Fast-Moving Pacific Storm To Bring More Wind/Blowing Dust/Critically Dangerous Fire Weather Conditions Friday!
Carlsbad, New Mexico.
We got off to a slow start as far as the wind and dust were concerned yesterday here in southeastern New Mexico. That all changed around 5 PM when once again dust from southern New Mexico and northern Mexico was transported northeastward by strong southwesterly winds. Visibilities dropped down to around 3 miles in the Artesia and Carlsbad areas and 5 miles in the Lovington and Hobbs areas.
A peak wind gust of 61 mph was clocked by the Carlsbad Airport ASOS at 11:12 PM MST last night. Other wind gusts recorded after midnight include:
81 mph at the West Texas Mesonet Station west of the Carlsbad Caverns National Park Visitor Center. They gusted to 89 mph after midnight last night.
59 mph at the San Augustin Raws in Organ Pass, east of Las Cruces.
57 mph at the Dunken and Queen Raws.
55 mph at the Pinery Raws at Pine Springs in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Peak Wind Gusts measured Wednesday afternoon and evening include the following:
San Augustin Pass Raws in Organ Pass east of Las Cruces 83 mph.
Gallup Airport ASOS 70 mph.
Sierra Blanca Regional Airport AWOS, northeast of Ruidoso 66 mph.
3 Cross Ranch North of the Flying H Ranch 65 mph.
The Pine Springs Raws in the Guadalupe Mountains Natl Park 60 mph.
The Dunken Raws 55 mph.
Carlsbad XL 182 55 mph.
Carlsbad Airport ASOS 55 mph.
Nogal NMCC 5 West 55 mph.
The Smokey Bear Raws NW of Ruidoso 54 mph.
The Artesia Airport AWOS 54 mph.
Seven Rivers NMCC 54 mph.
High Rolls Personal Weather Station (PWS) 53 mph.
Hagerman NMCC 52 mph.
Hope NMCC 4.9 West 51 mph.
Mayhill PWS Dominion Point Observatory 51 mph.
The Cosmic Raws at Apache Point, south of Sunspot 50 mph.
The Roswell Airport ASOS 49 mph.
Dark Canyon Ranch, NMCC SW of Carlsbad 47 mph.
Yet another Pacific cold front and fast-moving upper-level storm will move across the state on Friday. Today will be breezy to locally windy, but strong winds return ahead of the approaching winter storm on Friday.
A High Wind Warning is in effect until 9 PM MST this evening for the Guadalupe Mountains of Eddy and Culberson Counties. Southwest winds sustained at 35-55 mph with gusts near 75 mph are expected.
Southwesterly and westerly winds are forecast to ramp up across the state on Friday, with many areas seeing gusts in the 50-60 mph range. Localized gusts may exceed 60 mph. Additional High Wind Watches, Warnings, and Advisories may be issued later today or tomorrow for the state and local area by our NWS Offices.
Localized wind damage may occur in the High Wind Warnings areas in gusts that exceed 60 mph. Power poles, lines, and utility lines may be blown down. Outbuildings, sheds, barns, west-facing fences, roadway signs, and roofs may be damaged. Farmland irrigation sprinkler systems may be damaged or destroyed.
A High Wind Warning is already in effect for the east slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, eastern San Miguel County, the northeast Highlands, the Central Highlands, and Guadalupe County on Friday for westerly winds sustained at 35-45 mph with gusts near 60 mph.
A Wind Advisory has already been issued for the northern and southern Sacramento Mountains on Friday for west winds sustained at 30-35 mph with gusts to 50-60 mph.
Areas of blowing dust will once again likely develop, especially over southern, south-central, eastern, and southeastern New Mexico. Our usual dust-prone locations in and close to freshly plowed or exposed farmlands, fields, large open lots, and highway construction sites may experience sudden drops in visibility down to zero with little to no advanced warning in life-threatening brownouts.
Southern and southeastern New Mexico has a long history of these sudden brownouts along our highways during these severe duststorms. More often than not, fatalities and injuries involve multiple vehicle pileups. People panic during these blinding dust storms and do crazy things that not only endanger their own lives but also those of others. I've uploaded several YouTube videos that I've taken over the past couple of years and before of that. The last two springs have been some of the worst for duststorms we've seen in southeastern New Mexico in many years.
My YouTube Channels: Channel content - YouTube Studio and Channel content - YouTube Studio Wendellwx or WendellMalone
A Red Flag Warning is in effect for all of southeastern and eastern New Mexico from the central mountains eastward out into West Texas, including much of the Permian Basin, on Friday for Critically Dangerous Fire Weather Conditions. Should any wildland or forest fires develop, they will have the ability to rapidly grow and spread in the high winds. Any wildfire that develops in the high winds will have the ability to threaten life and property and will be hard to control or put out. All outdoor activity that involves the use of fire, flame, and sparks should be avoided on Friday.
