Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
Issued by NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
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462 FXUS64 KMAF 061722 AFDMAF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 1222 PM CDT Mon May 6 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (Today through Tuesday afternoon) Issued at 226 AM CDT Mon May 6 2024 The pleasantly cool day that we experienced yesterday is now only a memory, with the start of a significant warming trend today that will see above normal temperatures return areawide, continuing through midweek. Per latest water vapor imagery and RUC analysis, a deepening trough is currently translating eastward from the Great Basin toward the Central Rockies, beginning to develop a subtle negative tilt. This trough has deepened a bit more than previously indicated by model guidance, and while the core of the trough`s attendant jet remains to the north of the area, speeds around 50kt at 700 hPa are expected to result in high winds across the Guadalupe Mountains, evidenced by the development of a mountain wave signature by late this morning. Unlike other wind events, these winds will largely be isolated to the higher elevations of the Guadalupe Mountains and Guadalupe Pass, with potential gusts at the highest elevations reaching 70-75 mph. Thus, a High Wind Warning has been issued for the Guadalupe Mountains today, and while breezy conditions are expected elsewhere, wind speeds are currently expected to remain below advisory criteria. The southwesterly to westerly winds today will yield a quick rebound to above normal temperatures, with sunny skies expected areawide by lunch time. Compressional warming with full insolation will allow temperatures to top out in the upper 80s and 90s for most, with triple digits returning along the Rio Grande in the Big Bend. As the aforementioned trough swings into the northern Plains tonight, zonal flow aloft will persist over Southeast New Mexico and West Texas, and given a majority of low-level moisture will be shunted to the east and southeast, lows tonight will drop into the upper 40s northwest to 60s southeast in response to the drier air filtering into the region. Another warm day is ahead Tuesday, with highs similar to today, albeit a degree or two warmer in some spots, topping out in the upper 80s and 90s once again, with lower 100s along the Rio Grande. The forecast through the short term is dry, and unfortunately, the return of very dry conditions, above normal temperatures, and increased winds will also yield near critical and critical fire weather conditions. Fire weather concerns are greatest for areas that missed out on beneficial rainfall over the past week or two, mainly from Southeast New Mexico south to the Davis Mountains. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for these areas today, and a Fire Weather Watch on Tuesday, discussed further in the Fire Weather Discussion below. JP && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday night through Sunday) Issued at 226 AM CDT Mon May 6 2024 Quasi-zonal flow and subtle mid-level ridging continue Tuesday night through Thursday, with highs and lows warmer than average for early May, with sunny skies and westerly downsloping winds each afternoon. High winds in the Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains as well as the surrounding foothills are possible both Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. The upper low that lifted into the northern Great Plains at the beginning of the week will merge with a trough entering the Pacific Northwest Wednesday night into Thursday. This will lead to the trough dividing into two lobes of vorticity, with one of these being an open trough across the Great Lakes and the other being an upper low meandering over the Great Basin. As this occurs and the trough over the Great Lakes moves east, a surface cold front will be pushed south through the area on Thursday. Highs fall several degrees below average north of the cold front, with highs remaining a few degrees warmer than average south of the front. The front clears the area by Friday with below average highs and lows and easterly flow continuing into next week, albeit with a warming trend beginning Sunday. The upper low over the Great Basin will transition upper flow to southwesterly across the southern Great Plains by Sunday, allowing for development of lee troughing, and southeasterly surface winds east of lee troughing advecting in increased moisture. Around the upper low over the Great Basin, disturbances may propagate into the Great Plains, providing lift for isolated to scattered thunderstorms over portions of the area. However, synoptic and mesoscale details this far out could change, so we are leaving out any further mention of rain until there is better agreement regarding position, strength, and track of disturbances and magnitude of moisture return. Lows Tuesday and Wednesday nights will be warmer than average and in the 60s aside from 50s in the higher elevations and northernmost SE NM plains and Permian Basin. Widespread 90s and 80s in the higher elevations are forecast Wednesday with triple digits readings near the Rio Grande. On Thursday, highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s north of the cold front are expected, with highs remaining in the 90s, 80s in higher elevations south of the front. Friday will likely be the coolest day of the long term, with highs in the 70s and 80s, and 90s confined to along the Rio Grande. Friday night will feature lows in the 50s as far south as the Rio Grande valleys, with 40s in the highest elevations across West Texas and northernmost portions of the area also possible. Saturday remains cooler than average but with more widespread 80s. Lows Saturday night will be similar to Friday night but with more southeasterly rather than easterly winds bringing lows closer to normal. Sunday highs will be even warmer than Saturday although still a few degrees below normal, and similarly Monday highs will be warmer than Sunday and near normal. Lows Sunday night and Monday night will be similar to Friday night. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1216 PM CDT Mon May 6 2024 VFR conditions are expected through the TAF period. Elevated west winds develop this afternoon with the strongest winds out west. Winds weaken after sunset this evening, becoming more northwesterly overnight. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 226 AM CDT Mon May 6 2024 Recent wetting rains over the western Permian Basin to the Davis Mountains and east of the Pecos River have helped to reduce ERCs in these regions. However, ERCs at or above the 70th percentile and critically dry fuels persist west of the Pecos River due to lack of recent wetting rains west of the Pecos River. A Red Flag Warning is in effect this afternoon through this evening for the Sacramento Foothills, SE NM plains, Guadalupe and Davis Mountains, Davis Mountains Foothills, Culberson County, and upper Trans Pecos due to widespread min RH as low as 5 percent, sustained westerly winds above 20 mph with gusts up to 50 mph and higher in the higher elevations, mostly sunny skies, above normal temperatures in the 80s and 90s, and RFTIs of 5 to 7. A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for Tuesday for the same areas today`s Red Flag Warning covers. Critical fire weather conditions are likely for westernmost portions of the area through Thursday as min critical RH, poor overnight recovery, above normal temperatures, and gusty, westerly, downsloping winds continue. A cold front moving in from the north Thursday will reduce fire risk north of the front, with fire risk continuing over higher elevations of West Texas south of the front. Behind the front Friday, better overnight recovery, increased moisture and clouds, and cooler temperatures will limit fire risk everywhere into the weekend. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Big Spring 55 93 61 91 / 0 0 0 0 Carlsbad 53 92 61 90 / 0 0 0 0 Dryden 64 98 66 98 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Stockton 60 95 65 94 / 0 0 0 0 Guadalupe Pass 55 83 59 80 / 0 0 0 0 Hobbs 50 91 58 87 / 0 0 0 0 Marfa 48 88 53 87 / 0 0 0 0 Midland Intl Airport 56 93 63 90 / 0 0 0 0 Odessa 57 93 64 91 / 0 0 0 0 Wink 55 95 61 94 / 0 0 0 0 && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...High Wind Warning until 10 PM CDT /9 PM MDT/ this evening for Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains. Red Flag Warning until 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ this evening for Davis Mountains-Davis Mountains Foothills-Eastern Culberson County-Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains-Loving-Reeves County Plains-Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor. Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday evening for Davis Mountains-Davis Mountains Foothills- Eastern Culberson County-Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains-Loving-Reeves County Plains-Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor. NM...High Wind Warning until 9 PM MDT this evening for Guadalupe Mountains of Eddy County. Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for Chaves Plains- Eddy Plains-Lea-Sacramento Foothills and Guadalupe Mountains. Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening for Chaves Plains-Eddy Plains-Lea-Sacramento Foothills and Guadalupe Mountains. && $$ SHORT TERM...84 LONG TERM....94 AVIATION...91