El Paso is Better Prepared for Canadian Wildfires Than New York

It’s really just one simple reason: El Paso, Texas has a windy season. Every year without fail residents of the Borderland can expect occurrences of hazardous air quality accompanied by almost brown out condition. Many a spring sky has been discolored with the sun almost blotted out. It wasn’t even that long ago parts of the eastside had to deal with air quality alerts and visibility challenges from the smoke of the Recycling Plant that burned out of control in Mexico.

The likelihood of smoke from any fire in Canada making its way along the jet stream to our longitude is not very high, but with any foreign threat from a smoky haze, or the next haboob, at least we’ve been through it before and know how to get on with life despite the conditions. Sometimes for us it can be just a normal Monday in El Paso...

If you don't believe me, look at some of the dust storms we've had in the past

Or this video for earlier in 2023.

And this just within the last decade or so. Since at least 1932, El Paso has experienced countless storms in the desert. To say we've had experience on what to do when they happen is an understatement; we've lived through it many times.

From news reports to social media posts, the videos and photos of what looked like a post-apocalyptic New York City terrified people throughout America as they wondered, what if that happened here? As for just what El Paso would look like under those same Canadian wildfire smoke filled conditions, the pictures you have just seen are foretelling. That or they show you what it will be like on any other dusty-windy day in the (sometimes blotting out the) Sun City. Been there. Will be there again.

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