Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
155 FXUS64 KLUB 051737 AFDLUB Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lubbock TX 1137 AM CST Fri Dec 5 2025 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 1135 AM CST Fri Dec 5 2025 - Warming up today with breezy southwest winds across the Caprock. - Even warmer Saturday, with windy conditions across the Caprock and breezy conditions off the Caprock. - Localized areas of elevated fire weather concerns possible Saturday. && .SHORT TERM... (This afternoon through Saturday) Issued at 1135 AM CST Fri Dec 5 2025 Compared to what we have seen and experienced the last few days across the region, we can expect the exact opposite for the short term period. The shortwave trough that brought us the cooler and wetter conditions mid-week will continue its progression eastward while the base of the trough associated with the closed low over the eastern Canadian provinces spirals east. Meanwhile, a surface trough located over the Texas Panhandle will influence breezy westerly winds across the FA through the afternoon with speeds around 15 to 20 mph and occasional gusts to 30 mph. As a result of these drier and warmer winds, combined with clear skies and subtle uptick in thickness values will allow for temperatures to climb into the 50s and 60s this afternoon. Winds will calm after dark, while temperatures drop cooler from previous days, thanks to clear skies allowing for max radiational cooling, with subfreezing lows area- wide in the 20s and lower 30s. Almost a rinse and repeat forecast is expected Saturday, main difference will be wind speeds will become windy, mainly across the Caprock. In response to the weak H5 shortwave translating through the High Plains, a lee cyclone will develop across eastern CO, working to tighten the pressure gradient across the West Texas region. Pressure gradient rises around 7 to 8 mb over a 3 hour period suggest winds will inch close to wind advisory criteria. Given this, NBM wind speeds seemed far too low, and were raised using a blend of NBM and NBM 90th percentile to depict wind speeds around 20 to 30 MPH across the Caprock with gusts up to 40 MPH possible. Highest speeds look to be fixated closer to the surface low, over the far southern Texas Panhandle. Off the Caprock will see wind speeds around 15 to 20 MPH. Will hold off on a Wind Advisory at this time, allowing the next shift to take one more look at new guidance. These winds will work to bring in WAA into the region, which along with another day of sunny skies will allow temperatures to climb into the 60s to near 70 degrees. Warm, dry, and windy conditions tomorrow could lead to a few localized areas of fire weather concerns, especially across the Caprock. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday night through next Thursday) Issued at 1135 AM CST Fri Dec 5 2025 A weak front will pass through the region late Saturday night into early Sunday morning as the surface low shifts into the Southern Plains and the H5 shortwave swings a front through the region. This will allow for temperatures to cool back down for Sunday into the 50s and 60s. Unfortunately we are expected to see the return of mild temperatures by next week, as a very uneventful synoptic pattern sets up for the region. A series of troughs will translate through the Great Lakes region, while an upper level high begins to build over the western CONUS. This will lead to predominately northwesterly flow aloft across the region. While at the surface, winds will remain out of the west-southwest as a series of surface troughs set up across eastern NM and southeastern CO. This will lead to temperatures climbing well above seasonal normals in the 60s and 70s under the usual West Texas afternoon breezes. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1135 AM CST Fri Dec 5 2025 VFR conditions will continue at all TAF sites through the period. A few gusts will be possible, primarily at KLBB this afternoon, with speeds decreasing around sunset. && .LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...12 LONG TERM....12 AVIATION...12