Downright Windy Day Today!

By Jenny Brown

March 13, 2019

Skinny people better attach some weights on their legs as conditions will be quite windy today! The entirety of western Texas including the Panhandle region, Rolling Plains region, Permian Basin region, Trans-Pecos region, Big Bend, the Big Country region and all of western North Texas are all under High Wind Warnings through this evening. West to southwest winds are expected to remain steady today between 30 to 40+mph with gusts ranging from 50 to 70+mph at times. Travel across the western half of the state will be challenging today…and likely downright impossible if you plan on traveling through the Guadalupe mountain pass (Hwy 62) near Pine Springs east of El Paso where peak gusts could reach as high as 110mph. Periods of blowing dust will also be likely causing brief visibility issues. High winds are also likely to cause intermittent power outages across the region due to downed trees and limbs. Fences may also become victims of strong gusts which could also topple weakly secured outbuildings and relocate trash cans and patio umbrellas. Needless to say, I hope everyone has been able to secure any loose outdoor items, patio furniture, etc. Further east across north central Texas and down into central and southeast Texas, winds will be lighter, but still on the breezy side for today. Wind Advisories will remain in place across much of north central and north east Texas through the day with gusts in the 40s likely. The area of rain across the eastern half of the state will continue to move east for the remainder of this morning with little threat for additional severe weather as upper level energy is moving away and off to the northeast. Thunder and steady rainfall will be the precipitation mode for the remainder of this morning and until the rain moves completely out of the state by later this afternoon.