


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Amarillo, TX
Issued by NWS Amarillo, TX
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257 FXUS64 KAMA 161940 AFDAMA Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Amarillo TX Issued by National Weather Service Albuquerque NM 240 PM CDT Mon Jun 16 2025 ...New KEY MESSAGES, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 157 PM CDT Mon Jun 16 2025 -Severe storms for portions of the northern and eastern Panhandles will be possible this evening and tomorrow. -Heat Advisory for Palo Duro Canyon continues this afternoon and tomorrow with temperatures as high as 107-108 degrees. && .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Tuesday night) Issued at 157 PM CDT Mon Jun 16 2025 Very warm temperatures across most of the Panhandles are expected to continue throughout the short term forecast period. On the periphery of the main H500 high pressure system, a few areas could also see some thunderstorms. Starting later this afternoon into the evening hours, latest satellite and H700 analysis showing dry air encompassing most areas under the high pressure system. The main perturbation over southern Colorado should move ESE into Kansas and the far northern Panhandles later today. This could generate a few storms to develop across the north central and northeastern Panhandles where better H850-700 isodrosotherm gradients exist to help with some lift along the perturbation. With shear still anemic, coverage will be limited. DCAPE values over 1500 J.kg on latest 18Z AMA RAOB suggest the potential of a storm or two that could be severe later today with damaging wind gusts being the main threat. The heat will really be building in tomorrow across the area, minus the far NW Panhandles where temperatures will be closer to average. The remainder of the Panhandles will be in the 97-105 degree range where many areas could be over 100 degrees, including Amarillo. Including today, a Heat Advisory has already been issued for Palo Duro Canyon tomorrow where temperatures on the floor of the canyon may approach 107-108 degrees. Compared to today, the main H500 synoptic patter will be a bit more zonal. However, a more notable perturbation will move across the central Rockies generating thunderstorms into western Kansas by tomorrow afternoon. These storms will then be propelled ESE into central Kansas/NW Oklahoma and portions of the eastern Panhandles by tomorrow evening. Average kinematics shows between the latest data sets shows CAPE values of 1000-2000 J/kg across portions of the east, but with still anemic shear. Closer to the surface, a cold front will also be moving south, which should give lift for thunderstorms to develop. Damaging wind gusts, along with large hail potential with more robust updrafts along line of storms moving southeast into portions of the eastern Panhandles will be possible if storms reach severe limits. Most of our areas should be on the western periphery of the developing MCS that should stay to our north and east, but we are still watching the potential of portions of the eastern Panhandles to be impacted. Thunderstorms should quickly exit the region by tomorrow night after 05-06Z. && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday through next Sunday) Issued at 157 PM CDT Mon Jun 16 2025 Zonal H500 flow will slowly transition to a second building ridge of high pressure to move over the Panhandles in the latest 16/12Z model and numerical guidance. With large scale subsidence, dry conditions are expected to continue through the long term forecast period. Temperatures will start near average behind the front on Wednesday, but will quickly rise to above average for mid June once again going later in the week and into the weekend. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1234 PM CDT Mon Jun 16 2025 VFR conditions are expected throughout the 18Z TAF period at all TAF sites. Could see some VCTS conditions for KGUY between 22Z and 06Z Tuesday, but confidence is not high enough to include in TAF at this time. Winds will be out of the south and southwest at 10-15 kts with higher gusts at times. && .AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for TXZ317. Heat Advisory from 1 PM to 8 PM CDT Tuesday for TXZ317. OK...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...29 LONG TERM....29 AVIATION...29