Odessa, Texas – Wind gusts up to 65 mph will whip up blowing dust across southeast New Mexico and the Permian Basin by late Tuesday morning, cutting visibility to as low as one-quarter mile and creating dangerous travel conditions through this evening.
According to the National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa, a High Wind Warning and Blowing Dust Advisory remain in effect from 10 a.m. MST (11 a.m. CST) until 8 p.m. MST (9 p.m. CST) for Eddy County Plains and Lea County in New Mexico, and Eastern Culberson County in Texas. Additional blowing dust and wind advisories stretch across Gaines, Andrews, Dawson, Loving, Winkler and Reeves counties, including the Highway 54 corridor and Davis Mountains foothills.
West winds will sustain between 35 and 45 mph in warned areas, with widespread gusts reaching 65 mph. Other locations can expect gusts up to 50 mph. Sudden bursts of dust may drop visibility to near zero, especially along US-285, State Highway 128 and Interstate 20.
Drivers should slow down, use low-beam headlights and increase following distance. High-profile vehicles, including tractor trailers and campers, face an elevated rollover risk. Severe turbulence is also possible near mountain terrain for low-flying aircraft.
The strongest winds ease after sunset, but blowing dust may linger into the evening commute.
