Looks like the wind is making it pretty ugly outside this afternoon for Amarillo and portions of the Panhandle.  The National Weather Service has issued a Dust Storm Warning and High Wind Warning in effect until 6pm this evening, and a Red Flag Fire Warning until 8pm.  And the people said....DUH!

I've had several calls on the KISS lines about hit and miss visibility both in and around Amarillo and the Panhandle.

Megan called and said she was traveling from Pampa to Amarillo along 60, and had moments of pretty much zero visibility on her road trip.  She also mentioned seeing 2 RVs that were at rest stops BLOWN OVER ON THEIR SIDES!  She added that she thought there could even be grass fires, because some patches of visibility were so dark, it was like driving through smoke, and she saw several state trooper vehicles heading down 60 in the direction she was coming from.  The fires have not been confirmed at this time.  However, we are under a Red Flag Fire Warning in effect until 8pm tonight.

"RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE SOUTHERN TEXAS PANHANDLE...

* AFFECTED AREA... IN TEXAS... OLDHAM... POTTER... CARSON... GRAY... WHEELER... DEAF SMITH... RANDALL... ARMSTRONG... DONLEY AND COLLINGSWORTH."

I also received a call from Christina stating that 1912 between Highland Park and I-40 has been shut down due to an accident.

Be safe out there folks!

Now have a look at this jumbled up mess!

"DUST STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING... ... HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN AMARILLO HAS ISSUED A DUST STORM WARNING... WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING. A HIGH WIND WARNING HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED. THIS HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING. THE BLOWING DUST ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. THE WIND ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* EVENT... STRONG WESTERLY WINDS BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 65 MPH ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON. THESE WINDS WILL ALSO CAUSE WIDESPREAD BLOWING DUST... WHICH MAY REDUCE VISIBILITIES BRIEFLY TO AS LOW AS ONE QUARTER OF A MILE... ESPECIALLY NEAR OPEN FIELDS.

* TIMING... THROUGH 6 PM.

* IMPACTS... LAWN FURNITURE... TRASH CANS... AND OTHER LOOSE OR LIGHTWEIGHT OUTDOOR OBJECTS MAY BE BLOWN AROUND BY THE STRONG WINDS IF NOT PROPERLY SECURED. DRIVERS SHOULD EXPECT RAPIDLY CHANGING VISIBILITIES AND REMAIN ALERT TO THE DANGER OF STRONG WINDS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A DUST STORM WARNING MEANS SEVERELY LIMITED VISIBILITIES ARE EXPECTED WITH BLOWING DUST. TRAVEL COULD BECOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. PERSONS WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS SHOULD MAKE PREPARATIONS TO STAY INDOORS UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE."

PS:  If you hear our EAS warning go off several times today, please forgive and know that it is in place for your protection.  We don't like it interrupting music either, but we care more about your safety at the same time!

More From KISS FM 96.9