


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
407 FXUS64 KLUB 301127 AFDLUB Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lubbock TX 627 AM CDT Sat Aug 30 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 624 AM CDT Sat Aug 30 2025 - Showers and thunderstorms will continue over much of the region through early this morning with locally heavy rain possible. - Another round of showers and thunderstorms is expected from late this afternoon through tonight, with locally heavy rainfall possibly resulting in a few instances of flash flooding. - Low storm chances continue through much of the upcoming week with temperatures near or slightly below average. && .SHORT TERM... (Today and tonight) Issued at 1233 AM CDT Sat Aug 30 2025 Flat ridging aloft persists early this morning over northern Mexico and adjacent portions of southern AZ/NM/TX with generally zonal mid/upper level flow in place over most of the Rockies as a result. Deep convection enhanced by a modest H3 jet streak and broad monsoonal moisture plume oriented roughly along and just east of the Continental Divide is ongoing, and is expected to continue in at least scattered fashion over the South Plains region through much of the remainder of the overnight period before dissipating by sunrise. There is quite a bit of uncertainty with the forecast for the rest of today with model spread regarding with the eventual coverage and timing of deep convection having increased compared to prior forecasts. The above-mentioned ridging aloft is progged to shift slightly southeastward through the day, with flow aloft strengthening and veering more west-northwesterly in response to a slow-moving upper shortwave over the central plains states. There is still decent potential for a round of isolated to scattered thunderstorms this afternoon through this evening essentially anywhere across the forecast area, but predictability of precise location and coverage is unfortunately still quite low given uncertainty of how quickly the airmass recovers in the wake of the overnight/morning storms and how far into the morning low cloud cover persists. Will keep daytime PoPs fairly broad for the time being until confidence improves, but at this point it looks like rainfall this afternoon and early evening will be quite hit or miss. Temperature-wise, we expect today to be a bit cooler than average for this time of year with highs in the low to mid 80s. Confidence in thunderstorm potential this evening into late tonight is also unfortunately quite low. An influential factor in the positioning and coverage of storms tonight will be the location of the deep monsoonal moisture plume, which model consensus currently suggests will be over southern portions of the South Plains and Rolling Plains and adjacent portions of the TX Big Country. As such, the highest storm chances now look focused over southern portions of our forecast area. Most synoptic models now also suggest that large scale forcing for ascent will be relatively weak and will be displaced to the north of the best moisture. Consequently, confidence in widespread storms tonight is lower than in previous forecasts, but it still looks likely that we see at least scattered activity overnight with storms again looking to be generally hit or miss. Heavy rain will be possible beneath any strong storms given PWATs near 1.5" (about 125% of normal), but the threat for flash flooding looks like it will be localized at this time with convection decreasing in coverage by sunrise on Sunday. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday through Friday) Issued at 1233 AM CDT Sat Aug 30 2025 After an active start to the holiday weekend, generally calmer weather is expected beginning on Sunday. The main synoptic feature of interest for the second half of the weekend through much of next week will be a highly amplified mid/upper level ridge axis which will persist from the Four Corners northwestward over the Intermountain West. Simultaneously, deep cyclonic flow aloft will overspread most of the eastern half of the CONUS which will consequently keep a belt of relatively strong northwesterly upper level flow in place over West Texas. Despite the favorable prevailing flow aloft, model consensus points to the bulk of meaningful moisture remaining mostly to our west, displaced from the train of shortwave disturbances farther east. Although isolated to perhaps scattered storms are possible each evening and overnight within this setup, the signal for widespread convection is minimal and will keep PoPs on the low side at this time. The synoptic setup of ridging to our west and broad troughing to our east will prevent any extremes temperature-wise, with highs expected to remain near or slightly below normal through at least the first half of next week. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 624 AM CDT Sat Aug 30 2025 Low clouds primarily confined to KCDS this morning where they are in IFR category. Vicinity KLBB and KPVW low clouds are much more patchy, so will run with a more optimistic set of TAFs for there. The next question then shifts to next round of precipitation. Confidence remains low on timing and location of initiation of TS and subsequent evolution. Will keep TAFs dry at this time, but note that TS mention will likely be added in the next TAF cycle. && .LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...30 LONG TERM....30 AVIATION...07