Snow squalls may accompany the frontal passage across western, central, and northern New Mexico on Friday morning for a couple of hours, dropping the visibility down to 1/4 to 1/2 of a mile in moderate snow and westerly winds gusting to 40-50 mph.
Friday and Saturday mornings will be cold across northern New Mexico, with the higher mountain valleys dropping down into the single digits and near zero.
The weekend will be seasonally cool, and then we get a break the first of next week as we warm back up to above normal temps. Highs in the southeastern plains on Tuesday are forecast to climb up into the low 80's. Some of the models think we may even approach 90 by next Wednesday.
Of course, we are not done with our duststorms and high winds. In fact, we are only getting started. Our next windbag of a storm may sandblast us next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 115 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, FIRE WEATHER... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 115 PM CST Thu Feb 19 2026 - Gusty winds persist today and tomorrow. Periods of hazardous winds are still expected in the Guadalupe Mountains through Friday evening. - Elevated to near-critical fire weather conditions continue today. Near-critical to critical conditions are forecast for Friday. - Warmer than average temperatures persist through Friday before a cold front brings near to below normal temperatures through the weekend.
Area Forecast Discussion...CORRECTED National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 1108 AM MST Thu Feb 19 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1028 AM MST Thu Feb 19 2026 - Hazardous west northwest crosswinds around 50 mph will persist across the central highlands this morning mainly impacting Highway 285, Highway 84, and Route 3. West crosswinds will probably gust from 40 to 60 mph across much of the area along and east of the central mountain chain on Friday. - Snow will produce winter driving conditions across the west central and northern mountains tonight and Friday, with a moderate risk of snow squalls even at lower elevations Friday morning as a blustery cold front crosses west central, northwest, and north central New Mexico. - Critical fire weather conditions will increase the risk of rapid fire spread across northeast and east central areas today and Friday.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service El Paso TX/Santa Teresa NM 1221 PM MST Thu Feb 19 2026 ...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, FIRE WEATHER... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1100 AM MST Thu Feb 19 2026 - Windy conditions again Friday, with a risk of blowing dust across southern New Mexico and far west Texas. This may cause impactful travel conditions by reducing visibility on area roadways. - Lighter winds with seasonal temperatures for the weekend, followed by a warm-up next week.
(Wednesday, February 25. 2026.)
