textproduct: Corpus Christi

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 529 PM CST Fri Feb 20 2026

- Widespread fog likely again tonight with marine dense fog lingering until tomorrow afternoon. - Cold front Saturday will bring temperatures back near normal Sunday into early next week.

- Red Flag Warning issued for Saturday due to Elevated to Critical fire weather conditions.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1258 PM CST Fri Feb 20 2026

Marine fog has been lingering just off the coast and is expected to spread further tonight as the environment becomes more conducive. Conditions will likely not improve until the arrival of the front, though for now the a Marine Dense Fog Advisory was extended through midday tomorrow. In terms of conditions over land, conditions will also deteriorate as the winds relax in the presence of moisture pooling ahead of the front. Will likely need another Dense Fog Advisory over land this evening into tonight due to these factors.

The arrival of the front will bring another batch of hazards such as elevated to critical fire weather conditions across portions of the Brush Country and northern Coastal Plains (See the Fire Weather Discussion for more information). The front will also bring potential hazardous marine conditions as winds are expected to increase around 20-30 knots with gusts up to 40 knots and seas around 7-12 knots. Due to this a Gale Watch was issued for Saturday evening through Sunday morning. Guidance has trended up this package around 40-80% for gusts above 40 knots. Will continue to monitor the trends over the next couple of packages to see if an upgrade to a warning maybe needed.

Outside of hazards, expect conditions to remain pretty dry through next week as the ridge settles in overhead. Expect a brief cool down behind the front with conditions expected to warm by Wednesday back into the 80s and 90s.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 529 PM CST Fri Feb 20 2026

We'll see more impactful conditions tonight for flight operations. Expect MVFR to IFR CIGS to develop for all sites, with periods of LIFR possible. Fog situation is difficult to forecast in part after what appeared to be a good situation for widespread fog last night didn't materialize as expected. VIS forecast has low confidence through mid-day Saturday, with MVFR to LIFR conditions possible. A weak boundary will move through early tomorrow morning, but will not clear things out until a stronger push of drier air mid-day. Behind that push expect VFR conditions and gusty northerly winds.

MARINE

Issued at 1258 PM CST Fri Feb 20 2026

Gentle to moderate (BF 3-4) onshore flow with occasionally fresh (BF 5) breezes can be expected through tomorrow morning. Dry conditions will continue until tomorrow afternoon when low chances (15-30%) for precipitation return over area waters associated with our next front. This frontal passage will shift winds to the north-northeast with fresh to near gale (BF 5-7) conditions with gusts to gale and seas at 7-12 feet . A Gale Watch has been issued due to this factor, though confidence is increasing that this may be upgraded to a warning. Will continue to monitor this over the next couple of packages. Dense fog will likely linger heading into tomorrow ahead of the front. Conditions should begin improving by late morning into the early afternoon.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 1258 PM CST Fri Feb 20 2026

The arrival of the front Saturday will lead to very low fuels, high energy release component (50th-89th percentile), and strong gusty winds (N around 15 to 20 MPH with gusts to 30 MPH). Due to this a Red Flag Warning was issued for the Brush Country and portions of the northern Coastal Plains for elevated to critical fire weather conditions. Poor recovery heading into Sunday will likely lead to a repeat episode of elevated to near critical fire weather conditions. Though, as drier air settles into the region we will likely see concerns spread into the entire region. Will have to monitor conditions as we progress through the week as RH values are forecasted to remain on the lower end through the majority of the next week, but winds will not be as strong.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Corpus Christi 62 82 47 68 / 0 10 0 0 Victoria 59 80 42 67 / 10 0 0 0 Laredo 64 82 47 70 / 0 10 0 0 Alice 61 84 45 69 / 0 0 0 0 Rockport 63 82 49 68 / 0 10 0 0 Cotulla 60 82 42 68 / 0 10 0 0 Kingsville 62 84 47 69 / 0 10 0 0 Navy Corpus 65 77 51 65 / 0 10 0 0

CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...Red Flag Warning from noon to 9 PM CST Saturday for TXZ229>233- 239>241.

GM...Dense Fog Advisory until noon CST Saturday for GMZ231-232-236- 237-250-255.

Gale Watch from Saturday evening through Sunday morning for GMZ231-232-236-237-250-255-270-275.