High winds make for a chaotic day in the Borderland

Wind gusts in the Borderland picked up Wednesday, creating low visibility for drivers, uprooting trees and making city workers respond to hazardous situations on roadways.

In El Paso, wind gusts of 62 mph were reported at the airport. Winds in Las Cruces were as high as 67 mph.

El Paso's landfill and collection stations were closed because of low visibility due to high winds, said city officials.

The landfill, at 2300 Darrington near Clint, and the Citizen Collection Stations, also known as drop-off sites, will close about two hours early today "to ensure the safety of Environmental Services customers and employees," officials said.

The landfill and the drop-off sites are expected to resume normal operating hours on Thursday, weather permitting.

In northeast El Paso on Newcastle Street, a tree was uprooted.

City street department employees were called out to clean up the roadway on Estrella Street. A tree had fallen, blocking the roadway.

The National Weather Service reported before 1 p.m. that visibility was down to 1 mile at the University of Texas at El Paso.

The damage didn't stop there.

Car windows were broken, a shed's roof was blown off and a tree was uprooted at White Sands Missile Range, said WSMR officials.

New Mexico Department of Transportation officials are asking motorists to travel with "extreme caution" because of winter storm conditions in southern New Mexico.

The National Weather Service reports that the High Wind Warning will expire at 5 p.m. for the Borderland.