A cool front has generated a severe dust storm (haboob) in West Texas. Winds have been observed at 60 to 75 MPH in Seminole, Brownfield, and now extending east. Those winds have generated a literal wall of dust with zero visibility. Grass fires have been reported with a particularly dangerous fire west of Andrews. We’re hearing unconfirmed reports of evacuations in parts of Andrews as a large fire approaches town from the west.

Those severe winds and the dust storm will enter Odessa, Midland, Big Spring, and the south side of Lubbock by 6 PM. The dust storm may enter the Big Country and West-Central Texas thereafter. This is a particularly dangerous situation with absolutely no travel recommended once the dust storm begins. If a fire is spotted to your west be ready to evacuate if your property becomes threatened.

The National Weather Service in Midland has issued a

* Dust Storm Warning for…
Ector County in western Texas…
Andrews County in western Texas…
Northern Midland County in western Texas…
Gaines County in western Texas…
Borden County in western Texas…
Northeastern Winkler County in western Texas…
Northwestern Howard County in western Texas…
Martin County in western Texas…
Dawson County in western Texas…

* Until 600 PM CDT.

* At 458 PM CDT, a dust channel was 15 miles east of Andrews, moving
southeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD…Less than a quarter mile visibility with damaging wind in
excess of 60 mph.

SOURCE…Doppler radar.

IMPACT…Dangerous life-threatening travel.

* This includes Interstate 20 between mile markers 108 and 162.

Locations impacted include…
Midland, Odessa, Andrews, Lamesa, Seminole, Seagraves, Ackerly,
Greenwood, Gail, Stanton, Goldsmith, Seagraves Airport, Lenorah,
Midland International Air and Space Port, Gaines County Airport,
Welch, West Odessa, Lamesa Municipal Airport, Los Ybanez and Cotton
Flat.

The National Weather Service in Lubbock Texas has issued a

* Dust Storm Warning for…
Southern Lubbock County in northwestern Texas…
Lynn County in northwestern Texas…
Garza County in northwestern Texas…
Eastern Terry County in northwestern Texas…
Southern Crosby County in northwestern Texas…
Southeastern Hockley County in northwestern Texas…

* Until 630 PM CDT.

* At 437 PM CDT, a wall of dust was along a line extending from 4
miles east of Levelland to 12 miles northeast of Brownfield to 4
miles east of Welch, moving east at 55 mph.

HAZARD…Near zero visibility with damaging wind in excess of 60
mph.

SOURCE…Public.

IMPACT…Dangerous life-threatening travel.

Locations impacted include…
Lubbock, Levelland, Slaton, Post, Tahoka, Lake Alan Henry, White
River Lake, Wolfforth, Ransom Canyon, O’donnell, Kalgary,
Grassland,
New Moore, Justiceburg, Slide, Woodrow, Caprock and0 Southland.