Tropical storm–force winds hitting part of Texas spark travel warning

National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists issued a high wind warning for western Texas on Monday morning, alerting residents in the area that some wind gusts could reach up to 70 mph, equivalent to a tropical storm.

The NWS office in Midland/Odessa warned that the winds would hit the region throughout Monday. The high wind warning was issued for areas like the Davis, Delaware and Guadalupe mountains. A wind advisory, warning of slightly weaker winds, spanned much of central Texas.

The winds come on the tail end of a storm system that battered the region Sunday night. The system has since moved toward Kansas, but the high winds will remain throughout the day, NWS meteorologist Kevin Lamberson told Newsweek.

“A strong line of storms extends across the Permian Basin and is currently moving through Midland/Odessa,” the NWS office in Midland posted Sunday night on X (formerly Twitter). “Wind gusts of 50-60 mph have already been reported. This line will continue moving to the east over the next few hours.”

The storms have passed, but the high wind warning will remain until around midnight. West winds up to 40 mph were expected, with some gusts hitting 70 mph, which is a few miles per hour shy of the strength of a Category 1 hurricane.

“Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles like campers, vans, and tractor trailers. Severe turbulence near the mountains will be hazardous for low flying light aircraft,” the warning said.

It went on: “Winds will be particularly hazardous at higher elevations where the strongest winds are likely to occur. Be especially careful driving in these mountainous areas. People driving high-profile vehicles should strongly consider postponing travel in these areas until the winds subside.”

Meteorologists urged people to delay traveling through the Guadalupe Pass, if possible, or seek another route. Aviators also were warned to exercise caution if flying near the mountains.

Blowing dust posed a hazard as well because it could disrupt visibility.

Lamberson said that storm systems such as the one that hit the region Sunday night bring dangerous winds on the back end.

“Don’t let your guard down, even if you think the weather is over,” he said.

Other states had NWS-issued wind advisories on Monday: New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois.

The storm system was not related to the remnants of Tropical Storm Sara, which dissolved over the weekend in the Gulf of Mexico. Sara was originally forecast to bring impacts such as heavy rain to Gulf Coast states as it neared the U.S., but conditions did not prove favorable for the storm to maintain organization after exiting the Yucatán Peninsula.