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Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley-
Including the cities of Virden, Lordsburg, and Red Rock
917 AM MDT Fri Oct 16 2026
...BLOWING DUST ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MDT THIS EVENING...
...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT...
* WHAT...For the Blowing Dust Advisory, visibility between
one-quarter and one mile in blowing dust possible at times. For the
Wind Advisory, east winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
* WHERE...Portions of Southwest New Mexico.
* WHEN...For the Blowing Dust Advisory, until 8 PM MDT this evening.
For the Wind Advisory, until midnight MDT tonight.
* IMPACTS...Hazardous driving conditions due to reduced visibility.
Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be
blown down and a few power outages may result.
Joshua Villa
Silver City, NM – On October 9, 2026 District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler announced that 37-year-old Joshua Villa has been held without bond after being charged with First-Degree Murder, Possession of a firearm by a felon, Agg. Assault and Possession of a Controlled substance, in connection with the shooting death of Austin Alan Walsmith.
Sixth Judicial Chief Deputy District Attorney George Zsoka represented the State during the hearing. The presiding judge was the Honorable Jim Foy of the Sixth Judicial District Court. Joshua Villa voluntarily waived his right to both a preliminary hearing and to a detention hearing as provided by the rule of criminal procedure and will be held without bond pending final disposition of his case.
On Tuesday, October 13, at a special hearing, Sixth Judicial District Court Judge Jennifer Delaney ordered the release of Melvin and Valerie Cordell from the Luna County Detention Center, after their upcoming trial was vacated. The trial was vacated following a hearing on October 9 to determine whether the state had disclosed the names of its expert witnesses in a timely manner. Following arguments from the defense and prosecution, the court decided that the trial needed to be delayed in order to allow the defense to adequately respond to the state's proposed experts.
Strong winds and blowing dust expected through Oct. 17
The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) is advising motorists to use caution when traveling in southern New Mexico as strong winds and blowing dust are expected to significantly impact travel from Oct. 15-17, with conditions worsening into the evening hours.
The National Weather Service forecasts wind gusts exceeding 50 mph along the international border.
Upper Gila River Valley-Southern Gila Foothills/Mimbres Valley- Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley-Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin-Eastern Black Range Foothills-Central Grant County/Silver City Area-Southern Gila Region Highlands/Black Range-Including the cities of Grant County Airport, Fort Bayard, Silver City, Mimbres, Red Rock, Hurley, Faywood, Deming, Hillsboro, Mule Creek, Virden, Gila Hot Springs, Cliff, Kingston, Columbus, Buckhorn, Winston, Lordsburg, and Lake Roberts
118 PM MDT Wed Oct 14 2026
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THURSDAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT FRIDAY
NIGHT...
* WHAT...East winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected.
* WHERE...Central Grant County/Silver City Area, Eastern Black Range Foothills, Southern Gila Foothills/Mimbres Valley, Southern Gila Region Highlands/Black Range, Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley, Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin, and Upper Gila River Valley Counties.
* WHEN...From 9 PM Thursday to midnight MDT Friday Night.
Lowlands of the Bootheel-Uplands of the Bootheel-
Including the cities of Animas, Cloverdale, Hachita, and Antelope
Wells
118 PM MDT Wed Oct 14 2026
...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THURSDAY TO MIDNIGHT MDT
FRIDAY NIGHT...
* WHAT...East winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph expected.
* WHERE...Lowlands of the Bootheel and Uplands of the Bootheel
Counties in southern Hidalgo County and southern Grant County.
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