High Wind Warning and Blowing Dust Advisory Issued for Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Amarillo has issued a High Wind Warning and a Blowing Dust Advisory. These alerts indicate a high probability of hazardous weather conditions that could impact travel and safety across the region.

Affected Areas

The warning and advisory cover the following geographic regions:

• Oklahoma Panhandle: Cimarron, Texas, and Beaver counties.
• Texas Panhandle: Dallam, Sherman, Hansford, Ochiltree, Lipscomb, Hartley, Moore, Hutchinson, Roberts, Hemphill, Oldham, Potter, Carson, Gray, Wheeler, Deaf Smith, Randall, Armstrong, Donley, Collingsworth, and Palo Duro Canyon.

Expected Conditions

Residents should prepare for the following conditions during the alert period:

• Wind: North winds between 35 to 45 mph are expected, with gusts reaching up to 65 mph.
• Visibility: Blowing dust is expected to reduce visibility locally to between one-quarter and one mile.
• Impacts: Damaging winds are likely to blow down trees and power lines, leading to expected power outages. Hazardous driving conditions will exist due to reduced visibility and high winds, particularly for high-profile vehicles.

What You Should Do

The NWS provides the following safety instructions:

• Indoor Safety: Remain in the lower levels of your home and avoid windows to protect against falling debris and tree limbs.
• Health Precautions: Individuals with respiratory problems should stay indoors until the storm passes.
• Driving Safety: If you encounter blowing dust on the roadway, pull off the road as far as possible and put your vehicle in park. Turn your lights all the way off and keep your foot off the brake pedal to prevent other drivers from following your tail lights into the dust. Remember the slogan: “Pull Aside, Stay Alive.”

Timeline

The High Wind Warning and Blowing Dust Advisory are effective from 7:00 AM CDT to 7:00 PM CDT on Sunday, March 15.