A secondary upper trough with an associated 130+ knot jet streak over southern New Mexico brought another day of gusty winds to the area. These west-southwest winds gusting up to 40 mph created areas of blowing dust around the Deming area.
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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 EPZ wrote it up.
A secondary upper trough with an associated 130+ knot jet streak over southern New Mexico brought another day of gusty winds to the area. These west-southwest winds gusting up to 40 mph created areas of blowing dust around the Deming area.
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 El Paso, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 18, 11:02 AM MST, 58 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service El Paso TX/Santa Teresa NM
1102 AM MST Wed Feb 18 2026
...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, FIRE WEATHER...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1015 AM MST Wed Feb 18 2026
- Windy conditions will prevail through Friday, with a risk of
blowing dust across southern New Mexico and far west Texas.
This may cause impact travel conditions by reducing visibility
on area roadways.
- Critical fire weather conditions are expected Wednesday as
strong winds combine with very dry humidity. Outdoor burning is
discouraged. Any fires that do start will spread rapidly.
- Drier conditions with near to slightly below normal
temperatures for the weekend along with lighter winds.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 1015 AM MST Wed Feb 18 2026
The well advertised longwave trough across western CONUS will
dictate weather conditions across the Borderland Region once again
today, promoting impactful weather in the form of strong winds,
blowing dust, and elevated/critical fire weather conditions. Current
mid-level water vapor imagery shows the aforementioned upper level
system over the Great Basin region. This lobe of energy is progged
to move eastward through today placing the associated 80-100 knot
500mb jet over southern NM and west TX. The increasing PVA and upper
level dynamics will induce a ~990mb surface low over the High Plains
of NE CO this afternoon, with a tightly packed surface trough across
NM. With the most of the mid to upper level moisture over the Great
Basin and Central Rockies, cloud coverage will be at a minimum
through the day. That said, afternoon mixing will extend to roughly
650-700mb, translating those mid level winds down to the surface.
The combination of upper level dynamics and surface troughing,
within a well-mixed environment, the stage will be set for another
bout of strong winds across the Borderland Region this afternoon.
A High Wind Warning is in effect through this evening for the
Sacramento Mtns, Gila high terrain, and the Franklin/Organ/San
Andreas Mountains east slopes, including Central and East El Paso
where winds will gust up to 60 mph. A Wind Advisory is in effect
elsewhere with winds gusting to 50-55 mph. These strong SW/W winds
will promote blowing dust across the desert lowlands. Hazardous
driving conditions will result from the blowing dust due to
reductions in visibility.
Winds will slowly diminish after sunset with wind products expiring
before midnight. Winds will likely be gusty along the east slopes of
area mountains through the overnight timeframe.
For Thursday, the ingredients in place for Wednesday will not be as
pronounced. Lee-side surface low development and the subsequent
surface troughing will not be as dramatic. However, with 70-90 knots
500mb jet still overhead and sufficient afternoon mixing in place,
winds will still be in the breezy to low-end windy category Thursday
afternoon. Winds will be out of the west at 15-25 mph sustained with
gusts up to 40-45 mph. Isolated areas of blowing dust will be
possible during the afternoon, especially in and around the more
dust prone locations. Temperatures will drop 3-8 degrees from
Wednesday, topping out at or below the seasonal average.
On Friday, the final lobe of energy will move west to east across
the Four Corners and Central Rockies Region. Again, this upper level
setup looks favorable for lee-side surface low development over the
High Plains of SE CO during the afternoon. As of now, winds look to
be at the cusp of Wind Advisory Criteria, so issuance of products
may be needed during the future forecast packages. That said, expect
another day of windy conditions on Friday.
For the weekend, zonal flow aloft takes over with slight upper level
ridging on Sunday. A backdoor cold front will push in from the east
Saturday night with cooler temperatures expected on Sunday.
Temperatures will warm back up next week, back above the seasonal
average.
&&
.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1015 AM MST Wed Feb 18 2026
Gusty winds prevail through the afternoon and evening. Winds will
continue to increase through the morning and into the afternoon
timeframe, becoming 20-30 knots sustained with gusts to 40-50
knots during the afternoon and early evening. Winds will be
generally out of the SW to W.
Gusty winds will promote BLDU across the desert lowlands with VIS
reductions to 1-3 SM. Skies will be generally SKC to FEW250
through the period. Winds will slowly diminish after sunset.
However, winds will still be gusty for KELP during the evening and
overnight timeframe due to down sloping on Franklin Mountain east
slopes.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1015 AM MST Wed Feb 18 2026
Elevated to near-Critical fire weather conditions for this afternoon
across portions of southern NM and west TX. A Red Flag Warning is in
effect for NMZ111/NMZ112/NMZ113/TXZ055/TXZ056 from 11AM to 6PM
today. Winds will increase through the day, becoming 25-40 mph
sustained with gusts to 60-70 mph during the mid-afternoon
timeframe. Highest winds will be felt over the Sacramento Mtns/Gila
Mountains. Min RH values will drop to 10-15 percent across the
desert lowlands and 15-25 percent for NMZ113. Deep afternoon mixing
will promote excellent smoke ventilation rates this afternoon.
