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

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Amarillo, TX, has issued a High Wind Warning and a Blowing Dust Advisory. These alerts are in response to expected damaging wind speeds and significantly reduced visibility across the region.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the combined Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. Specific areas include:

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

What You Should Do

Residents are advised to take the following precautions:

• Indoor Safety: Remain in the lower levels of your home and stay away from windows to avoid injury from falling debris or broken glass.
• Respiratory Health: Persons with respiratory problems should stay indoors until the storm passes.
• Driving Safety: If you encounter blowing dust or sand on the road, pull off 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 avoid being hit by other vehicles. Remember the phrase: “Pull Aside, Stay Alive.”
• General Caution: Watch for falling tree limbs and downed power lines.

Expected Conditions

• Wind: North winds are expected to reach speeds of 35 to 45 mph, with gusts reaching up to 65 mph.
• Visibility: Blowing dust is expected to reduce visibility to between one-quarter and one mile. In some areas, visibility may suddenly drop to near zero.
• Impacts: Damaging winds are likely to blow down trees and power lines, leading to expected widespread power outages. Travel will be difficult, particularly for high-profile vehicles.

Timeline

The High Wind Warning and Blowing Dust Advisory are effective from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT on Sunday, March 15, 2026.