Dust Storm Warning Issued for West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico Through Sunday Afternoon

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Midland/Odessa has issued a Dust Storm Warning for portions of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico. The alert was triggered by Doppler radar detecting a wall of dust moving through the region, creating hazardous conditions for residents and travelers.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad geographic area including:

• Texas Counties: Andrews, Glasscock, Midland, Ector, Reagan, Winkler, Martin, Howard, Northern Crane, Northeastern Ward, Western Mitchell, and Northern Upton.
• New Mexico Counties: Southeastern Lea County.
• Impacted Locations: Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, Andrews, Monahans, Kermit, Wink, Greenwood, Garden City, Stanton, Coahoma, Goldsmith, Forsan, Sand Springs, Lomax, Lenorah, Midland International Air and Space Port, Luther, West Odessa, and Westbrook.
• Major Roadways: This warning specifically includes Interstate 20 between mile markers 83 and 206.

Expected Conditions

At approximately 2:03 PM CDT, a wall of dust was identified along a line extending from 7 miles north of Jal Airport to near Odessa to near Garden City. The dust wall is moving southwest at 35 mph.

• Visibility: Less than a quarter mile, with potential for sudden drops to near zero.
• Wind: Strong winds in excess of 50 mph are expected.
• Hazards: Dangerous, life-threatening travel conditions due to severely restricted visibility.

What You Should Do

Dust storms lead to dangerous driving conditions. The National Weather Service provides the following safety instructions:

• Avoid Travel: If possible, avoid driving into or through dust storms.
• Pull Aside, Stay Alive: If caught in a dust storm, pull your vehicle off the road as far as possible.
• Safety Protocol: Turn off your vehicle’s lights, put the vehicle in park, and keep your foot off the brake. This prevents other drivers from following your tail lights and potentially colliding with your stationary vehicle.
• Health Precautions: Infants, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues are urged to take necessary precautions to avoid dust inhalation.

Timeline

The Dust Storm Warning is effective immediately and is scheduled to expire at 4:00 PM CDT (3:00 PM MDT) on Sunday, March 15, 2026.