Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
Issued by NWS Midland/Odessa, TX
Versions:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
462 FXUS64 KMAF 030527 AFDMAF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 1227 AM CDT Fri May 3 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (This afternoon through Friday night) Issued at 149 PM CDT Thu May 2 2024 WV imagery shows the upper trough over SoCal/Baja, where it will be reinforced by a series of shortwaves for the next few days, leaving West Texas and Southeast New Mexico under southwest flow aloft. At the surface, mesoanalysis shows the dryline has mixed east of KMAF, and lies over the eastern fringes of the CWA. Just to the north lies a cold front, and much of what it does tonight will determine what happens tomorrow. Currently, a triple point is developing invof Scurry County, and this may result in some convection late this afternoon/evening over Scurry/Mitchell Counties. Additional convection north and east may accelerate the front southwest into the area overnight, w/the NAM and CAMs in pretty good agreement on 12Z runs of banking it up against the higher terrain by Friday morning before lifting it ahead of a warm front to the south. Despite the front, there is increase in moisture behind it, and doesn`t look to be too much cooling. Overnight lows should be ~ 5-7F above normal. Friday, there will be a little residual cooling behind the front, but temperatures will remain ~ 5-7F above normal. There`s a chance of convection along the aforementioned boundaries, especially in better moisture in the east. Steep mid-level lapse rates and modest deep-layer shear will continue a severe threat. This convection will continue into the evening hours, dwindling after 06Z. A 30+kt LLJ will keep mixing in play, and lows 7-9F above normal. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday through Wednesday) Issued at 149 PM CDT Thu May 2 2024 The forecast for this weekend remains wet for most locations east of the Pecos River, which is a welcomed sight. A southern stream shortwave trough is expected to lift out of Mexico into the southern Great Plains during the afternoon and evening on Saturday. This coincides with the dryline backing up to near the Texas/New Mexico state line and a cold front, transitioning to a broad effective warm front, over the northern Permian Basin. The axis of greatest moisture is expected to impinge on the intersection of these two features resulting in widespread thunderstorm development by mid to late afternoon as the trough approaches. This may quickly congeal into a mesoscale system as it translates east across portions of southeast New Mexico and much of the Permian Basin. Severe weather may be possible with any thunderstorms as sufficient destabilization is expected with temperatures warming well into the 80s and even some 90s combined with increasing flow fields with the approaching trough. Additionally, forecast precipitable water values may well exceed the 90th percentile for this time of year. This supports the threat of very heavy rainfall with the potential for flash flooding. Any thunderstorms slowly slide east into the evening and overnight. This convection may further be supported by the low- level jet as the trough moves overhead, keeping rain chances into a good portion of early Sunday morning. Overall, a good inch or more of rainfall may result from this convection, especially with eastern extent. Convection is expected to have weakened or exited the region by late Sunday morning. Clouds and rain overnight should keep morning low temperatures mild in the 50s and 60s. Temperatures on Sunday may be a touch cooler across much of the area over Saturday, especially in areas that receive significant rainfall. Another round of thunderstorms may be possible again by afternoon across the eastern third of the region but this remains a bit uncertain. The dryline will be somewhat diffuse, with an upper-low of the Great Basin and subsidence behind the departing shortwave from Saturday. This may suppress more vigorous thunderstorm development but at least scattered thunderstorms remain likely across eastern portions of the region. The upper-low over the Great Basin begins to progress to the east by the start of the new week. Unfortunately, this system begins to open and take on a negative tilt as it moves into the central Great Plains, leading to the dryline pushing east. At this time, the dryline appears to be shunted just east of the entire area keeping us dry with breezy southwesterly winds. Quasi-zonal flow throughout the column then takes over as we move through Tuesday and Wednesday with no rain in sight. Thursday may have a cold front sneak into the northern portions of the region as a large trough axis develops across the central Great Plains into Midwest but this is subject to change at this juncture. Regardless, expect warm temperatures mainly in the 90s and plentiful sun for the new week. -Chehak && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1218 AM CDT Fri May 3 2024 A weak cold front is sagging southward into the area, while the dryline is starting to retreat westward, resulting in some fairly variable winds. Sustained speeds tonight are expected to remain under 12kt, with winds expected to settle out of the E/SE by morning. Winds will shift to the S/SE, becoming gusty during the afternoon, with gusts sticking around into the evening for MAF/INK/FST where the low-level jet will come into play. MVFR ceilings are progged to develop into the area late tonight, though have only included mention at MAF where confidence is highest. VFR conditions will return to MAF by around 14Z, with VFR conditions otherwise prevailing. Thunderstorms are possible, mainly during the 21Z-02Z time frame for MAF/FST, but will defer to later issuances for potential TS mention. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Big Spring 63 84 60 80 / 40 70 80 30 Carlsbad 60 87 58 89 / 10 30 40 10 Dryden 68 88 67 87 / 20 40 40 30 Fort Stockton 65 92 63 89 / 20 50 50 20 Guadalupe Pass 58 82 57 82 / 0 20 20 0 Hobbs 59 83 56 84 / 20 60 60 20 Marfa 53 88 52 86 / 10 20 30 10 Midland Intl Airport 63 84 60 81 / 30 60 70 30 Odessa 65 86 62 82 / 30 60 70 20 Wink 63 89 62 88 / 20 50 60 10 && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...None. NM...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...44 LONG TERM....91 AVIATION...84