Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Amarillo, TX

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649 FXUS64 KAMA 211719 AFDAMA Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Amarillo TX 1219 PM CDT Fri Jun 21 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM ... (Today through Saturday night) Issued at 333 AM CDT Fri Jun 21 2024 Evening observations show one thing is for sure: there`s still an abundance of moisture hanging around the Panhandles. Our 00z observed sounding along with mesoanalysis suggests PWAT values are already near or exceeding climatological maximum values for the day (around 1.50"). These values are progged to increase through the day as tropical moisture from the remnants of Alberto rounds the periphery of an upper high pressure system dominating the eastern CONUS. Theta-e advection combined with any subtle wave of energy that may find its way to the Panhandles could help spark some precipitation over parts of the area today. CAMs hint that showers with some embedded thunder could enter the southern Texas Panhandle early this morning, which doesn`t appear far fetched given the fact we`re already seeing a slight glimpse of this show up on radar as of 2 AM. This trend of scattered activity moving northward through the day will likely persist until we lose daytime heating in the afternoon and early evening hours. Not everyone will see rain today, with the western to central Texas Panhandle currently having the best odds (~20-40%), but we`ll have to wait and see just how far north and east any showers might spread. CAMs also suggest activity will be rather light and won`t produce too much rain accumulation, generally only a few hundredths to a tenth or two of an inch at best. This is plausible given only marginal instability, lack of deeper convection, and quick motions expected. However, if any development can become more convective and tap into whatever fuel is available, brief heavy downpours capable of producing 0.25-0.5" of rain can`t be ruled out, especially given the anomalously high PWATs in place. Cloud cover will keep highs in the 80s today, and stronger southwest winds of about 25-35 mph can be found in the northwest combined Panhandles where a tighter pressure gradient will exist. Saturday kicks off a stout warming trend with highs rebounding into the 90s thanks to rising 850mb temps as high pressure begins to migrate westward. Moisture content will stick around as well, although not quite as impressive as today`s. Models hint that a stalled boundary could be situated somewhere over the area by tomorrow afternoon-evening, possibly initiating another round of showers and storms with heavy rain potential. Currently looking at about a 20% probability of anything happening with this boundary, but that number may go up in upcoming outlooks. Look for decreasing winds by Saturday night and warm overnight lows continuing to hold in the 60s and 70s. Harrel && .LONG TERM... (Sunday through Thursday) Issued at 333 AM CDT Fri Jun 21 2024 An upper level ridge of high pressure will be the dominant feature in our weather pattern from Sunday through Thursday. This will generally result in above normal temperatures through the period. It appears at this time that the overall warmest days will be Monday through Wednesday with high temperatures across many locations approaching or exceeding 100 degrees. Heat Index values may approach or exceed 105 degrees on the aforementioned days across parts of the area, and Heat Advisories may be needed on one or more of those days as well. Precipitation chances Sunday through Thursday will strongly depend on the overall strength of the upper level high pressure as well as how much of our forecast area sits beneath it. Medium range models suggest some potential wobbling of the ridge axis at times during the extended periods. NBM pops and temperatures are reasonable given the progged synoptic pattern and were accepted with no adjustments to the grids needed. 02 && .AVIATION...
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(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1211 PM CDT Fri Jun 21 2024 VFR conditions are expected for the most part across all TAF sites. Given the scattered showers around the Panahandles, we could see brief MVFR/IFR cigs if a shower impacts a termnial. But overall, scattered shwoers and isolated storms will be possible through about 03z. VCSH currently set at sites to account for this, however, amendments for TS may be needed, but lightning probabilites are too low to prevail TS/VCTS at this time. Winds overall will be breezy out of the south to southwest for the majority of the TAF period, and will be in the 15-20kt range with gusts 25-35kts at times. Weber
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&& .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Amarillo TX 83 69 95 72 / 30 20 0 10 Beaver OK 88 72 96 69 / 10 10 0 10 Boise City OK 83 68 93 65 / 20 10 10 10 Borger TX 88 73 100 73 / 20 10 0 10 Boys Ranch TX 85 69 96 69 / 30 20 0 20 Canyon TX 82 67 93 68 / 30 20 0 10 Clarendon TX 84 69 93 71 / 20 10 0 10 Dalhart TX 83 66 94 65 / 30 10 0 20 Guymon OK 86 69 95 67 / 10 10 0 10 Hereford TX 83 68 95 69 / 30 20 0 10 Lipscomb TX 88 73 98 72 / 10 10 0 10 Pampa TX 85 70 95 71 / 20 10 0 10 Shamrock TX 88 70 96 72 / 10 0 0 0 Wellington TX 88 70 96 72 / 10 0 0 0 && .AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...None. OK...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...38 LONG TERM....02 AVIATION...89