####018010502#### FXUS64 KMAF 031656 AFDMAF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 1156 AM CDT Fri May 3 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (Today through Saturday afternoon) Issued at 333 AM CDT Fri May 3 2024 An active period is ahead for the short term, with severe thunderstorms possible both today and Saturday. Early this morning, winds are generally light and variable, thanks to a combination of a weak cold front sagging across the Permian Basin and the retreating dryline. Dewpoints across the Permian Basin and into Lea County have recovered into the 50s and even lower 60s, with lows not expected to drop much below where they area now, in the upper 50s to upper 60s for many. Expansive low clouds have already worked their way northwestward into portions of the Lower Trans Pecos, and are progged to expand across the central and eastern Permian Basin through daybreak. However, clearing skies are expected by mid-morning, allowing for plenty of time for warming and subsequent destabilization ahead of convective development this afternoon. As southwesterly winds develop this afternoon, the dryline will mix eastward from its morning position west of the Pecos River, and sharpen up from the Permian Basin southward across the Trans Pecos to the Rio Grande. The aforementioned cold front this morning will wash out, mixing northward this afternoon as southerly flow increases across the eastern half of the forecast area. Highs today top out in the middle 80s to lower 90s for most, with 100s along the Rio Grande in the Big Bend. Given elevated moisture to the east of the dryline, diurnal destabilization will result in CAPE values in excess of 2500-3000 J/kg (and possibly up to nearly 4000 J/kg). Lapse rates around 8 degC/km will support large to very large hail, with veering flow and increasing low- level shear through the late afternoon and early evening lending to a non-zero tornado threat. Initiation is progged to occur over the Permian Basin and Trans Pecos south toward the Rio Grande by mid-afternoon, with storms generally moving eastward and gradually congealing into outflow-dominated clusters by the evening. A bulk of the activity should be east of our area by mid-evening, though a few lingering non-severe storms may be possible over northern portions of the area overnight as the dryline retreats, in closer proximity to the diffuse frontal boundary. The low-level jet will keep winds and moisture elevated tonight, allowing the dryline to once again retreat to the higher terrain of Southeast New Mexico and Southwest Texas. In a change from today, convective initiation is expected earlier in the day on Saturday as the aforementioned front surges southward coincident with a surface trough that develops immediately to the lee of the higher terrain. Thus, precipitation chances as well as potential for strong to severe storms encompass much of the area, with particular focus across the Permian Basin and Trans Pecos where the greatest potential (40%-70%) for severe storms exists along the eastward moving dryline and southward moving cold front. Shear will be notably stronger on Saturday, around 35-45kt, and moderate to strong instability will yield mainly an initial supercellular storm mode, with very large hail and damaging winds the primary concerns, along with locally heavy rainfall given precipitable water values increasing to 1 to 2 standard deviations above normal by late afternoon and early evening, per NAEFS ensemble data. Storms are progged to linger into the evening, and aside from the storm potential, the cold front will also yield cooler temperatures, with afternoon highs in the 80s to lower 90s along and south/west of the Pecos (hotter along the Rio Grande), with 70s encroaching over the northern tier of the forecast area where the front will arrive prior to peak heating. JP && .LONG TERM... (Saturday night through Thursday) Issued at 333 AM CDT Fri May 3 2024 Rain chances will continue Saturday evening into Sunday afternoon before tapering off as the southern stream short wave trough and upper low move east of the area by then. Potential for strong to severe storms continues Saturday night for eastern portions of the area, with the threat for flooding rains, damaging winds, and large hail. Widespread clouds and rain chances Saturday night will keep lows mild and slightly above normal in the 60s for most aside from 50s in higher elevations and northern portions of the SE NM plains. Highest rainfall amounts are likely east of the Pecos River, especially east of the Midland-Odessa area over the eastern Permian Basin and Western Low Rolling Plains, where maximum rainfall totals at the end of this rain event are forecast to range from 1.00 to 2.00 inches. As the upper low responsible for this weekend's rain moves east and takes on a negative tilt as it moves into the central Great Plains, increasing