Damaging Winds/Blowing Dust/Extremely Critically Dangerous Fire Weather Conditions Today!

- April 26, 2026

April 25, 2026.

Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Altocumulus Standing Lenticular Clouds.

New Mexico's weather today into Tuesday will be on the ugly side, especially today. Today's themes include damaging winds, widespread blowing dust, and critically dangerous to extremely critically dangerous fire weather conditions.

Southwest to west winds are forecast to become sustained at 30 to 40 mph with gusts near 60 mph over the central mountain chain and eastern New Mexico.

High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories remain in effect for much of the state through this evening. Southwest to west winds are forecast to become sustained at 25-35 mph with gusts near 55 mph in the Wind Advisory areas.

A High Wind Warning remains in effect for the Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains of Eddy and Culberson Counties through 9 PM MDT Monday evening. West winds sustained at 40 to 60 mph with gusts near 80 mph are forecast. This includes the Carlsbad Caverns National Park and the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

A High Wind Warning remains in effect for Eddy County and the eastern half of Culberson County. Southwest winds will become sustained at 30 to 40 mph with gusts near 60 mph.

A High Wind Warning remains in effect for all of the Sacramento Mountains through 9 PM MDT tonight. Southwest winds will become sustained at 25-40 mph with gusts near 60-65 mph.

A Wind Advisory remains in effect for much of southwestern and southern New Mexico and parts of far West Texas until 9 PM MDT tonight. Southwest winds will become sustained at 25-35 mph with gusts near 55 mph. A Blowing Dust Advisory also remains in effect for these same areas through 7 PM MDT this evening. Widespread blowing dust will reduce the visibility between 1/4 and 1 mile. Local brownout conditions will be possible with zero visibility at times.

A few locations may very well experience wind gusts stronger than forecast.

Widespread blowing dust will impact much of the state this afternoon and evening, especially over the High Wind Warning and Wind Advisory areas mentioned above. Visibility will be reduced to less than 3 miles at times. Localized areas of visibility near zero will also be possible in our more dust-prone locations, such as freshly plowed or cultivated farm lands, fields, lots, and construction sites. Local brownouts with zero visibility at times will be possible. Localized road closures will also be possible due to the dust storms.

Remember, New Mexico and West Texas have a long history of blinding dust storms that cause multiple vehicle pileups on our roads and highways. Often with injuries and fatalities. Drive with extreme caution today if you must travel.

Localized areas of wind damage may occur, especially with gusts over 60 mph. Power lines, power poles, utility poles, and lines may be blown down. Large tree limbs and trees may be blown down. Roof damage may occur to some buildings and homes. Trash cans and bins will become airborne. Some west-facing fences may be blown down. High-profile vehicles may be in danger of being blown over on our north-south facing roads and highways.

To add to our misery today, our forecast high temps across the southeastern plains range from near 90 to the low 90's, so blast furnace weather shows up today.

Extremely Critically Dangerous to Critically Dangerous Fire Weather Conditions are forecast to impact most of New Mexico today, except for the far northwestern half of the state. Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches remain in effect through Monday in many areas. Should any wildland or forest fire develop, it will have the ability to rapidly develop and spread in today's high winds, threatening lives, livestock, and property. Any fires that develop today will be hard to control, if not impossible to control, at times in the high winds. According to the Watch Duty App, several fires are already burning across the state. Please do not engage in any type of outdoor activity that involves the use of sparks, flame, or ignition sources.

Scattered light lowland rain showers, thunderstorms, and high mountain snow showers are forecast to spread across the northern mountains westward today into tonight. The mountains above 9,000' north of Chama may pick up 4" of new snowfall.

Looking ahead to the middle to end of next week, the forecast models are playing with the idea of an upper-level low moving into the northern Baja Region, thus increasing the southwest flow aloft and mid-level moisture over the state. They can't make up their mind how they want to handle this yet, but we may have a decent chance for scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over the state, along with high mountain snows across the northern mountains.

Although it's too early to know for sure, severe thunderstorms could very well develop across eastern and southeastern New Mexico and West Texas in this pattern next week.

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
607 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 605 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026

- Critical fire weather conditions are expected over southeast New
  Mexico and portions of west Texas today and Monday as an upper-
  level system leads to strong winds and persistent dry conditions.

- Breezy conditions expected to continue through at least Monday,
  with stronger winds in the Guadalupe/Delaware Mountains.

- Rain chances begin to increase and temperatures trend downward
  during the latter half of the week as another storm system
  approaches.

&&

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
608 AM MDT Sun Apr 26 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 603 AM MDT Sun Apr 26 2026

- Critical fire weather conditions and a risk of rapid fire spread
  will continue to plague eastern areas today through Tuesday, and
  portions of central and western New Mexico as well on today.

- Very strong southwest winds will produce hazardous crosswinds
  and areas of significant blowing dust across northern and
  central New Mexico today, and potentially do some damage along
  portions of the central mountain chain and eastern plains where
  gusts will reach around 60 mph.

- Showers and thunderstorms today from the northern mountains
  westward, and over west central areas, will be capable of
  producing erratic wind gusts with hazardous crosswinds, blowing
  dust, and cloud-to-ground lightning. Isolated dry lightning
  strikes are also forecast over parts of northeast New Mexico
  this afternoon.

- Cooler and wetter weather are forecast during the latter half of
  the week as a strong storm system crosses the state with wet
  roads at lower elevations, slick roads due to snow over mountain
  passes, and periods of cloud-to-ground lightning.

&&

In addition, the upper trough will also continue to spread
showers, thunderstorms, and very high terrain snow showers from
the northern mountains westward today and tonight. Most locations
will only receive a few hundredths of an inch of additional
rainfall, except up to about 0.20" near the CO border. A dusting
to around an inch of total snow (Saturday night through Sunday
night) is forecast above 9000` in the northern mountains, except
up to 4 inches in the Tusas Mountains above Chama. On the edges of
the precipitation area, showers will be lighter and gustier with
little more than gusty sprinkles from Gallup to Santa Fe and
Glorieta, from Las Vegas to Raton, and from Raton to Clayton.
Instability also looks sufficient for isolated dry lightning
strikes with virga showers from Las Vegas to Raton, and from Raton
to Clayton.

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service El Paso TX/Santa Teresa NM
350 AM MDT Sun Apr 26 2026

...New AVIATION, FIRE WEATHER...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 348 AM MDT Sun Apr 26 2026

 - Windy, dry, and possibly dusty this afternoon. Critical to
   extremely critical fire weather conditions are expected, and
   Red Flag Warnings are in effect.

 - The weather will be more benign Monday through Wednesday, as we
   sit between upper level low pressure passages. Temperatures
   seasonably warm, conditions continue very dry, winds lighter,
   but still breezy afternoons.

&&