textproduct: Lubbock

KEY MESSAGES

Issued at 501 AM CST Mon Feb 23 2026

- Critical fire weather conditions Tuesday.

- Outside of relatively cooler temperatures Thursday, a warm and dry week is expected with continued fire concerns for portions of the area.

SHORT TERM

(Tonight through Tuesday) Issued at 1039 PM CST Sun Feb 22 2026

Clear skies and mostly light winds below 10 mph will bring another round of chilly morning low temperatures, with widespread 20s across the area and teens over the far southwest Panhandle. Weak upper waves over the Rockies will lead to lower surface pressure than Sunday over eastern Colorado and therefore southerly winds will increase sustained around 15-20 mph. Highs are expected in the low 60s. Winds will remain elevated overnight into Tuesday, moderating mornings lows in the 30s. Stronger upper waves will lead to the development of much lower surface pressure below 1000 mb over northeastern New Mexico by Tuesday afternoon. Surface winds will turn more WSW and further increase to around 20-25 mph with potential gusts to 40 mph. Highs will increase around 20 degrees from Monday generally into the low 80s and humidities will fall into the single digits for many locations. As such, a Fire Weather Watch has been issued for late Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening for the entire forecast area.

LONG TERM

(Tuesday night through next Sunday) Issued at 1039 PM CST Sun Feb 22 2026

The aforementioned low pressure will track southeastward overnight into Wednesday. Although another elongated surface low will develop in the lee of the Rockies, the pressure gradient will be much weaker than Tuesday and any gusty winds should be confined near the TX/NM border. Well-above average highs in the mid 80s are expected with the downsloping component of the more due westerlies. A broad upper trough will bring a cold front through the region late Wednesday into Thursday and highs Thursday afternoon will drop to near 70 in a northerly flow. Zonal flow aloft combined with a return of southwesterly, then westerly surface winds allows for temperatures to once again return to the 80s in many areas Friday and Saturday. Winds may shift SE Sunday behind a cold front, however exact timing this far out remains uncertain. However, no precipitation is expected through the end of the week.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 501 AM CST Mon Feb 23 2026

VFR. Winds will gradually transition to the south throughout the morning and become breezy at KCDS, KLBB, and KPVW.

LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening for TXZ021>024-027>031-033>037-039>041.