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 541 PM MST Wed Feb 18 2026 ...HIGHEST WIND GUST REPORTS FROM TODAY, FEBRUARY 18TH... Location Speed Time/Date ...New Mexico... ...Bernalillo County... I-40 @ Sedillo Hill (NMDOT) 55 MPH 0500 PM 02/18 Albuquerque 7 NW 52 MPH 0339 PM 02/18 Albuquerque Intl Sunport 52 MPH 0452 PM 02/18 Albuquerque 50 MPH 0422 PM 02/18 Double Eagle II Arpt 49 MPH 0455 PM 02/18 Albuquerque 48 MPH 0430 PM 02/18 Albuquerque 6 NW 46 MPH 0435 PM 02/18 ...Catron County... Reserve 1 WSW 48 MPH 0108 PM 02/18 ...Chaves County... Dunken 2 NE (Dunken) 55 MPH 0336 PM 02/18 Hagerman 52 MPH 0125 PM 02/18 Roswell Air Center 49 MPH 0325 PM 02/18 ...Cibola County... I-40 @ SR-6 (NMDOT) 53 MPH 0319 PM 02/18 El Morro 16 SSE (Malpais Lav 52 MPH 0325 PM 02/18 New Laguna 1 N (Laguna) 52 MPH 0333 PM 02/18 Grants-Milan Airport 51 MPH 0255 PM 02/18 Pine Hill 14 SSE 49 MPH 0234 PM 02/18 Bluewater Lake 9 SSW (Bluewa 47 MPH 0405 PM 02/18 Milan 3.1nnw 45 MPH 0220 PM 02/18 Acoma Pueblo 19 SW (Brushy M 45 MPH 0349 PM 02/18 ...Colfax County... Raton Crews Airport 46 MPH 1248 PM 02/18 ...Curry County... Clovis 53 MPH 0146 PM 02/18 St. Vrain 45 MPH 0315 PM 02/18 ...De Baca County... Canyon Blanco 45 MPH 0225 PM 02/18 ...Guadalupe County... Puerto De Luna 3.3 E 53 MPH 0340 PM 02/18 Vaughn 4 E (UPR) 52 MPH 0222 PM 02/18 SE Vaughn 51 MPH 0355 PM 02/18 Thompson Cattle 51 MPH 0440 PM 02/18 Newkirk 8.7n 49 MPH 0115 PM 02/18 ...Harding County... Mills 4 WSW (Mills Canyon) 45 MPH 0305 PM 02/18 ...Lincoln County... Sierra Blanca Rgnl Arpt 66 MPH 0115 PM 02/18 Nogal 5 NW 55 MPH 0330 PM 02/18 Ruidoso 1 NNW (Smokey Bear) 54 MPH 0100 PM 02/18 Phillips Hill (WSMR) 51 MPH 0320 PM 02/18 Roswell No. 2 Portable 48 MPH 1220 PM 02/18 Shist (WSMR) 48 MPH 0155 PM 02/18 Oscura Range Camp (WSMR) 48 MPH 0255 PM 02/18 ...McKinley County... Gallup Airport 70 MPH 0254 PM 02/18 Zuni Airport 53 MPH 0301 PM 02/18 Standing Rock Chapter House 47 MPH 1145 AM 02/18 Zuni Pueblo 7 NW (Zuni Butte 45 MPH 1242 PM 02/18 ...Quay County... Endee 2 SW 46 MPH 0130 PM 02/18 ...Rio Arriba County... Dulce (Dulce No. 2) 45 MPH 0228 PM 02/18 Espanola 4 NW (Black Mesa) 45 MPH 0434 PM 02/18 ...Roosevelt County... Dora 2 SW 46 MPH 0427 PM 02/18 ...San Juan County... Farmington Airport 55 MPH 0206 PM 02/18 White Rock Chapter House 49 MPH 0200 PM 02/18 Navajo Dam 12 N (Albino Cany 47 MPH 0126 PM 02/18 ...San Miguel County... I-25 @ Rowe (NMDOT) 57 MPH 0400 PM 02/18 Las Vegas Muni Airport 52 MPH 0400 PM 02/18 ...Sandoval County... Bernalillo 3 E 57 MPH 0430 PM 02/18 Placitas 54 MPH 0430 PM 02/18 Rio Rancho 53 MPH 0430 PM 02/18 Frijoles (Tower) 50 MPH 0408 PM 02/18 Cuba 9 SW (Cuba) 47 MPH 1241 PM 02/18 Rio Rancho 2 S 46 MPH 0427 PM 02/18 Valles Caldera HQ (DRI) 45 MPH 0400 PM 02/18 ...Santa Fe County... Santa Fe Muni Airport 58 MPH 0347 PM 02/18 Glorieta 57 MPH 0328 PM 02/18 I-25 @ La Bajada (NMDOT) 56 MPH 0510 PM 02/18 Santa Fe 47 MPH 0330 PM 02/18 Edgewood 45 MPH 0450 PM 02/18 ...Socorro County... 10 SSE Magdalena 60 MPH 1230 PM 02/18 North Oscura Peak (WSMR) 56 MPH 1150 AM 02/18 Little Burro (WSMR) 55 MPH 0310 PM 02/18 Zumwalt Track (WSMR) 54 MPH 0105 PM 02/18 Mine (WSMR) 53 MPH 1245 PM 02/18 Stallion Runway (WSMR) 52 MPH 0100 PM 02/18 Harry (WSMR) 50 MPH 1225 PM 02/18 Contreras 1 ESE (Sevilleta) 50 MPH 0311 PM 02/18 Sulf 49 MPH 1255 PM 02/18 Carrizozo 15 NW (Chupadera) 49 MPH 0239 PM 02/18 Stallion WIT (WSMR) 49 MPH 0425 PM 02/18 Las Nutrias 1 WNW 47 MPH 0130 PM 02/18 Veguita 45 MPH 1200 PM 02/18 ...Taos County... Arroyo Seco 3 SW 45 MPH 0245 PM 02/18 ...Torrance County... Clines Corners 1 SSE 59 MPH 0157 PM 02/18 Edgewood SWCD 59 MPH 0215 PM 02/18 I-40 @ U.S. 285 (NMDOT) 57 MPH 0225 PM 02/18 Moriarty Muni Airport 52 MPH 0215 PM 02/18 Mountainair 1 W (Mountainair 52 MPH 0505 PM 02/18 Abo 3 N 51 MPH 0330 PM 02/18 Estancia 2 WSW 50 MPH 0230 PM 02/18 Encino 46 MPH 0240 PM 02/18 ...Union County... SW Clayton 52 MPH 0145 PM 02/18 Clayton Muni Airpark 52 MPH 0256 PM 02/18 Amistad 51 MPH 0205 PM 02/18 Clayton LRC 49 MPH 0255 PM 02/18 ...Valencia County... Belen Regional Airport 46 MPH 1235 PM 02/18 &&
