textproduct: Midland/Odessa

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 536 PM CST Wed Jan 28 2026 - Temperatures remain below average through the end of the week.

- Another shot of cold air should arrive for the weekend.

SHORT TERM

(This afternoon through Thursday night) Issued at 1202 PM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

Current visible satellite shows an impressive snow fields remains between Midland and Amarillo today. Time lapse shows the northern Permian Basin is getting darker indicating that the snow is melting, but travel will remain hazardous for at least tonight and possibly tomorrow night as well as below freezing temperatures cause melting water to refreeze.

Temperatures across the northern basin may be held down a few degrees by the snow tomorrow which isn't entirely reflected in the current NBM guidance. Other locations to the south will warm into the 50s with 60s in the Big Bend near the Rio Grande.

LONG TERM

(Friday through Tuesday) Issued at 1202 PM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

Friday will be much like Thursday before another cold front arrives early Saturday. There is some model disagreement with how deep and cold the air is behind the front with the GFS being the strongest. The GFS may be have a better handle on the cold air since the trajectory of the upper pattern is almost due south out of Canada. Therefore if the temperature forecast for Saturday is in error it will likely be too warm with the potential for the Permian Basin, upper Trans Pecos and southeastern New Mexico failing to reach 40 degrees. Lift and moisture remain away from the area and no precipitation is expected with this front.

Temperatures should quickly rebound Sunday back to near normal with a slight warming trend continuing into early next week as highs reach the 60s for most. The models become chaotic by the middle of next week with the potential of another front and precipitation chances. This is just beyond the current forecast but something we will be keeping an eye on the next several days.

Hennig

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 536 PM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

VFR will continue through the period. Winds will remain light through early Thursday morning before turning northwesterly to northerly at 10-15 knots with a few higher gusts late Thursday morning into Thursday afternoon.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Big Spring 48 27 57 25 / 0 0 0 0 Carlsbad 44 25 51 26 / 0 0 0 0 Dryden 60 33 68 38 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Stockton 54 33 58 32 / 0 0 0 0 Guadalupe Pass 44 34 46 31 / 0 0 0 0 Hobbs 47 28 53 25 / 0 0 0 0 Marfa 58 30 60 25 / 0 0 0 0 Midland Intl Airport 51 30 56 28 / 0 0 0 0 Odessa 50 30 55 28 / 0 0 0 0 Wink 48 27 55 25 / 0 0 0 0

MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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