Elevated fire weather conditions continue for all zones except
NMZ110 through Friday as winds remain in the breezy to windy
category. Isolated rain/snow showers possible for the Gila today
through Friday. Vent rates remain excellent through Friday, becoming
poor to fair Saturday.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
El Paso 43 65 43 67 / 0 0 0 0
Sierra Blanca 37 63 37 66 / 0 0 0 0
Las Cruces 36 59 36 61 / 0 0 0 0
Alamogordo 35 60 35 62 / 0 0 0 0
Cloudcroft 23 37 23 38 / 0 0 0 0
Truth or Consequences 36 60 37 61 / 10 0 0 0
Silver City 31 48 30 48 / 30 20 0 10
Deming 37 61 36 61 / 0 0 0 0
Lordsburg 35 56 31 57 / 20 10 0 10
West El Paso Metro 42 64 42 66 / 0 0 0 0
Dell City 36 63 35 67 / 0 0 0 0
Fort Hancock 40 70 39 73 / 0 0 0 0
Loma Linda 36 57 38 60 / 0 0 0 0
Fabens 39 68 39 71 / 0 0 0 0
Santa Teresa 38 62 38 65 / 0 0 0 0
White Sands HQ 41 61 41 62 / 0 0 0 0
Jornada Range 35 61 35 62 / 0 0 0 0
Hatch 37 63 36 63 / 0 0 0 0
Columbus 40 63 39 66 / 0 0 0 0
Orogrande 35 60 35 63 / 0 0 0 0
Mayhill 30 52 29 52 / 0 0 0 0
Mescalero 26 48 26 49 / 10 0 0 0
Timberon 29 47 29 48 / 0 0 0 0
Winston 25 50 26 51 / 10 0 0 0
Hillsboro 33 57 34 57 / 10 0 0 0
Spaceport 30 61 32 61 / 0 0 0 0
Lake Roberts 27 47 27 48 / 30 20 0 20
Hurley 31 52 30 52 / 20 10 0 10
Cliff 33 53 28 55 / 40 20 10 20
Mule Creek 30 48 26 49 / 50 30 10 30
Faywood 33 52 33 52 / 10 10 0 10
Animas 35 61 37 62 / 10 10 0 0
Hachita 35 60 37 61 / 0 0 0 0
Antelope Wells 37 61 38 64 / 0 0 0 0
Cloverdale 35 55 35 58 / 0 0 0 0
&&
.EPZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...Wind Advisory until 8 PM MST this evening for Northern Hudspeth
Highlands/Hueco Mountains-Rio Grande Valley of Eastern El
Paso/Western Hudspeth Counties-Salt Basin-Western El Paso
County.
Blowing Dust Advisory until 6 PM MST this evening for
Eastern/Central El Paso County-Northern Hudspeth
Highlands/Hueco Mountains-Rio Grande Valley of Eastern El
Paso/Western Hudspeth Counties-Salt Basin-Western El Paso
County.
Red Flag Warning until 6 PM MST this evening for Texas Fire
Weather Zone 055 El Paso County- Texas Fire Weather Zone
056 Hudspeth County.
High Wind Warning until 8 PM MST this evening for
Eastern/Central El Paso County.
NM...High Wind Warning until 11 PM MST this evening for East Slopes
Sacramento Mountains Below 7500 Feet-Sacramento Mountains
Above 7500 Feet-Southern Gila Region Highlands/Black Range.
Wind Advisory until 8 PM MST this evening for Central Grant
County/Silver City Area-East Central Tularosa
Basin/Alamogordo-Eastern Black Range Foothills-Lowlands of
the Bootheel-Northern Dona Ana County-Otero Mesa-Sierra
County Lakes-Southeast Tularosa Basin-Southern Dona Ana
County/Mesilla Valley-Southern Gila Foothills/Mimbres
Valley-Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley-Southwest
Desert/Mimbres Basin-Uplands of the Bootheel-Upper Gila
River Valley-West Slopes Sacramento Mountains Below 7500
Feet.
Blowing Dust Advisory until 6 PM MST this evening for Lowlands
of the Bootheel-Northern Dona Ana County-Otero Mesa-
Southeast Tularosa Basin-Southern Dona Ana County/Mesilla
Valley-Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley-Southwest
Desert/Mimbres Basin-Uplands of the Bootheel-West Central
Tularosa Basin/White Sands.
Red Flag Warning until 6 PM MST this evening for Capitan and
Sacramento Mountains/Lincoln NF/LNZ- South Central Lowlands
and Southern Rio Grande Valley/BLM/GLZ- Southwest Deserts
and Lowlands/Las Cruces BLM/GLZ.
High Wind Warning until 8 PM MST this evening for West Central
Tularosa Basin/White Sands.
&&
FORECASTER...38-RogersThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.
New Mexico State Police reported blowing dust with visibilities under a quarter mile just east of Deming along Interstate 10.
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, February 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: 1312149.