Strong westerly winds developed thanks to an approaching upper-level trough and associated jet (and due to a strengthening surface low ahead of these features). High winds were recorded in the Guadalupe Mountains, as well as in Tatum and Artesia in southeast New Mexico.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MAF wrote it up.
Strong westerly winds developed thanks to an approaching upper-level trough and associated jet (and due to a strengthening surface low ahead of these features). High winds were recorded in the Guadalupe Mountains, as well as in Tatum and Artesia in southeast New Mexico.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Midland/Odessa, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 26, 10:09 AM MST, 1 hour 40 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
1209 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
...New AVIATION...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1207 PM 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.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(Today through Monday afternoon)
Issued at 418 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
A mix of sun and clouds and continued warm weather with strong
winds, especially over the Guadalupes and Delawares into Eddy County
Plains today through tomorrow. A High Wind Warning is in effect
beginning this afternoon for the Guadalupes, expanding into
Culberson County and the Eddy County Plains, and a Wind Advisory is
also in effect this afternoon through this evening for western
Culberson County and northern and central Lea County through this
evening. Sustained winds above 30 to 35 mph and gusts 45 to 65 mph,
with higher winds sustained at higher elevations, are forecast as an
upper level jet brushes northwest parts of the area and mixes down
higher winds form aloft. Highs rise into the mid 80s to mid 90s F
once again amidst these downsloping winds, with dew point
temperatures largely remaining below 35F as the forecast area
continues to be west of a dryline off to the east. Highs 10 to 15
degrees above average, strong downsloping winds, and low RH will
maintain fire weather risk, with a Red Flag Warning for Southeast
New Mexico and portion of West Texas remaining in effect this
afternoon through evening (see Fire Weather Discussion). In addition
to increased fire risk, there is the potential for blowing dust and
hazardous travel conditions on roads and mountain passes. Tonight,
the dryline may retrograde into eastern parts of the area, but most
of the area will still remain west of the dryline and a diurnal
spread of 20 to 25 degrees will be retained due to lower boundary
layer moisture. However, due to continued downsloping winds, gusty
at times, limiting overnight cooling, lows in the 50s to mid to
upper 60s F are forecast. Tomorrow, strong southwest winds 30 to 35
mph with higher gusts will persist over the Guadalupes, maintaining
a High Wind Warning through tomorrow evening and near critical fire
weather conditions, and prompting another Fire Weather Watch for
Southeast New Mexico, Culberson County, and northwest Permian Basin
from tomorrow morning through tomorrow evening. However, winds will
decrease throughout the day tomorrow as the upper level jet develops
off to the northeast. Additionally, a weak cold front pushing in
behind the upper level jet will drop highs over western higher
terrain into SE NM plains and northwest Permian Basin a few degrees.
Lows tomorrow night still fall into the 50s and mid to upper 60s F
while the dryline retrogrades west and advects more humid air over
eastern parts of the area. We will have to wait until mid-week for
cooler and less windy weather, and until late week before more
significant rain chances. More on that in the Long Term Discussion
below.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Monday night through Saturday)
Issued at 418 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
Breezy to windy conditions over southeast New Mexico and the
Permian Basin subside shortly after sunset Monday evening. A weak
cold front looks to become diffuse within the northern portions of
our region Monday night. Temperatures behind the front fall into
the 50s in our northernmost counties, while lows everywhere else
generally cool into the 60s. Winds remain calmer overall Tuesday
as the jet core of an upper level trough slowly lifts
northeastward. Westerly downsloping winds push Tuesday's highs
into the upper 80s (mainly in the higher terrain) and 90s. By
Tuesday afternoon, surface high pressure develops over the central
Great Plains, on the back side of the upper trough. This sends a
cold front down across the Plains and into our region late Tuesday
night into Wednesday. Highs in the 80s become more commonplace
within the Permian Basin, southeast New Mexico, and the higher
terrain Wednesday. Meanwhile, temperatures reach the 90s in the
southern half of our region. With the surface high drifting
eastward Wednesday afternoon, surface winds become easterly and
southeasterly. Moisture advection and upslope flow results in low
(10-30%) rain chances over the eastern portions of the region
Wednesday evening.
