National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

• Home
• Site Map
• News
• Organization
• Search for: NWS All NOAA 

000
FXUS64 KAMA 091201
AFDAMA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
701 AM CDT Tue Apr 9 2024

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM ...
(Today through Wednesday night)
Issued at 422 AM CDT Tue Apr 9 2024

The center of our incoming upper low is positioned between
southeast Arizona and northwest Mexico, (at the time of this
writing). The timing and strength of this system is still in
agreement amongst models. This closed low will traverse across
the region over the course of the day and finally exit by
Wednesday afternoon. Unfortunately, there are still some minor
discrepancies concerning it`s track between the latest model runs
that would suggest that even the smallest changes synoptically
could have larger mesoscale impacts. These inconsistencies could
mean the difference of getting over an inch, or barely a quarter
inch of rain; and for some places, could introduce the possibility
of receiving measurable precipitation versus nothing at all.

Through the morning hours, precipitation bands on the northeast
periphery of the upper low will continue to advance northeast
into our area. Currently, the areas under the best precipitation
are in Lea County in New Mexico and Cochran County in Texas. And
they look to move into southern portions of our CWA in the next
few hours. The latest 06Z runs of the CAMs suggest that the system
will stay on a more southerly track and minimize potential
rainfall totals in the High Plains. This goes against the previous
00Z guidance that inferred upon a northern shift in the track for
today. A shift that was just enough to sharply increase QPF for
the Texas Panhandle. Current observations of METARs and QPE from
dual-pol and MRMS purpose that the latest model runs are too light
on precipitation totals and are not catching up to the faster
motion of our initial bands moving into Texas. With the system
keeping it`s momentum and entering into a moisture sufficient
environment, precipitation should begin in our CWA within the next
couple of hours and provide modest rain rates between 0.5-1
inch per hour.

As the day continues, scattered showers should carry on in the
southern and central zones of the Texas Panhandle. Places further
north may encounter some more difficulty in seeing measurable
precipitation due to the projected track of the low and an
insufficient moisture environment. Even so, some models and
ensemble members still advocate for rain accumulation in those
areas; however, precipitation amounts will be light.
Thunderstorms, while remaining possible, are not favored with
today`s setup. Poor instability will hamper most convective
attempts and keep rain showers as the primary precipitation mode.
The best areas to see some isolated, embedded thunderstorms would
be near and south of the I-40 corridor. Highs today will range in
the 50`s and some lower 60`s for the eastern zone.

Wednesday, the system prepares to leave our area and precipitation
will tail off to the southeast by the afternoon. Some lingering
cloud coverage will be present for the High Plains, but surface
temperatures should still be warmer that what is in store for
today. Highs tomorrow will range in the 60`s and some isolated
lower 70`s.

Rangel

&&

.LONG TERM ...
(Thursday through Monday)
Issued at 422 AM CDT Tue Apr 9 2024

Thursday will bring one more day of northerly winds behind our
departing storm system. Skies should be mainly clear, but the
northerly winds will keep us generally in the 60`s and lower 70`s.

Winds switch around to the southwest on Friday and these southwest
winds will continue through the end of this forecast. An upper
level ridge moves across the Panhandles on Friday and then the
Panhandles will remain under a southwest flow aloft ahead of
another storm system moving into west coast. This storm system is
expected to quickly sweep eastward across the southwest U.S. on
Monday and out onto the Plains on Tuesday. At this time, this
system is expected to remain to the north of us, which means
mainly dry conditions for most of us. However, there is some
indication that there may be enough lift, moisture, and
instability ahead of a dryline in the eastern Panhandles to bring
a chance of thunderstorms Monday before the system moves out onto
the Plains and dry air sweeps across the Panhandles. High
temperatures are expected to be generally in the upper 70`s and
80`s Friday through Monday with the southwest surface winds.
Critical fire weather conditions may materialize across the
western Panhandles on Monday if the trends of the current models
continue.

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 645 AM CDT Tue Apr 9 2024

Showers and thunderstorms have already begun at AMA. Ceilings and
visibility have remained VFR thus far, but may enter into MVFR
conditions intermittently throughout the morning. Later today,
MVFR conditions will settle in at AMA and last until the very end
of the 12Z TAF period. Thunderstorms may continue throughout the
morning, but confidence is not high enough at this time to extend
thunderstorm chances into the afternoon beyond a PROB30.

DHT, showers may enter into its vicinity by the afternoon hours.
MVFR conditions may appear on and off for a few hours before
returning to VFR for the rest of the period. GUY will continue as
VFR throughout the period.

Rangel

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Amarillo TX                52  38  67  37 /  90  80  20   0
Beaver OK                  65  40  71  38 /  20  40  10   0
Boise City OK              57  32  66  33 /  20  10   0   0
Borger TX                  60  43  72  40 /  70  70  10   0
Boys Ranch TX              55  37  70  37 /  70  60  10   0
Canyon TX                  51  37  67  37 /  90  90  20   0
Clarendon TX               55  42  68  42 /  90  90  40   0
Dalhart TX                 55  32  66  33 /  50  30   0   0
Guymon OK                  62  36  69  35 /  20  20  10   0
Hereford TX                50  37  67  36 /  90  90  10   0
Lipscomb TX                63  43  70  41 /  40  70  20   0
Pampa TX                   57  41  68  39 /  70  80  20   0
Shamrock TX                59  43  69  42 /  60  90  40   0
Wellington TX              58  44  68  42 /  90  90  50   0

&&

.AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...None.
OK...None.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM...55
LONG TERM....15
AVIATION...55