102.5
| Sep avg record high F  = 98.8
| Oct avg record high F  = 90.8
| Nov avg record high F  = 78.5
| Dec avg record high F  = 71.3
| year avg record high F = 106.7
| Jan avg record low F  = 19.1
| Feb avg record low F  = 22.6
| Mar avg record low F  = 27.6
| Apr avg record low F  = 35.8
| May avg record low F  = 46.7
| Jun avg record low F  = 56.6
| Jul avg record low F  = 63.9
| Aug avg record low F  = 62.8
| Sep avg record low F  = 52.6
| Oct avg record low F  = 37.8
| Nov avg record low F  = 25.1
| Dec avg record low F  = 17.9
| year avg record low F = 15.6
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.39
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.40
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.24
| Apr precipitation inch = 0.17
| May precipitation inch = 0.43
| Jun precipitation inch = 0.73
| Jul precipitation inch = 1.58
| Aug precipitation inch = 1.67
| Sep precipitation inch = 1.52
| Oct precipitation inch = 0.59
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.43
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.63
| year precipitation inch = 8.78
| Jan snow inch = 0.8
| Feb snow inch = 0.2
| Mar snow inch = 0.0
| Apr snow inch = 0.0
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 0.5
| Dec snow inch = 1.3
| year snow inch = 2.8
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 3.3
| Feb precipitation days = 3.1
| Mar precipitation days = 2.1
| Apr precipitation days = 1.4
| May precipitation days = 2.4
| Jun precipitation days = 3.4
| Jul precipitation days = 8.1
| Aug precipitation days = 7.8
| Sep precipitation days = 5.5
| Oct precipitation days = 4.1
| Nov precipitation days = 2.6
| Dec precipitation days = 3.8
| year precipitation days = 47.6
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 0.7
| Feb snow days = 0.3
| Mar snow days = 0.0
| Apr snow days = 0.0
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.1
| Nov snow days = 0.2
| Dec snow days = 0.8
| year snow days = 2.1
| Jan sun = 254.5 |Jan percentsun = 80
| Feb sun = 263.0 |Feb percentsun = 85
| Mar sun = 326.0 |Mar percentsun = 88
| Apr sun = 348.0 |Apr percentsun = 89
| May sun = 384.7 |May percentsun = 90
| Jun sun = 384.1 |Jun percentsun = 90
| Jul sun = 360.2 |Jul percentsun = 83
| Aug sun = 335.4 |Aug percentsun = 81
| Sep sun = 304.1 |Sep percentsun = 82
| Oct sun = 298.6 |Oct percentsun = 85
| Nov sun = 257.6 |Nov percentsun = 82
| Dec sun = 246.3 |Dec percentsun = 79
| year percentsun = 85
| Jan humidity = 50.5
| Feb humidity = 41.6
| Mar humidity = 32.4
| Apr humidity = 26.9
| May humidity = 27.1
| Jun humidity = 29.9
| Jul humidity = 43.9
| Aug humidity = 48.4
| Sep humidity = 50.5
| Oct humidity = 47.1
| Nov humidity = 46.1
| Dec humidity = 51.5
| year humidity = 41.3
| Jan dew point C = -4.8
| Feb dew point C = -5.0
| Mar dew point C = -5.1
| Apr dew point C = -3.6
| May dew point C = 0.2
| Jun dew point C = 5.5
| Jul dew point C = 12.7
| Aug dew point C = 13.2
| Sep dew point C = 10.9
| Oct dew point C = 4.4
| Nov dew point C = -1.5
| Dec dew point C = -4.1
| year dew point F = 
| source 1 = NOAA (relative humidity 1962–1990, sun 1961–1990, dew point 1962–1990)<ref name = NOAA >{{cite web |url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=epz |title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date = February 7, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00023044&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
|publisher=NOAA
|date=2023-06-16
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616044719/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00023044&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|archive-date=2023-06-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72270.TXT |title = WMO Climate Normals for El Paso/Int'l Arpt TX 1961–1990 |access-date = March 10, 2014 |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616045726/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72270.TXT |archive-date=2023-06-16}}</ref>
}}<section end="weather box" />
{{Graph:Weather monthly history
| table=Ncei.noaa.gov/weather/El Paso, Texas.tab
| title=El Paso monthly weather statistics
}}