Rain chances increase areawide Thursday and Friday as another upper
level storm system swings over the Desert Southwest and northern
Mexico. Although there currently exists much uncertainty with this
next system, long-range guidance is starting to suggest a potential
for heavy rainfall over our eastern portions, especially in the
Permian Basin. These indicate PWATs anywhere between 1-2" over the
eastern half of our region Thursday afternoon and evening,
coinciding with better lift from the approaching system. However,
it's important to note that this is highly dependent on storm track
and actual available moisture. Rain chances begin to taper down
Friday afternoon, largely diminishing by the evening as this system
departs to our northeast. Regardless of rainfall, lower heights and
cloudy skies result in a cooling trend to end the week.
&&
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1207 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
VFR conditions remain for all sites. Gusty conditions will persist
for the afternoon and begin to decrease after sunset tonight. BLDU
may decrease visibilities for CNM/HOB, but low confidence on
timing and impact, so precluded from this issuance.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 418 AM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
Critical to locally extreme fire weather conditions are expected
over southeast New Mexico, the northwestern Permian Basin, the
Upper Trans Pecos, the higher terrain in west Texas and surrounding
areas today and Monday. Strong southwesterly winds, persistent dry
conditions, and higher ERCs (70th-89th percentile) have prompted
a Red Flag Warning for these areas valid this afternoon through
this evening. Although winds look to be slightly weaker Monday
compared to today, other parameters shall be relatively similar.
As such, another Red Flag Warning will likely be issued for Monday
as well. To avoid confusion, only a Fire Weather Watch has been
issued over similar locations for Monday. Fire weather conditions
should improve by Tuesday as winds are forecast to trend downward
and MinRHs upward.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Big Spring 63 91 64 95 / 0 0 0 0
Carlsbad 58 88 59 91 / 0 0 0 0
Dryden 70 98 69 100 / 0 0 10 0
Fort Stockton 63 94 66 95 / 0 0 0 0
Guadalupe Pass 55 77 57 81 / 0 0 0 0
Hobbs 56 87 57 90 / 0 0 0 0
Marfa 51 86 54 88 / 0 0 0 0
Midland Intl Airport 64 93 64 93 / 0 0 0 0
Odessa 64 92 65 93 / 0 0 0 0
Wink 62 92 60 94 / 0 0 0 0
&&
.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...Red Flag Warning until 10 PM CDT /9 PM MDT/ this evening for
Andrews-Chinati Mountains-Davis Mountains-Davis Mountains
Foothills-Eastern Culberson-Gaines-Guadalupe Mountains
Above 7000 Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains-Loving-
Marfa Plateau-Reeves County Plains-Van Horn and Highway 54
Corridor-Ward-Winkler.
High Wind Warning until 10 PM CDT /9 PM MDT/ Monday for
Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware
Mountains.
Fire Weather Watch from Monday morning through Monday evening
for Eastern Culberson-Gaines-Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000
Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains-Van Horn and Highway
54 Corridor.
High Wind Warning until 1 AM CDT Monday for Eastern Culberson.
Wind Advisory until 1 AM CDT Monday for Van Horn and Highway 54
Corridor.
NM...Red Flag Warning until 9 PM MDT this evening for Chaves Plains-
Eddy Plains-Lea-Sacramento Foothills and Guadalupe
Mountains.
High Wind Warning until 9 PM MDT Monday for Guadalupe Mountains
of Eddy County.
Fire Weather Watch from Monday morning through Monday evening
for Chaves Plains-Eddy Plains-Lea-Sacramento Foothills and
Guadalupe Mountains.
High Wind Warning until midnight MDT tonight for Eddy County
Plains.
Wind Advisory until midnight MDT tonight for Central Lea-
Northern Lea.
&&
SHORT TERM...94
LONG TERM....95
AVIATION...93The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The West Texas Mesonet station 51 2SW Tatum NM recorded intermittent high sustained winds through the afternoon.
The AWOS Station KATS Artesia measured a period of high wind gusts and high sustained winds.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in New Mexico in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in New Mexico, April 2026
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1320666, 1320667.