textproduct: Lubbock

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 1204 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026

- Record breaking temperatures possible through Sunday.

- Critical fire danger possible across the region this weekend.

- After a brief cool down Monday, the rest of next week looks be dry and hot.

SHORT TERM

(This evening through Saturday) Issued at 1204 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026

The rest of today will be a wash, rinse, repeat from Thursday. The upper high to our west continues to remain stationary over Arizona while the surface pressure gradient associated with a surface trough over the FA remains relaxed and is allowing surface winds to remain mostly out of the west around 10 mph or less. Afternoon highs are expected to reach into the mid/upper 90s with a mesonet or two across the Rolling Plains possibly reach to around 100. Highs around 100 will be more likely and widespread across the Rolling Plains Saturday. The upper high will begin to drift eastward resulting in an increase of heights. A surface lee trough will begin developing late Saturday morning and will bring surface winds to the southwest for most of the day with wind speeds around 15 mph across our northwestern zones to 10 mph or less across our southeastern zones.

LONG TERM

(Saturday night through next Thursday) Issued at 1204 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026

The upper high will begin to flatten by late Saturday/early Sunday during which time a cold front will being racing southward from the Northern Plains. The cold front is progged to reach our northern zones before noon Sunday and be through the FA by mid to late afternoon. Sunday's high temps will be dependent on the timing of the FROPA, but are currently expected to be mostly in the 90s area wide. Winds will also be near advisory level as height rises behind the front are progged around 4-5 mb/3 hours. Winds should begin to subside by late Sunday night as surface high pressure moves into the region. Despite noticeably cooler temperatures behind the front, Sunday night lows are only expected to drop into the 40s and 50s. Monday's highs, however, are expected to be at least 20 degrees cooler than Sunday's highs, low to mid 70s area wide. The cooler temps will be short lived as the upper ridge is expected to build over the region by mid week. While temps will still be warm, this high is progged to only increase to around H588 vs the current H594. Additional relief from warm temperatures will be possible by late next week as another front is progged to move through the Southern Plains.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1204 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026

VFR conditions will prevail. Winds remain light and variable through this TAF period.

LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Fire Weather Watch from Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening for TXZ021>044.