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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service El Paso TX/Santa Teresa NM
1134 AM MDT Sat Sep 20 2025

...National Weather Service to Discontinue Issuance of Freeze
Warnings for High Terrain Areas of Southern New Mexico...

Effective this fall season, the National Weather Service (NWS)
office in El Paso will adjust its procedure for issuing Freeze
Warnings for the first freeze of the season. Specifically, Freeze
Warnings will no longer be issued for locations above 6,000 feet
in southern New Mexico.

This change will primarily affect the following high-elevation
areas:

* The southern half of the Sacramento Mountains, including the
  community of Cloudcroft.
* Portions of the Gila Wilderness and
  the Black Range Mountains above 6,000 feet, including the
  community of Silver City.

This procedural change is being made for several reasons. First,
an early-season freeze is an expected and routine occurrence in
these mountainous regions. Second, the agricultural impacts from a
first freeze in these specific high-terrain zones are limited.
This adjustment also aligns our warning services with neighboring
NWS offices in Albuquerque and Tucson, who do not issue Freeze
Warnings for their respective high-terrain areas.

It is critical for residents to understand what is NOT changing:

* Our weather forecasts will not change. NWS will continue to
  accurately forecast freezing temperatures for all locations. The
  daily forecast will remain the best source for expected low
  temperatures.
* Freeze Warnings will still be issued for lower elevations. We
  will continue to issue Freeze Warnings for the lowlands of
  southern New Mexico and far west Texas where there are more
  significant agricultural impacts from an early freeze.
* Impact-based warnings for significant cold will continue. NWS
  will still issue warnings, watches, and advisories for all
  areas, including the mountains, when there is a threat of
  particularly impactful or dangerous cold weather, such as a hard
  freeze or a prolonged cold snap. Our office will also continue
  to provide briefings to our emergency management partners ahead
  of any significant weather event.

The public is encouraged to stay informed about the latest
weather conditions by visiting our website at weather.gov/epz and
by listening to NOAA Weather Radio.



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