Area Forecast Discussion
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Issued by NWS
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386 FXUS64 KLUB 010047 AFDLUB Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lubbock TX 747 PM CDT Fri May 31 2024 ...New MESOSCALE UPDATE... .MESOSCALE UPDATE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT... Issued at 747 PM CDT Fri May 31 2024 A well-defined bow echo has developed to the north of Clovis, NM, and is accelerating in forward-speed with a distinct rear-inflow jet present. Wind speeds measured by the KFDX WSR-88D are near to slightly in excess of 60 kt within the lowest 500 ft AGL, and the airmass ahead of this system is primed with warm, moist, southeasterly inflow observed in recent West Texas Mesonet data amidst strong instability aloft per recent mesoscale analysis. The threat for widespread damaging winds is increasing across the extreme southwestern Texas Panhandle and the northwestern South Plains, with several gusts between 50-70 mph expected as the bow moves into the CWA. Isolated, significant wind gusts may exceed 80 mph. Wind-driven hail may accompany this bow if it holds together, and trends in recent observations and high-resolution guidance indicate that it will. Based on its current speed, which is to the southeast at 30 kt (40 mph), this bow echo is expected to arrive near the Parmer-to-Bailey County lines within the next 45 minutes. Sincavage && .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Saturday) Issued at 236 PM CDT Fri May 31 2024 Southeasterly surface flow continues to sustain moisture east of a dryline from the Big Bend region that becomes increasingly diffuse northward into the South Plains. Thunderstorms have already begun to fire in the high terrain of New Mexico and are expected to propagate eastward through the afternoon and evening. Subsidence in the mid- levels and a cap near 750mb should prevent any convection from forming over the South Plains. However, northwest flow aloft may direct storms in northeast New Mexico toward the forecast area during the overnight hours. If storms enter the area, favorable moisture and instability will sustain convection at first, with the potential for severe wind gusts and a few instances of large hail with stronger cores. However, as the boundary layer stabilizes overnight, storm intensity should diminish. Because model guidance is unclear on when this process will occur, the eastward and southern extent of these storms is uncertain. Tomorrow`s weather setup is similar to today, with moisture and instability extending to the high terrain of New Mexico. The 500mb ridge is expected to slide slightly eastward and should continue to prevent convection over the forecast area during the afternoon. However, because afternoon highs should near convective temperatures, any surface boundary could provide a focus for thunderstorm development. The current assumption is that temperatures will remain just shy of convective temperatures, keeping the CWA dry through the afternoon. Across New Mexico, generally westerly flow aloft will allow storms to propagate eastward towards the South Plains and Texas Panhandle into the evening hours. Large hail and severe wind gusts are possible with storms that move east into the CWA. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday night through next Thursday) Issued at 236 PM CDT Fri May 31 2024 Storms over eastern New Mexico are expected to push eastward into the FA tomorrow evening just as an upper shortwave moves across the overhead ridge. While the highest risk for severe storms will be to our west, some storms could still produce one inch hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph. The upper shortwave should help sustain convection through much of the night before exiting to our east by sunrise. Models diverge with convective prospects Sunday afternoon along a dryline. The GFS keeps convection suppressed with an overhead ridge while the ECMWF keeps the upper ridge slightly to our east. For the time being, a chance of thunderstorms will be kept in the forecast given previous trends. Models agree with forming a blocking pattern over the southwestern CONUS by mid week, but there is some differences on placement of the upper ridge. The GFS brings the upper ridge over the southcentral CONUS vs the ECMWF which keeps the ridge to our west and places the FA under northwesterly flow. Models, however, agree with having a cold front push through by Wednesday helping to cool highs from the triple digits area wide to the low/upper 90s. They also agree with area wide precip chances late next week after the FROPA. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 650 PM CDT Fri May 31 2024 Continued VFR outside of any TS later tonight. One prominent TS about 90NW LBB stands a good chance of flourishing as it moves SE through the evening, and likely dealing some impacts to the LBB and PVW airspace. Outside chance of some stratus developing toward daybreak, but this looks to stay well SW of LBB and PVW. && .LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ MESOSCALE UPDATE...09 SHORT TERM...58 LONG TERM....51 AVIATION...93