textproduct: Midland/Odessa

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1201 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026

- Red Flag Warning until 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ this evening for Southeast New Mexico and adjacent areas of West Texas. - Rain chances begin Wednesday afternoon, increasing area-wide through late Thursday night, and tapering off through Saturday afternoon.

- Warmer and drier conditions return Saturday into next week.

SHORT TERM

(This afternoon through Wednesday night) Issued at 245 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

Current satellite imagery and 17Z 500mb RAP analysis shows southwesterly flow aloft over the region associated with shortwave troughing across the Rockies extending down to the Plains. At the surface, a cold front is positioned across the Texas Panhandle slowly moving southward. Ahead of this front, breezy southwesterly/westerly winds and very warm conditions are expected this afternoon as the dryline is placed well east of the area. A low- level thermal ridge develops over the region thanks to enhanced mixing with the dryline to the east. As a result, highs are expected to climb into the upper 80s to upper 90s for most. Near-critical to critical fire weather conditions are also in store across southeast New Mexico, northern Permian Basin, and far west Texas given the very warm temperatures, dry conditions, and breezy winds.

Tonight, the aforementioned cold front arrives in the region. This will shift winds to the northeast and provide cooler temperatures for some locations across the region. Areas north of I-10 are forecast to see temperatures in the upper 70s to upper 80s, while areas along and south of I-10 span in the 90s to low 100s. A surface high pressure building into the Central Plains allows return flow by the afternoon. Thursday night, return flow persists as the dryline retreats back west while an upper-level storm system approaches Baja California. Both of these features allows increased low and upper- level moisture along with lift for showers to develop across the region late this week. More on that in the long-term discussion!

Lamberson

LONG TERM

(Thursday through Monday) Issued at 245 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

Thursday, the LREF brings the upper trough onshore in SoCal/Baja del Norte, putting West Texas and Southeast New Mexico under southwest flow aloft. At the surface, northeasterly flow will have the dryline backed up against the higher terrain, with dewpoints in the 60s as far west as western Brewster County. This increased moisture will narrow diurnal temperature ranges, and with overcast skies and CAA continuing to decrease thicknesses, highs Thursday afternoon should come in ~ 9-10 F cooler than Wednesday's. Shortwaves moving up from the southwest will open a window for showers along/east of the dryline, and chances will only increase throughout the day as large-scale ascent from the approaching trough increases. Lower temperatures will keep instability lower than it otherwise would be, so this looks more like showers instead of thunder.

Thursday night, the trough moves east into New Mexico, with convection increasing over West Texas and Southeast New Mexico, especially northeast as another shot of cold air backdoors the area. Forecast soundings increase pwats considerably, w/the NAM increasing to 1.27" at KMAF late Thursday night, 0.06" over the max percentile. The daily record is 1.14", so the potential for heavy rainfall will certainly be there.

Friday, the trough moves through West Texas and Southeast New Mexico, with excellent chances of rain continuing, especially north. This should be the coldest day this forecast as highs struggle to reach ~ 20-25 F below normal.

Showers taper off Friday night/Saturday as upper-level ridging begins re-establishing itself in the wake of the exiting trough, with a gradual warmup into next week. By Tuesday afternoon, highs should be back up to 2-4 F above normal. Grids stay dry after Saturday.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1201 AM CDT Wed Apr 29 2026

VFR conditions apart from MVFR or lower 08Z-11Z into 15Z-18Z for terminals on the eastern part of the Permian Basin and Stockton Plateau. Winds at terminals northeast of the Pecos River shift from westerly to northeast by 08Z-13Z, remain more variable for terminals over the Eddy County Plains and Upper Trans Pecos, and increase to 15 to 20 knots for most terminals by 14Z-20Z. Winds then decrease and shift to southeasterly 00Z-03Z east of the Upper Trans Pecos and Marfa Plateau, while remaining south/southwest for terminals west of the Upper Trans Pecos over the Eddy County Plains.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 245 PM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

Fire weather concerns end tonight with the arrival of the first of a series of cold fronts, set to fropa KMAF around 06Z. While warm temperatures, and consequently lower/critical relative humidity, is anticipated over the higher terrain west of the front Wednesday, the only area with 20-ft winds of concern will be the Guadalupe Mountains/southern Sacramento Foothills, and may be better suited for a RFD. Increased 20-ft winds will be a little more widespread over the higher terrain Thursday, but by then, post-frontal relative humidity will be well-above critical territory.

Cooler temperatures and potential rainfall will negate any fire weather concerns Friday into next week.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Big Spring 79 57 69 52 / 0 20 70 90 Carlsbad 90 63 78 53 / 0 10 50 80 Dryden 96 67 82 63 / 10 20 50 80 Fort Stockton 93 65 81 57 / 10 20 60 80 Guadalupe Pass 81 60 71 50 / 0 10 40 70 Hobbs 84 55 73 49 / 0 10 60 90 Marfa 88 55 81 51 / 10 10 40 60 Midland Intl Airport 84 59 71 54 / 0 10 60 80 Odessa 84 60 72 55 / 0 10 60 80 Wink 90 62 77 55 / 0 10 50 80

MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...None. NM...None.