Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Amarillo, TX

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508 FXUS64 KAMA 041907 AFDAMA Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Amarillo TX 207 PM CDT Sat May 4 2024 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .SHORT TERM ...
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(This evening through Sunday night) Issued at 206 PM CDT Sat May 4 2024 Low clouds are trying to break up across much of the area, but not expecting much of a warmup across the area. In fact, even the NBM 10th percentile highs are too warm across portions of the area that are currently cloudy. Highs today may not reach 60 degrees for Amarillo and surrounding areas, but highs in the 60s can be expected in the northwest and southeast where clouds are not as widespread. Rain and embedded thunderstorms may work up to the Panhandles later today, but thinking that they may merely clip southern or southeasterly TX Panhandle this evening, and maybe some showers may grace the western Panhandles. NBM seems to be running quite hot with the PoPs again, with 50-80% across much of the area tonight. Have significant doubts about that. As such, have dropped PoPs to 15-25% at most for the central and northern Panhandles, while generally leaving PoPs for the periphery of the Panhandles. Rain chances exit the Panhandles Sunday morning. Sunday, a large upper-level trough moves toward the Panhandles, skies clear, 850mb temperatures warm, and surface winds turn southerly and breezy. All of these factors point toward highs returning to the 70s to near-80. Winds strengthen overnight to 20-30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph as a surface low develops and rapidly strengthens in eastern Colorado. Vanden Bosch
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&& .LONG TERM ...
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(Monday through next Friday) Issued at 206 PM CDT Sat May 4 2024 A mostly dry forecast throughout the majority of the forecast period. The only chances for some rain and or thunderstorms will be on Monday and potentially on Friday. Starting on Monday, latest 04/12Z model and numerical guidance shows an occluded stacked low pressure system over the norther High Plains. Further south across the Panhandles, a sfc dryline will develop and with gusty WSW sfc winds, the dryline should quickly move to the east throughout the day. If any adjustments to the track of the main low and/or winds behind the dryline become weaker, the dryline by Monday afternoon may linger more in the eastern Panhandles. As of right now the far eastern combined Panhandles will have the best chance to stay along or east of the dryline by MOnday afternoon. Ingredients will be there for all hazards for severe thunderstorms potential if storms do develop. WInds behind the dryline based off the latest probs have decreased in model runs over the past few hours. We will still be monitoring the potential for some wind headlines and fire weather conditions, but domain coverage could be more limited compared to previous model runs. Highs on Monday will range from upper 70s in the west to upper 80s in the east. Zonal flow and dry conditions should resume through the middle of the week for all of the Panhandles. A cold front should drop high temperatures from above average of Tuesday and Wednesday, back to near average by Thursday. A perturbation in H500 WNW flow may bring a slight chance (~ 20%) to the western Panhandles by the end of the forecast period. Highs on Friday will remain cool with temperatures below average for early May. Meccariello
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&& .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1208 PM CDT Sat May 4 2024 MVFR ceilings are being observed at KAMA and KDHT, but ceilings should rise to VFR this afternoon. Showers and an isolated thunderstorm are possible this evening but confidence is too low to include in the TAFs at this time. Otherwise... MVFR ceilings are expected to return tonight with IFR ceilings possible. Highest confidence in IFR ceilings is at KAMA which has been included in the TAF, while lower confidence in IFR ceilings at KDHT and KGUY precludes mention in the TAFs at this time. Vanden Bosch && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Amarillo TX 51 74 57 83 / 60 20 10 10 Beaver OK 48 74 56 86 / 30 30 10 20 Boise City OK 44 75 55 78 / 10 10 0 0 Borger TX 53 78 59 87 / 50 30 10 10 Boys Ranch TX 51 79 59 83 / 50 20 10 0 Canyon TX 51 74 57 83 / 70 20 10 0 Clarendon TX 52 70 58 86 / 80 20 20 20 Dalhart TX 47 75 54 80 / 30 20 0 0 Guymon OK 46 75 55 82 / 20 20 10 10 Hereford TX 51 77 58 83 / 60 10 10 0 Lipscomb TX 51 74 57 87 / 60 30 10 20 Pampa TX 51 73 58 84 / 60 30 10 10 Shamrock TX 52 71 57 87 / 80 30 20 30 Wellington TX 54 72 58 87 / 90 20 20 30 && .AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...None. OK...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...52 LONG TERM....29 AVIATION...52