textproduct: Corpus Christi

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 113 AM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

- Cool start to the last week of winter

- Back into widespread 90s for inland locations this weekend

- Enhanced fire risk daily this week

DISCUSSION

Issued at 113 AM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

A high cloud deck will be pushing south, allowing for clearing skies from north to south. With calm surface winds, radiational cooling will allow surface temperatures to drop into the mid-to-upper 30s for most inland locations this morning, with the Rio Grande Plains and the Coastal Bend dropping into the low 40s. With plenty of dry air still in place, afternoon highs are looking to top in the low 70s across most inland locations in the mid-to-upper 60s closer to the coast.

By Wednesday, afternoon highs will return closer to normal values and reaching back into the mid-to-upper 90s once again by this weekend. To escape this heat, one only needs to visit our local beaches where relatively cooler shelf waters will allow highs only to reach the upper 70s/low 80s. That said, abundant sunshine still calls for skin protection from the Sun's UV rays.

Unfortunately, ridge influence and surface high pressure over much of the Gulf will keep any future frontal systems from having much influence over our forecast for the next 7 days and thus meaning little opportunity for beneficial rainfall.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 113 AM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

VFR conditions will continue through the TAF cycle. Winds will diminish and gradually return to onshore flow Tuesday morning.

MARINE

Issued at 113 AM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

Expect gentle to moderate (BF 3-4) onshore flow with 2-3 ft seas through the remainder of the week. Afternoon winds will gust as high as fresh strength (BF 5) in the bays and nearshore waters.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 113 AM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

While winds will be lighter today compared to yesterday, the critically low relative humidity values combined with elevated Energy Release Component values could still lead to elevated to critical fire weather conditions. From mid-week, strong high pressure aloft will reduce wind speeds but promote abnormally warm and dry conditions across South Texas which could facilitate high rates of drying in dead surface fuel. Min RH values will bottom out in the 15-20% each afternoon.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Corpus Christi 67 53 76 56 / 0 0 0 0 Victoria 66 46 78 51 / 0 0 0 0 Laredo 73 51 85 58 / 0 0 0 0 Alice 71 47 81 54 / 0 0 0 0 Rockport 66 57 75 62 / 0 0 0 0 Cotulla 72 48 84 55 / 0 0 0 0 Kingsville 69 49 79 54 / 0 0 0 0 Navy Corpus 65 58 73 63 / 0 0 0 0

CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...None. GM...Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM CDT this morning for GMZ250-255- 270-275.