Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
Issued by NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
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485 FXUS64 KHGX 082131 AFDHGX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 431 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, MARINE, HYDROLOGY... .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Thursday Night) Issued at 426 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024 Isolated storms developing to our northwest could move into the Brazos Valley and Piney Woods region later this afternoon into late evening. These storms may become strong to severe and will be capable of producing hail, damaging winds, and possibly a tornado. Tornado Watch #210 has been issued for Burleson and is in effect through 10 PM CT but could be expanded eastward. For those who are over our northern counties, make sure to keep up with the forecast updates and have multiple ways of receiving warnings. For tonight, another warm and muggy night is expected with lows in the low to mid 70s along areas north of I-10 and in the mid 70s along areas south of I-10. Low overcast skies will once again develop overnight along with areas of patchy fog. Fog could reduce visibilites during your morning commute. Conditions will start off warm and humid on Thursday and there is a chance for fog to stick around through the mid morning hours but is expected to gradually burn off as the day progresses. Isolated showers and thunderstorms could develop during the day, but a strong cap will remain in place for much of Southeast Texas and could inhibit the development. However, there are storms expected to develop over Central TX ahead/along a cold front and look to move into the Brazos Valley and Piney Woods region sometime late afternoon into evening. Vort maxes are depicted in the models with this activity and with CAPE values in the 3,000 to 4,000 J/kg range, dewpoints in the mid 70s, steep mid level lapse rates, and SFC-6km wind shear of 40-55 knots, these storms could very well remain strong to severe as they move over our region. The greatest impacts with these storms continue to be large hail and damaging winds (note DCAPE values between 800 to 1500 J/kg). That being said, a tornado cannot be ruled out either. The area of greatest risk remains to be over portions along and north of I-10, but these storms have a chance to move south of this region later in the night. SPC has placed an Enhanced Risk for severe thunderstorms along a line from Burleson County northeastward into Houston County and a Slight Risk for severe thunderstorms for areas south of the Enhanced Risk line into I-10. Please continue to monitor the latest weather updates and have multiple ways of receiving warnings. Showers and storms are expected to dissipate or move away from the region near midnight CT. The cold front will push across Southeast TX overnight into Friday morning and will result in slightly cooler and drier conditions on Friday. 24 && .LONG TERM... (Friday through next Tuesday) Issued at 426 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024 Front should be off the coast early Friday morning with a cooler, slightly drier airmass filtering in. Though we`ll get rid of the haze that`s been trapped under the inversion as of late, am still anticipating some mid level cloud cover sticking around behind the front. Heading into Saturday night and Sunday, the front will move back onshore as a warm front and bring the deeper Gulf moisture with it. PW`s will climb overnight and thru the day Sunday - eventually approaching 2" across parts of the region as a zone of low level speed convergence sets up. In the upper levels, a series of embedded upper level disturbances, sandwiched between a trof to our northwest and ridging to our south, will traverse the area. Combination of all of the above points to a wet Mother`s Day and Monday. Considering deterministic model consistency, have gone above NBM suggestions and closer to WPC`s guidance and CONSAll. Wouldn`t be overly surprised if we see another widespread 2-3" of rain across parts of the area. Normally that`s not much of a headline getter, but considering saturated soils from the past 7-10 days of rain...any heavy downpours will be prone to runoff faster than average. Way too early for any specific details in this type pattern, but might be worth it to keep an eye on the latest forecasts as we head into the weekend. Improving conditions Tuesday and Wed as the mid-upper trof tracks to our e/ne and we lose the large scale lifting and flow becomes a bit more nwly. 47 && .AVIATION... (18Z TAF Issuance) Issued at 1226 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024 A mix of MVFR to VFR cigs currently across SE Texas sites and S-SE winds are generally at 10-15 KTS with some higher gusts on occasion. There is also lingering HZ over the area, which is limiting vis to 4-6 SM at some locations. Cigs are slow to lift today but are expected to lift a little more and scatter out this afternoon and early evening. Some sites, however, could continue to see MVFR cigs through the entire period. Expect the MVFR cigs to return for most, if not all, of SE Texas however. Areas of patchy fog could also reduce vis during the overnight to early Thu morning period. Another gradual improvement is expected late Thu morning into early afternoon for both cig and vis conditions. Later in the afternoon to evening hours, SH/TS could develop, in particular over areas north of the I-10 corridor. Some of these storms could be strong to severe and may produce large hail and strong gusty winds. Another hazard to note is that lvl WS could occur over sites north of IAH mid afternoon through late evening. 24 && .MARINE... Issued at 426 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024 Extended caution flags again thru the night for the 20-60nm waters with 42019 still reporting 6ft seas. Fetch of moderate onshore winds should maintain the somewhat elevated seas in the offshore Gulf waters for the next couple days. Mariners should note above normal flows from area rivers will lead to above normal water levels and strong currents in the bays and intercoastal waterway this week. The next cold front pushes off the coast late Thursday night and early Friday morning. Moderate offshore winds in its wake will be brief. The front will move back onshore as a warm front on Sunday and onshore flow will resume and increase. Periods of unsettled weather are possible Sunday and Monday. 47 && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 426 PM CDT Wed May 8 2024 There is the chance for periods of showers and thunderstorms on Thursday, but is not expected to result in any additional aerial flooding. Although there have been decreases in the water levels along the rivers, some will remain swollen for days (possibly weeks). Do NOT go around barricades and stay out of the floodwaters. Do NOT return to homes until officials deem that it is safe. River flooding continues for parts of Southeast Texas, particularly along portions of the Trinity river. The following river points are at Moderate or Major flood stage as of Wednesday afternoon: - Trinity River (Liberty): Major Flood Stage - Trinity River (Goodrich): Major Flood Stage - Trinity River (Moss Bluff): Major Flood Stage - Trinity River (Riverside): Moderate Flood Stage Remember to heed any instructions from your local officials and to never travel through flooded areas or roadways. TURN AROUND, DON`T DROWN. Please monitor updated forecasts via the NWS AHPS website and/or the new NWS NWPS webpage (https://water.noaa.gov/) as the river flood threat continues. Also of note is that the downstream runoff from the previous rainfall will cause continued rises along the Brazos River through the end of the week. 24 && .CLIMATE... Issued at 407 AM CDT Wed May 8 2024 Two record high minimum temperature records for the date of May 7 were at least matched in the Houston area yesterday. The City of Houston record high minimum for the day was tied at 77. This matches the old record from 2002. At Hobby, the record for the highest minimum temperature for the date was broken. The low of 78 bested the old record of 77 degrees from 2003. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... College Station (CLL) 75 90 69 83 / 20 30 30 10 Houston (IAH) 76 89 71 88 / 10 20 20 10 Galveston (GLS) 75 84 74 84 / 0 10 10 0 && .HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...High Rip Current Risk until midnight CDT tonight for TXZ436>439. GM...Small Craft Should Exercise Caution until 4 AM CDT Thursday for GMZ370-375. && $$ SHORT TERM...24 LONG TERM....47 AVIATION...24 MARINE...47 HYDROLOGY...24