High Wind Warning Issued for Guadalupe Mountains; Gusts Up to 80 MPH Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa TX has issued a High Wind Warning for the Guadalupe Mountains region. This alert covers two distinct periods of hazardous wind conditions involving significant west winds and potentially dangerous gusts.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the following geographic regions:

• Guadalupe Mountains of Eddy County (New Mexico)
• Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet
• Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains (Texas)

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers in the affected areas should take immediate precautions:

• Travel Safety: Drivers of high-profile vehicles, such as campers, vans, and tractor-trailers, should strongly consider postponing travel until conditions improve.
• Route Planning: Delay travel through Guadalupe Pass or seek alternative routes if possible.
• Visibility: Use caution when driving, as blowing dust may significantly reduce visibility on roadways.
• Aviation: Pilots of light aircraft should exercise extreme caution or avoid low-altitude flights near the mountains due to the risk of severe turbulence and strong downward airflows.

Expected Conditions

The region is facing two phases of high winds:

• Initial Phase: West winds between 35 and 45 mph with gusts reaching 60 mph.
• Secondary Phase: West winds increasing to 45 to 65 mph with extreme gusts up to 80 mph expected at higher elevations.

Timeline

• Current Warning: Remains in effect until 10:00 PM MST (11:00 PM CST) Tuesday evening.
• Second Warning: Effective from 9:00 AM MST (10:00 AM CST) Wednesday, February 18, until 9:00 PM MST (10:00 PM CST) Thursday, February 19.