Dangerous High Wind/Blowing Dust/Fire Weather Event Tuesday!

- February 16, 2026

February 5, 2026.

Altocumulus Standing Lenticular Cloud - ACSL

Snow Covering Ocotillo Foothills - NW Of Carlsbad, NM.

At 2:00 PM MST, my backyard Davis Vantage Pro2 Plus Wireless Station has already reached 83. It's 81 at the Carlsbad Airport, 80 in Lakewood, and at the Artesia Airport. Even at Runyan Ranches (5,458') east of Elk, it's 80. These temps are some twenty degrees above normal for mid February. Such has been the case for much of the fall and winter.

Get ready to go for a very bumpy, windy, dusty rollercoaster ride in New Mexico from Tuesday through Thursday. Tuesday will just be a flat-out ugly day in most places with damaging high winds and areas of blowing dust, tumble weeds, and needle grass, particularly from the central mountain chain eastward out onto the northeastern, eastern, and southeastern plains.

Numerous High Wind Warnings, High Wind Watches, Wind Advisories, Blowing Dust Advisories, Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Winter Storm Warnings, and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect across the state for Tuesday through Thursday.

There may be some locations within the High Wind Warning areas that could see scattered power outages from downed power poles and power lines. And other utility lines could be blown down, too. Wind damage may occur to some roofs, outbuildings, barns, sheds, west-facing fences, and farmland irrigation equipment. Some road closures may occur during the worst of the brownout conditions.

High-profile vehicles may be blown over on some of our north-south facing roads and highways during those gusts that exceed 60 mph. Southwesterly and westerly wind gusts in the High Wind Warning areas are forecast to reach 60-70 mph. These gusts are forecast to reach 85 mph in the Guadalupe Mountains, including Guadalupe Pass. Don't be shocked if a few locations experience localized higher gusts.

Blowing dust is going to be a problem in the High Wind Warning areas, especially in southeastern New Mexico and possibly parts of southern New Mexico on Tuesday.

Widespread areas of blowing dust may drop the visibility from a mile to a quarter of a mile in the High Wind Warning areas. And in some locations of the Wind Advisory areas across southern New Mexico on Tuesday.

Sudden drops in the visibility down to a quarter of a mile or even near zero may occur in and near our more dust-prone locations, such as the Roswell Relief Route/Roswell areas, the Midway, Dexter, Hagerman, Lake Arthur, Artesia-Atoka-Lakewood-Seven Rivers, and Carlsbad-Otis-Loving areas.

Dangerous Fire Weather Conditions will exist across the eastern half of the state today into Tuesday and across northeastern New Mexico on Wednesday. Any outdoor activity that involves the use of fire or flame is highly discouraged.

Winter Storm Warnings remain in effect for the Tuscas Mountains, including Chama, and the northern and southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains for 4" of new snow below 8,000', and up to 8" above 8,000'. In the Sangre de Cristos, snowfall totals of 5" are forecast. Westerly winds gusting to 65 mph will create whiteout conditions with the heavy snow and blowing snow, with visibilities dropping below a quarter of a mile. Power line and tree damage will be possible, along with some power outages.

Periods of snow and areas of blowing snow will create difficult driving conditions across western and northern New Mexico on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Snow may become more widespread across central and northern New Mexico by Friday.

Low temperatures in the higher elevations of northern New Mexico will likely drop into the single digits from Thursday into Sunday.

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
156 PM CST Mon Feb 16 2026

...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, FIRE WEATHER...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 153 PM CST Mon Feb 16 2026

- Dry weather throughout the week into the weekend.

- Gusty winds, hazardous high winds over Guadalupes into adjacent foothills
  and plains of Culberson County and Eddy County, with a wind-
  driven fire threat developing Tuesday and continuing into
  Thursday.

- Warmer than average early to mid-week, followed by a cooling
  trend into the weekend. &&

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
119 PM MST Mon Feb 16 2026

...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, FIRE WEATHER...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 119 PM MST Mon Feb 16 2026

- Strong to potentially damaging westerly winds for eastern New
  Mexico Tuesday through Thursday. Dangerous travel may occur for
  high-profile vehicles with areas of blowing dust creating low
  visibility at times.

- Periods of mountain snow and blowing snow across western and
  north central New Mexico Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Slick
  and hazardous travel may occur with strong winds, blowing snow,
  and low visibility at times. Snow may spread to a larger area of
  northern and central New Mexico by Friday.

- There is an increasing threat for rapid fire spread across
  eastern New Mexico through much of this work week (peaking
  Wednesday) along with portions of the middle and lower Rio
  Grande Valley on Wednesday. &&

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service El Paso TX/Santa Teresa NM
1106 AM MST Mon Feb 16 2026

...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, FIRE WEATHER...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1105 AM MST Mon Feb 16 2026

 - Windy conditions will prevail Tuesday through Friday, with
   blowing dust likely across southern New Mexico and far west
   Texas. This may cause impact travel conditions by reducing
   visibility on area roadways.

 - Critical fire weather conditions are expected Wednesday as
   strong winds combine with very dry humidity. Outdoor burning is
   discouraged. Any fires that do start will spread rapidly.

 - Drier conditions with near to slightly below normal
   temperatures for the weekend along with lighter winds. &&

Current Midland NWS Warnings, Watches, Advisories.

(Click On The Link For The Latest Updates.)