079 FXUS64 KMAF 260346 AFDMAFArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 1046 PM CDT Thu Sep 25 2025
...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, AVIATION...
.KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1045 PM CDT Thu Sep 25 2025
- Increasing chances of showers and thunderstorms through Sunday morning, with better chances west of the Pecos.
- A warmer and drier pattern sets up next week.
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.SHORT TERM... (Rest of tonight through Saturday afternoon) Issued at 1045 PM CDT Thu Sep 25 2025
WV imagery this morning shows an upper ridge building east into West Texas and Southeast New Mexico, courtesy of a trough over SoCal. This will result in a jump in thicknesses today, adding around 5 F to this afternoon`s highs over yesterday`s. The ridge axis will pass through the CWA at around 00Z Saturday, after which the area will be under southwest flow aloft. A long fetch of convection was observed Thursday afternoon/evening on the east side of the SoCal trough, and CAMs redevelop this activity this afternoon, only farther into our area as the trough pushes east. KMAF 00Z PWAT came in at a paltry 0.66", or just under the 20th percentile, so any convection that develops into our area will not produce much in the way of QPF.
Tonight, a 25kt LLJ is forecast to redevelop, and this mixing will combine with encroaching clouds from the west to add 2-3 F onto this morning`s minimums. Lows should come in ~ 7-9 F above climatology.
Saturday, cloud cover will continue increasing from the west as the trough nudges into western Arizona. This, and a slight diminishing of thicknesses will result in highs similar to today`s, only maybe a degree or so cooler, keeping highs only ~ 2-4 F above normal. Convective chances will increase and expand east, but stop short of the central Permian Basin. QPF continues to look petty.
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.LONG TERM... (Saturday night through Thursday) Issued at 1045 PM CDT Thu Sep 25 2025
Low to medium (20-60%) rain chances persist over the western half of our area Saturday evening aided by upsloping southeasterly winds at the surface. The best (40-60%) odds for rainfall will be within our westernmost counties, given their proximity to an upper-level low expected to be transversing the Desert Southwest. By Sunday, the upper low looks to weaken and join the general flow of the jet stream, becoming an open trough as it creeps closer to our region. Rain chances decrease over the western half of the area a touch Sunday compared to Saturday as a result of weaker ascent. However, those west of the Pecos River will maintain rain chances between 20- 40% during the afternoon hours. Otherwise, temperatures Saturday night settle into the 50s for some in the higher terrain, while most dip into the 60s. Highs Sunday are largely forecast to top out in the 80s.
Heading into a new work week, the upper-level trough begins to lift northeast toward the Central Plains and Midwest, allowing ridging to gradually build overhead. Warmer and drier conditions will define the remainder of the Long Term period. Rain chances through the week look to be low to none. By Tuesday, high in the 90s return along the Rio Grande and Pecos river valleys. Wednesday, and more so Thursday, the 90s become commonplace across the region. Overnight lows will range within the upper 50s to mid 60s.
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.AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1045 PM CDT Thu Sep 25 2025
VFR conditions are expected next 24 hours in light return flow.
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.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Big Spring 58 89 62 89 / 0 0 0 0 Carlsbad 60 89 65 85 / 0 10 10 40 Dryden 63 90 66 90 / 0 0 0 10 Fort Stockton 61 89 66 88 / 0 10 10 20 Guadalupe Pass 59 79 60 75 / 0 20 30 50 Hobbs 57 86 61 85 / 0 0 0 20 Marfa 53 81 58 79 / 0 20 20 40 Midland Intl Airport 60 88 64 88 / 0 0 0 10 Odessa 60 87 65 87 / 0 0 0 10 Wink 59 89 65 88 / 0 0 10 20
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.MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...None. NM...None. &&
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SHORT TERM...99 LONG TERM....95 AVIATION...99
NWS MAF Office Area Forecast Discussion