Special Weather Statement New Mexico | Effective 03/09/2026 19:20

Headline: 
Special Weather Statement issued March 9 at 8:20PM MDT by NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
Event: 
Special Weather Statement
Urgency: 
Expected
Effective: 
March 9, 2026 - 7:20pm
Expires: 
March 9, 2026 - 7:45pm
Description: 
At 816 PM MDT, radar showed scattered showers and a few isolated thunderstorms over southwestern New Mexico, moving north. These storms have pushed into a very dry environment, which will cause much of the rain to evaporate before reaching the ground. But lightning strikes are occurring, and the evaporative cooling could result in gusty outflow winds of 35 to 45 mph. That is enough to loft dust in some areas. Dangerous blowing dust conditions cannot be ruled out along I-10 at Lordsburg Playa this evening. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects, and produce blowing dust. Locations which may be impacted include... Cotton City, Redrock, Rodeo, Columbus, Steins, Lordsburg, Faywood, Hachita, Virden, San Lorenzo, Antelope Wells, Animas, Hurley, Silver City, Deming, Tyrone, Mangas Springs, Playas, Oak Grove, and Bayard.
Instruction: 
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Area Description: 
Upper Gila River Valley; Southern Gila Foothills/Mimbres Valley; Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley; Lowlands of the Bootheel; Uplands of the Bootheel; Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin; Eastern Black Range Foothills; Central Grant County/Silver City Area; Southern Gila Region Highlands/Black Range
Forcast Office: 
NWS El Paso Tx/Santa Teresa NM
Sender: 
w-nws.webmaster@noaa.gov