Public Information Statement National Weather Service El Paso TX/Santa Teresa NM 653 PM MST Wed Feb 18 2026 ...HIGHEST WIND REPORTS... Location Speed Time/Date Lat/Lon ...New Mexico... ...Dona Ana County... San Agustin Pass 1.6 E Organ 83 MPH 0130 PM 02/18 32.43N/106.57W WSMR Building 1830 69 MPH 1230 PM 02/18 32.37N/106.47W Delta Clipper 68 MPH 0455 PM 02/18 32.90N/106.41W Condron Field (WSMR) 64 MPH 0545 PM 02/18 32.34N/106.41W Brillo West 61 MPH 0445 PM 02/18 32.96N/106.54W WSMR Museum 59 MPH 0625 PM 02/18 32.38N/106.48W Globe 58 MPH 1230 PM 02/18 32.38N/106.47W WSMR C-Station 57 MPH 0330 PM 02/18 32.36N/106.38W WSMR Main Post 57 MPH 0550 PM 02/18 32.37N/106.49W WSMR Pony 55 MPH 0200 PM 02/18 32.87N/106.49W WSMR Apache 54 MPH 0340 PM 02/18 32.63N/106.39W WSMR EMRE 54 MPH 0250 PM 02/18 32.47N/106.50W Lc-33 53 MPH 0400 PM 02/18 32.40N/106.38W Cdrrc Camp Location 50 MPH 0405 PM 02/18 32.58N/106.87W Las Cruces AWOS 49 MPH 0315 PM 02/18 32.27N/106.92W WSMR Rad 49 MPH 0130 PM 02/18 32.80N/106.50W Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland 47 MPH 0450 PM 02/18 32.53N/106.81W Msa Tower 13 47 MPH 0235 PM 02/18 32.58N/106.67W Butterfield Trail Ranch 45 MPH 0430 PM 02/18 32.26N/107.24W Dripping Springs RAWS 45 MPH 0226 PM 02/18 32.32N/106.59W ...Grant County... Silver City - Mountain View 49 MPH 0330 PM 02/18 32.77N/108.26W Burro Mountain RAWS 48 MPH 0359 PM 02/18 32.67N/108.54W ...Hidalgo County... Lordsburg Playa I10 MP11 (NM 53 MPH 0315 PM 02/18 32.28N/108.88W Lordsburg Playa I10 MP13 (NM 52 MPH 0315 PM 02/18 32.32N/108.81W Lordsburg Playa I10 MP12 (NM 49 MPH 0320 PM 02/18 32.29N/108.87W Hachita Valley 47 MPH 0540 PM 02/18 31.70N/108.34W Lordsburg Playa I10 MP9 (NMD 47 MPH 0315 PM 02/18 32.27N/108.90W Chiricahua Desert Museum 46 MPH 0440 PM 02/18 31.87N/109.02W ...Luna County... Deming ASOS 48 MPH 0316 PM 02/18 32.27N/107.72W ...Otero County... Orogrande Gate (WSMR) 54 MPH 0340 PM 02/18 32.41N/106.15W High Rolls 53 MPH 0419 PM 02/18 32.94N/105.84W Mayhill - Dimension Point Ob 51 MPH 0100 PM 02/18 32.91N/105.53W WSMR ABC-1 51 MPH 0445 PM 02/18 33.16N/106.33W Helstf 50 MPH 0345 PM 02/18 32.64N/106.34W Mescalero RAWS 49 MPH 0241 PM 02/18 33.16N/105.77W WSMR Frequency 47 MPH 0325 PM 02/18 32.82N/106.15W Glover 47 MPH 0240 PM 02/18 32.58N/106.26W McGregor Range RAWS 46 MPH 0337 PM 02/18 32.43N/105.62W Holloman AFB AWOS 45 MPH 0342 PM 02/18 32.85N/106.08W WSMR Tula 45 MPH 0150 PM 02/18 33.07N/106.18W WSMR LC-36 45 MPH 0240 PM 02/18 32.42N/106.32W Lc-35 North 45 MPH 0555 PM 02/18 32.44N/106.34W ...Sierra County... T-or-C ASOS 56 MPH 0305 PM 02/18 33.23N/107.27W WSMR Jallen Hawk 40 53 MPH 0505 PM 02/18 33.17N/106.49W WSMR Alt Shist 53 MPH 0405 PM 02/18 33.44N/106.41W 19 ESE Truth Or Consequences 52 MPH 0235 PM 02/18 32.98N/106.97W WSMR Salt Creek 51 MPH 0320 PM 02/18 33.12N/106.36W WSMR Denver WIT 50 MPH 0425 PM 02/18 33.24N/106.36W T Or C Golf Course 46 MPH 0455 PM 02/18 33.15N/107.26W ...Texas... ...El Paso County... El Paso International Airpor 59 MPH 0435 PM 02/18 31.82N/106.38W Biggs Field AWOS 54 MPH 0144 PM 02/18 31.85N/106.38W Epcc - Rio Grande 46 MPH 0301 PM 02/18 31.80N/106.50W &&
There Are None So Blind As Those Who "Will - Not" To See...107.
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