quasi-zonal flow will push the dryline that has been present over much of the central Permian Basin the past few days well to the east of the area. Accompanying this dryline passage beginning Monday afternoon will be increasing southwesterly winds, clearer skies, and a warming trend Monday into Thursday as subtle mid-level ridging also builds in. No rain is expected for the rest of the long term until at least Friday. A cold front will move in from the north Thursday, with cooler temperatures expected to close out next week. Highs will be below normal Sunday due to lingering cloud and rain chances, with widespread low to mid 80s and 90s confined to parts of the Trans Pecos and Rio Grande valleys. Monday through Thursday will see highs above normal with widespread upper 80s and 90s, and reaching triple digit readings near the Rio Grande. Highs Friday will be near to below average following the passage of a cold front, with mainly 80s and higher readings in the 90s confined to the Trans Pecos, Terrell County, and along the Rio Grande in the valleys. Lows will be above normal for early May throughout the long term with widespread 60s, aside from 50s in higher elevations and northern portions of the SE NM plains and Permian Basin, each night from Saturday night into Thursday night. Lows Friday night will be closer to normal and feature 50s for most places north and east of the Pecos River, most of the SE NM plains and higher elevations across West Texas, and 60s elsewhere. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1150 AM CDT Fri May 3 2024 Expect convective temps to be reached by, if not shortly after, issuance time, with low bases, everywhere but KCNM. Convection will be possible this afternoon/tonight, but chances are too low for a mention attm. Return flow will remain slightly elevated overnight due to a LLJ developing, w/MVFR stratus expected after 12Z all sites except KCNM. This will persist through the end of the forecast period. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 311 AM CDT Fri May 3 2024 ERCs 90th percentile or higher over most of Eddy County and southwest of the Pecos River will result in critically dry fuels fuels. This afternoon, RFTIs of 3-5 present from Sacramento Foothills into Chaves, Eddy, and Lea Counties in Southeast New Mexico into the Guadalupe Mountains and eastern Culberson County, along with min RH from 6 to 10 percent and highs 5 to 8 degrees above normal for this time of year in the upper 80s and lower 90s, have prompted a Rangeland Fire Danger Statement to be issued for these regions from this afternoon through this evening. Rain east of the Pecos River and lack of gusty winds likely constrain fire weather risk Saturday into Sunday. However, fire weather risk increases again Monday afternoon and continues into next Thursday as near zero rain chances are present for much of the area, dewpoints decrease over much of the area, widespread min critical RH develops each afternoon Monday into Thursday, and gusty southwesterly winds develop over much of the SE NM plains into the mountains and western Permian Basin in West Texas each afternoon from Monday into Thursday. This will all contribute to widespread RFTIs in the 3-6 range west and southwest of the Pecos River Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. In addition to all of this, highs and lows 5 to 10 degrees above normal and mainly in the 90s and 60s, respectively, as well as poor overnight recovery over much of the area from Monday into Thursday morning, will dry out fuels even more. Depending on extent and amount of rainfall today into Sunday, eastward extent of fire weather risk is still uncertain at this time. Still, near critical fire weather conditions are likely today and this weekend over southwesternmost Eddy County and West Texas, and critical fire weather conditions Monday into Thursday next week expected over the SE NM plains, much of the area southwest of the Pecos River and west of a line from Gaines County into central Pecos County into western Terrell County, each afternoon from Monday into Thursday. Behind a cold front moving in from the north at the end of next week, increased dewpoints, better overnight recovery Friday morning, and decreasing eastward extent of min critical RH all yield a decrease in fire risk for the end of next week. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Big Spring 88 60 81 59 / 40 40 70 80 Carlsbad 93 58 87 59 / 0 10 20 40 Dryden 93 66 87 65 / 30 20 30 60 Fort Stockton 93 63 90 62 / 30 20 50 60 Guadalupe Pass 83 57 81 57 / 0 0 10 20 Hobbs 90 57 82 56 / 0 20 50 60 Marfa 88 50 88 51 / 0 0 10 30 Midland Intl Airport 90 61 82 60 / 30 30 60 80 Odessa 90 62 83 61 / 20 30 60 70 Wink 93 61 90 62 / 10 20 50 60 && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...None. NM...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...84 LONG TERM....94 AVIATION...44