Dust Storm Warning Issued for Southern Luna and Southwestern Dona Ana Counties
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
The National Weather Service has issued a Dust Storm Warning for parts of southern New Mexico, citing life-threatening travel conditions and near-zero visibility until 3:15 PM MST.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Dust Storm Warning
- Affected area
- Southern New Mexico
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS El Paso
Storm notices can cover different combinations of wind, hail, lightning, and rainfall. Use the original notice for the hazards and boundaries attached to this specific record.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Southern New Mexico.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM has issued a Dust Storm Warning. This alert is classified as a severe threat with likely certainty, indicating an imminent hazard to life and property.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the following regions in New Mexico:
- Southern Luna County (Southwestern New Mexico)
- Southwestern Dona Ana County (South Central New Mexico)
Specific locations impacted include Columbus, Afton, Carzalia Valley, Hermanas, Waterloo, Aden Crater, Mount Riley, Camel Mountain, and Kilbourne Hole. Particular concern is noted for areas along Highway 9 and Highway 11 north of Columbus.
What You Should Do
Motorists are urged to avoid driving into dust storms. If you are caught in blowing dust, follow the "Pull Aside, Stay Alive" protocol:
- Pull your vehicle completely off the paved portion of the road.
- Turn off all vehicle lights, including emergency flashers.
- Set the emergency brake and take your foot off the brake pedal to ensure tail lights are not illuminated, which can mislead other drivers.
- Infants, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory issues are urged to take extra precautions to avoid dust inhalation.
Expected Conditions
According to Department of Transportation officials and satellite imagery, an area of blowing dust was identified over Columbus, extending along Highways 9 and 11. Residents should expect:
- Visibility: Less than a quarter mile, with sudden drops to near zero.
- Wind: Strong winds ranging from 40 to 50 mph.
- Hazards: Dangerous and life-threatening travel conditions due to restricted visibility.
Timeline
The alert was issued at 1:20 PM MST on February 18, 2026. The warning is effective immediately and is scheduled to expire at 3:15 PM MST.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
Related Weather Alerts
All Weather Alerts →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this NWS weather alert.