Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Corpus Christi, TX
Issued by NWS Corpus Christi, TX
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454 FXUS64 KCRP 171727 AFDCRP Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX 1227 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (Today through Saturday) Issued at 337 AM CDT Fri May 17 2024 - Marginal Risk (level 1 out of 5) for severe thunderstorms across the southeastern portion of our CWA today. Rain chances are set to continue today. An outflow boundary originating from an earlier MCS in the Hill Country has moved through South Texas. This boundary intersected an embedded shortwave tracking across the region ahead of an approaching upper-level trough. The atmospheric environment is highly unstable, characterized by ample moisture, with the 00Z CRP sounding indicating over 6000 J/kg of SBCAPE and model PWAT values are ranging from 1.5 - 2.0 inches. However, a strong capping inversion is also present, which may initially inhibit convection. CAM guidance suggests that convection will begin to develop across Mexico just southwest of our CWA between 08 - 12Z, moving northeastward as the embedded shortwave advances. Additionally, the main trough nearing the region will enhance upper-level diffluence, aided by a 105 - 110 kt upper jet sinking southward. Given these dynamics, there is a low to medium (20 - 50%) probability of shower and thunderstorm development. This activity could become strong to severe, particularly across the southeastern portions of out CWA where favorable instability and moisture coexist with mid-level lapse rates around 7 - 7.5 C/km and 0 - 6 km bulk shear around 60 - 80 kts. The primary hazards from these storms will be large hail and damaging winds. SPC has placed the southeastern CWA under a Marginal Risk (level 1 out of 5) for severe weather, while the rest of South Texas is in a general thunderstorm risk. The optimal timing for severe weather appears to be from this morning into the afternoon hours, with all activity expected to dissipate and move out of the area by late evening. As this upper-level disturbance moves east, ridging will build in behind, allowing for dominant quasi zonal flow and the return of warm and dry conditions for the weekend. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday night through next Thursday) Issued at 337 AM CDT Fri May 17 2024 Key Messages: - A risk of heat related impacts Monday through Thursday across the Brush Country and southern Coastal Plains. A warmer airmass is predicted to develop over the region Monday through Thursday, manifested by an upper ridge that builds over the region, per the GFS/ECMWF. A progressive pattern is expected to remain over the northern approximately 3/4 of the CONUS, with upper disturbances moving close yet remaining north of the CWA. Nevertheless, these disturbances will continue to return flow and increasing moisture over the region beginning Sunday. The GFS/ECMWF predict PWAT values to increase above normal over the CWA Monday and continue through the remainder of the period. The combination of heating and greater near surface moisture will increase maximum Heat Index values over the CWA. WPC continues to predict a 40-70 percent chance that the maximum Heat Index threshold of 110F will be met over the Brush Country and southern Coastal Plains Monday through Thursday. The NBM continues to predict 8s maximum swell period over the coastal waters Saturday/Sunday, which would increase the risk of rip currents along the Gulf-facing beaches to the Moderate category. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1216 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024 A mix of VFR and MVFR is expected to continue this afternoon as a weak front continues to push through the area. Showers and embedded thunderstorms will continue with the best chances for thunderstorms being across the southern sites, LRD-ALI-CRP. COT and ALI should see more RA compared to TSRA. Winds could be gusty and visibilities could briefly drop within the showers and/or thunderstorms. Rain chances will quickly taper off this evening after 00z with VFR conditions region wide in its wake with light winds. While confidence is currently low, fog could develop early tomorrow morning at ALI bringing visibilities down to MVFR levels. && .MARINE... Issued at 337 AM CDT Fri May 17 2024 Weak east-northeast flow is expected today along with a low to medium chance for showers and thunderstorms over the bays and nearshore waters. A few storms could be strong to severe. Rain chances decrease Friday night, followed by drier conditions through the weekend. Warm conditions are expected Monday through Thursday, with weak to moderate onshore flow. Maximum Heat Index values 90-95F Tuesday through Thursday. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Corpus Christi 75 94 76 93 / 10 0 0 0 Victoria 71 94 72 93 / 10 0 0 0 Laredo 75 102 76 103 / 10 0 0 0 Alice 72 97 73 96 / 10 0 0 0 Rockport 76 90 77 89 / 20 0 0 0 Cotulla 73 100 75 101 / 10 0 0 0 Kingsville 74 95 75 94 / 10 0 0 0 Navy Corpus 80 90 79 89 / 20 0 0 0 && .CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...None. GM...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...KRS LONG TERM....WC AVIATION...JCP/84