Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Amarillo, TX
Issued by NWS Amarillo, TX
734 FXUS64 KAMA 311111 AFDAMA Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Amarillo TX 511 AM CST Sat Jan 31 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 1121 PM CST Fri Jan 30 2026 - Freezing fog is possible across the western Panhandles tonight which would lead to reduced visibility. - Colder conditions are forecast for Saturday before above average temperatures are expected Sunday through the next work week. - There are low chances (15-20 percent) for rain/snow on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. && .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Sunday night) Issued at 1121 PM CST Fri Jan 30 2026 A backdoor cold front has moved across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles this evening, In its wake, northeast winds have brought in a cooler air mass and plentiful cloud cover across the region. Freezing fog has already begun to develop behind the front with visibility decreasing across the northwestern Panhandles. The bank of fog may expand further south across the western Texas Panhandle overnight. Cannot rule out fog reaching as far east as Dumas to Amarillo, so be prepared for reduced visibility if traveling tonight into Saturday morning. The potential for drizzle has decreased over the last few hours, but still cannot rule out a very light glaze of ice on elevated surfaces in fog/light drizzle. North to northwest flow aloft is expected today as a trough digs south towards the Gulf of America today. Low level clouds may linger through the early afternoon for portions of the Panhandles, which will keep temperatures on the cooler side today. As winds become southerly to southwesterly this afternoon, that should start bringing in some WAA, but highs are still only forecast to be in the 30s to 40s. In fact, some areas across the far eastern Panhandles may stay right around or below freezing for highs this afternoon. Winds could be a bit breezy this afternoon as a leeside low pressure system develops across northeastern New Mexico today. Ridging develops over the Plains on Sunday and strong WAA at H850 will lead to temperatures upwards of 10 to 13 Celsius by peak heating. This would equate to temperatures warming considerable compared to Saturday, with highs around 25 to 30 degrees warmer in the 60s. Winds are anticipated to be lighter on Sunday along with clear skies, so a very nice start to February is looking likely. Muscha && .LONG TERM... (Monday through next Friday) Issued at 1121 PM CST Fri Jan 30 2026 Upper level high pressure is forecast to develop across the western CONUS during the next work week. This pattern will lead to warmer than average temperatures for much of next week with current forecast highs in the 50s to 60s to start February. The first ridge should break down by Tuesday into Wednesday as a positively tilted H500 trough digs south across the Plains. There may be just enough moisture across the region to generate some rain/snow showers on Tuesday night, but chances in that occurring are only around 15 to 20 percent at this point. Beyond that potential, dry and warm conditions should persist through Friday for the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. Muscha && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 441 AM CST Sat Jan 31 2026 A low cloud deck with patchy freezing mist lies across much of the central to western panhandles. This is leading to MVFR to LIFR conditions at all terminals. There is breaks within this deck that may allow both KGUY and KAMA to clear out of the deck during the mid morning hours. KDHT will most likely stay under this cloud deck until the late morning hours. After the deck clears conditions return to VFR and will remain so for the rest of the period. Winds will be breezy and gusty during the afternoon hours at all terminals before weakening by the evening. && .AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...None. OK...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...05 LONG TERM....05 AVIATION...98