470
FXUS64 KAMA 251703 AAB
AFDAMA

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
1203 PM CDT Sun Jun 25 2017

.AVIATION...
Any showers or thunderstorms this afternoon are expected to be too
spotty to mention in this forecast. However, another round of more
widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected to move
southeast from northern New Mexico tonight, so have continued with
a PROB 30 group for DHT and AMA. Not sure that this round of
showers and thunderstorms will affect the GUY TAF site, so have
left mention of them out there. Skies are expected to remain VFR
outside of thunderstorms and then MVFR cigs should move back in at
all sites early Monday morning.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 636 AM CDT Sun Jun 25 2017/

AVIATION...
For the 12Z TAFs, a very low confidence forecast continues with
respect to cigs and precipitation. Have incorporated -SHRA at all
sites for this morning based on latest radar trends. Did not have
enough confidence to mention thunderstorms this morning at any one
particular terminal site. There should be a minimum in precipitation
coverage this afternoon, with another round of showers and tstms
expected to develop over eastern New Mexico and southeast Colorado
late this afternoon and evening, then head southeast into the OK
and TX Panhandles. Have included PROB30 groups for tstms at all
TAF sites for later this evening and tonight to account for this
scenario.

Andrade

PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 454 AM CDT Sun Jun 25 2017/

DISCUSSION...
Water vapor imagery shows persistent upper high and broad anti-
cyclonic flow over the desert southwest. Meanwhile, broad
cyclonic flow continues over the northern Plains to the northern
Atlantic coast. The resulting northwest flow pattern for the
TX/OK Panhandles will continue through Monday and will keep our
rain chances on the elevated side through that time.

As of 09z, scattered showers and thunderstorms are developing
over the higher elevations in eastern NM with more isolated
development in the TX Panhandle. Surface high pressure spins over
the Ark-La-Tex region helping to maintain southeast winds and low
level moisture transport into the area. Short and medium range
guidance show 500mb feature rounding base of upper high to our
west, with area of PVA shifting from west to east between now and
about 18z. This is most likely helping to moisten the mid levels
and provide some broad forcing as well. Some isentropic ascent is
also noted on model 300-310k surface through around 18z today.
MUCAPE is more limited compared to yesterday with about 500 J/kg
expected, however, better moisture profiles are also expected with
PWAT values well over the 90th percentile. Moreover, it does look
like thunderstorms could be fairly efficient rain producers with
storm motions around 20-30 knots, so will need to watch areas that
received heavy rain yesterday. Severe weather is not expected
given lack of instability, but a strong storm can`t be ruled out
given directional deep layer shear. At this time the western and
southern zones are expected to have the most widespread showers
and thunderstorms with activity decreasing this afternoon as the
better forcing shifts out of the area. The cloud cover today along
with the rain cooled air will keep our temperatures well below
average again today.

Storm coverage should decrease considerably during the afternoon
Sunday, with another round possible late Sunday into early Monday.
There is more uncertainty with the eastward reach of this round
of storms, as some of the longer range CAMs suggest convection may
be more limited to the western zones. It does look like eastern NM
into the far western Panhandles will de-stabilize as clouds erode
Sunday afternoon with forecast soundings showing surface based
CAPE increasing to around 2000 J/kg at KTCC. This combine with the
directional deep layer shear around 40-50 knots remaining in
place will result in a better severe potential for late Sunday
into Sunday night. Further east, clouds are not expected to
erode as quickly, which should keep instability elevated and more
around 500-1000 J/kg. Any storms that do develop and manage to
make it into the Panhandles should be mostly during the nighttime
period with activity decreasing into the morning hours Monday.
Temperatures Monday should be a a bit warmer as the surface high
to our east shifts further to the east, allowing a more southerly
to southwesterly component to the winds. Clouds should also erode
by mid-day. A few thunderstorms could again develop during the
afternoon and evening Monday as destabilization occurs and a
subtle shortwave moves across the weakening northwest flow.
Overall forcing looks limited and moisture will be on the decrease
through the day, so coverage may be spotty at best.

Tuesday continues the warming trend as the surface high shifts
even further to our east. Models are also holding on to northwest
flow for one more day, with a decent little shortwave showing up
in the medium/long range deterministic guidance which should help
with another round of thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Kept pops on the low side for now due to differences in moisture
profiles between models. It does look like a lee trough and
dryline feature may develop in response to the shortwave, with a
fairly strong pressure gradient setting up across the Panhandles.
Nudged forecast above blend for wind speeds considering the
overall setup is favorable for gusty winds during the afternoon.

For the extended... The ridge over southern AZ/NM will finally
start to dampen as deterministic guidance shows a trough try to
push down out of western Canada going into Wednesday. This will
result in more zonal flow over the Panhandles and decreasing rain
chances. Temperatures should also come up considerably as H850
thermal ridge build in Wednesday into Thursday. Did nudge above
the blend for those days for highs as 850mb temperatures progged
30-34 degrees C. Also nudged low temperatures up Wednesday morning
(mainly considering strong LLJ developing overnight).

Ward

&&

.AMA Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
TX...None.
OK...None.

&&

$$

15/16