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; 1 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, 1:15 PM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX
215 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, FIRE WEATHER...
.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 215 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
- Fire weather concerns continue over southeast New Mexico and
portions of west Texas the rest of today and Monday as an upper-
level system leads to strong winds and persistent dry
conditions.
- Breezy conditions expected though 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...
(This afternoon through Monday night)
Issued at 215 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
Southwesterly flow holds across the region for this afternoon and
into this evening as a jet associated with a disturbance over the SW
US approaches the region. Strong to damaging winds may be seen
across portions of SE NM, particularly in the higher elevations.
For this, have continued the High Wind Warning and Wind Advisories
inherited from the previous package. Blowing dust will also need
to be monitored for and may cause significant reductions in
visibility near areas with little vegetation. Wind gusts across
the adjacent plains will decrease after sunset this evening, but
expect strong wind gusts to continue in the mountains. Continued
southwesterly winds keep it warm and dry overnight with lows
settling in the 60s for many with 50s across the higher
elevations.
Dry and windy conditions continue tomorrow as well with highs
reaching into the upper 80s to low 90s for many and low 100s across
portions of the low desert of Big Bend. Winds become much lighter
heading into Monday evening. Despite the decreased winds and
persistent dry air, cloud cover keeps lows well above normal in the
60s for many. Precipitation is not expected during the short term.
-Stickney
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Tuesday through Saturday)
Issued at 215 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
Winds decrease on Tuesday as the upper-level trough continues to
push off to the northeast. Slightly higher heights and continued
westerly downslope flow allows high temperatures to warm a few
degrees from Monday's across much of the area. However, model
guidance shows surface high pressure developing over the Central
Great Plains and pushing another cold front into our region by
midweek. This yields temperatures in the 80s across southeast New
Mexico, the Permian Basin, and locations out west on Wednesday.
Winds shift to the east by Wednesday evening as the aforementioned
surface high pressure moves east. As a result, rain chances (10-30%)
return to mainly eastern portions of the area during this timeframe
due to moist advection and upslope flow.
By Thursday and Friday, rain chances increase and expand areawide as
another upper-level trough approaches the region. However, it should
be noted that the NBM tends to overestimate precipitation coverage
several days out due to a wet bias. Thus, precipitation coverage
will likely be less than what the current forecast shows. With that
said, there remains great uncertainty in rainfall coverage and
amounts. These details will depend on the track of this upper-level
feature and the quality of moisture associated with it. By Friday
evening, rain chances decrease as the upper-level trough begins
departing to the northeast. Lower heights associated with the trough
and increased cloud cover yield cooler temperatures late next week
into the weekend.
Greening
&&
.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 215 PM CDT Sun Apr 26 2026
The forecast remains relatively unchanged. Critical (locally
extreme, particularly across southeast New Mexico) fire weather
conditions are expected across southeast New Mexico, the
northwestern Permian Basin, the Upper Trans Pecos, the higher
terrain in west Texas and surrounding areas the rest of this
afternoon and Monday. Strong southwesterly winds, persistent dry
conditions, and higher ERCs (70th-89th percentile) have prompted us
to continue the Red Flag Warning for these areas valid through this
evening. Although winds look to be weaker Monday compared to today,
other parameters shall be relatively similar. As such, another Red
Flag Warning may be warranted for Monday as well. However, to avoid
confusion (and to get another look at the data), have opted to keep
the Fire Weather Watch in effect for now and pass that decision on
to the next forecast shift. Fire weather conditions should improve
by Tuesday as winds are forecast to trend downward and MinRHs upward.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Big Spring 64 92 65 95 / 10 0 10 0
Carlsbad 59 87 58 91 / 0 0 0 0
Dryden 69 98 69 99 / 10 0 10 0
Fort Stockton 63 94 66 96 / 0 0 0 0
Guadalupe Pass 55 77 58 80 / 0 0 0 0
Hobbs 56 86 57 89 / 0 0 0 0
Marfa 51 86 54 88 / 0 0 0 0
Midland Intl Airport 64 90 65 93 / 0 0 10 0
Odessa 64 89 65 93 / 0 0 0 0
Wink 61 91 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...93
LONG TERM....55
AVIATION...93The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The West Texas Mesonet station 60 Pine Springs GMNP measured a period of high winds, including a gust up to 69 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, 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: 1320668.