High Wind Warning and Blowing Dust Advisory Issued for El Paso County and White Sands
This alert is no longer in effect.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).
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The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for parts of West Texas and New Mexico, with 60 mph gusts and blowing dust expected through Tuesday evening.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- High Wind Warning
- Affected area
- West Texas and Southern New Mexico
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS El Paso
Wind notices are issued against local thresholds and a defined time window. Confirm both in the original notice before making a current-condition decision.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in West Texas and Southern New Mexico.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM has issued a High Wind Warning and a Blowing Dust Advisory for portions of New Mexico and Texas. The alert indicates a high probability of severe weather conditions that could impact travel and safety.
Affected Areas
The warning covers the following geographic regions:
- New Mexico: West Central Tularosa Basin and White Sands.
- Texas: Eastern and Central El Paso County.
Expected Conditions
Residents in the warned areas should prepare for the following conditions:
- Wind: Sustained west winds between 30 and 40 mph, with powerful gusts reaching up to 60 mph.
- Visibility: Blowing dust is expected to reduce visibility to between one-quarter and one mile.
- Hazards: Damaging winds are likely to blow down trees and power lines, leading to widespread power outages. Travel will be difficult, particularly for high-profile vehicles.
Timeline
- High Wind Warning: In effect until 8:00 PM MST this evening, February 17, 2026.
- Blowing Dust Advisory: In effect until 5:00 PM MST this afternoon, February 17, 2026.
What You Should Do
The National Weather Service recommends the following safety measures:
- Motorists: If you encounter blowing dust or sand on the roadway, pull off the road as far as possible and put your vehicle in park. Turn your lights all the way off and keep your foot off the brake pedal to avoid being hit by other drivers. Remember the slogan: "Pull Aside, Stay Alive."
- At Home: Remain in the lower levels of your home and stay away from windows to avoid injury from falling debris or broken glass. Watch for falling tree limbs.
- Health Precautions: Individuals with respiratory problems should make preparations to stay indoors until the dust clears.
- General Safety: Use extreme caution if you must drive and be prepared for sudden drops in visibility to near zero.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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