How cold is it today? Details about Halloween weather in El Paso

Aaron A. Bedoya, El Paso Times
Updated ·3 min read

The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for a large portion of southern New Mexico and far West Texas, effective from midnight until 9 a.m. Tuesday.

While Downtown El Paso is less likely to experience freezing temperatures, residents can expect temperatures to drop into the mid-30s, according to the National Weather Service.

Monday, Oct. 30, will be the coldest day of the week, with temperatures 15 to 25 degrees below the normal. The temperatures will trend upward for the rest of the week, with above-normal temperatures beginning Friday, Nov. 3, according to officials.

How cold is it outside?

Trick-or-treaters can expect a clear Tuesday night with a low of around 38 degrees. During the day, expect sunny weather, with a high near 58 degrees, and winds could gust as high as 20 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

More: El Paso restaurants: Weekly inspection scores includes Little Shack, Burritos Crisostomo

What temperature is too cold for cats?

Kittens, cats advanced in age, or sick should never be kept outdoors when the temperature is below 45 degrees, according to a report from Texas A&M University.

The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for a large portion of southern New Mexico and far West Texas.
The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for a large portion of southern New Mexico and far West Texas.

How to prevent pipes from freezing

Many homes will have exposed pipes within their homes, perhaps under the sink or in a garage or an attic. There are ways to help prevent them from freezing.

  • Wrap the pipe in makeshift insulation. A quick fix is to use newspaper or towels, said Anthony Tornetta, a spokesman for the American Red Cross, which has tips to prevent and thaw frozen pipes on its website. "If you can add insulation to those areas, that’s a first line of defense,” he said. "As little as one-quarter of an inch wrapped around the pipe will help, especially if you are in areas that don't freeze for an extended period of time. This is a deep freeze, but it is going to pass."

  • Open cabinets in the kitchen or bathroom that might have pipes near the exterior of the home. "That allows warmer air within the house to flow through the cabinet to stop those pipes from freezing," Tornetta said.

  • Keep your home warm to help prevent pipes from freezing. Don't drop the temperature down at night in the home during frigid weather, Galeotafiore says. "That sounds counter-intuitive to what we usually say about energy conservation, but you have to do that because if you have a pipe burst it can be thousands of dollars of damage," he said.

  • Constantly run a small stream of water from faucets that might have pipes susceptible to freezing. "If the house is heated and you open the faucets up and you open the cabinet doors, even if you are in a really, really cold environment, it should be a pretty good fix," Brown said.

  • If you are not going to be at home, ask someone to regularly check your property to ensure the heat is working and the pipes have not frozen.

Tips on preventing pipes from freezing were originally published on USA TODAY in January 2019.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Freeze Warning issued for southern New Mexico, far West Texas