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Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
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985 FXUS64 KLUB 161733 AFDLUB Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lubbock TX 1233 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024 ...New AVIATION... .SHORT TERM... (Today and tonight) Issued at 250 AM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024 Eastward expansion of the upper ridge over the southwestern CONUS will continue today with gradual but still relatively subtle height rises expected through the next 24 hours. Despite this evolution, most synoptic guidance still depicts a ribbon of midlevel moisture extending from SE NM through the TX Panhandle into NW OK which is visible on water vapor channel imagery drifting SSE-ward early this morning. Convective temperatures will once again be easily reached later today which combined with this moisture and still minimal inhibition should result in a few thunderstorms developing over the southern Texas Panhandle this afternoon and evening. Coverage is still not entirely certain given the eastward expansion of the broader ridging aloft, but given a consistent signal in hi-res guidance have added mentionable PoPs across the far southern TX Panhandle this afternoon and evening with dry conditions favored further south. A similar convective evolution to yesterday is currently expected, with a rouge severe gust and brief downpour or two not out of the question and activity largely diminishing after sunset. Regarding temperatures today, have favored the warm end of guidance given progged increases in layer thicknesses and deep diurnal mixing. This results in forecast highs above 105 degrees for locations off the Caprock, with a Heat Advisory consequently in effect for this area this afternoon and evening. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday through Thursday) Issued at 250 AM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024 The heatwave shows no signs of stopping anytime soon as a dome of high pressure shifts overhead this weekend before retreating toward the Four Corners by the middle of next week. The worst of the heat currently looks to peak on Sunday when Lubbock and Childress will be within a few degrees of their record highs for the day. For a list of daily record highs, please refer to the Climate section below. Prospects for widespread 110+ highs off the Caprock remain very low (10% or less) from probabilistic ensemble suites, but at least four more days of Heat Advisories are a good bet in this pattern. Even with the intense heat, deep subsidence aloft will squash any attempts at deep convection through much of next week. As the core of the high departs into New Mexico early next week, thicknesses edge lower with some potential for even cooler highs per recent runs of the GFS and ECMWF which back low-level winds more easterly behind a quasi-stationary front. For now, will stay with the hotter and drier NBM that still affords sub-105 highs for the Rolling Plains by the latter half of the week. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1227 PM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024 VFR conditions are expected through the period at all three TAF sites. Isolated thunderstorms may develop this afternoon and evening. Storms should remain west and north of all terminals before diminishing late tonight. Thus a mention of thunder has been left out of this TAF issuance, but given low confidence amendments will be made if necessary. Otherwise the light southerly winds will veer to the southwest early tomorrow morning. && .CLIMATE... Issued at 250 AM CDT Fri Aug 16 2024 Record high temperatures for 8/16 - 8/21: LUBBOCKCHILDRESS 8/16104 (1943)107 (1943) 8/17107 (2023)110 (2023) 8/18105 (2023, 2019)110 (1945) 8/19103 (1994)109 (1943) 8/20103 (1943, 1930)111 (1943) 8/21103(1930)106 (1952) && .LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Heat Advisory until 8 PM CDT this evening for TXZ024>026-031-032- 037-038-042>044. && $$ SHORT TERM...30 LONG TERM....93 AVIATION...11