textproduct: Midland/Odessa

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 136 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

- Near to record-breaking high temperatures this afternoon through Sunday.

- Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and take frequent breaks from the heat through the weekend!

- Cold front arrives Sunday night into Monday morning, briefly cooling temperatures down before heat returns by the middle of next week.

SHORT TERM

(This afternoon through Friday night) Issued at 136 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Temperatures in near record territory await within the short term forecast period. Upper ridging centered over northwestern Mexico and the Desert Southwest remains our dominant weather maker. This feature shall drift eastward ever so slightly nearer our region through the end of the week, allowing for well above normal temperatures. Meanwhile, light southerly winds prevail at the surface. So far this afternoon, temperatures have already climbed into the 80s and are expected to max out at 91F at MAF. The daily record high to beat today is 90F, set on March 19, 2017. Lows tonight and Friday night are largely progged to dip into the 50s, with a few spots in the low 60s Friday night. Friday afternoon is on track to feature highs in the 90s, with the exception of 80s in the higher terrain. The daily record high for March 20th at MAF is 94F, set in 2017. Given a forecast high of 95F, we have a good shot at breaking this record. Needless to say, no rainfall is expected within the short term.

LONG TERM

(Saturday through Wednesday) Issued at 136 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

The upper-level ridge of high pressure expands to the east over our area by Sunday, providing an additional day of record highs being either tied or broken. Additionally, guidance continues to indicate the development of low-level thermal ridging and surface lee troughing. This yields breezy conditions (mainly across the eastern Permian Basin) and afternoon highs in the mid-to-upper 90s for most, with triple digits possible in the Trans Pecos and Big Bend region (80s in the higher terrain). There remains a medium to high (40-80%) probability of temperatures topping out above 95 degrees on Sunday across portions of southeast New Mexico and west Texas. There is also a low (20-40%) probability of temperatures reaching at least 100 degrees across portions of southeast New mexico and the Permian Basin on Sunday.

Guidance continues to depict the arrival of a cold front Sunday night into Monday, resulting in cooler temperatures and breezy conditions behind it. As such, highs are forecast to be in the upper 70s to mid 80s for most Monday afternoon. However, these cooler temperatures are short-lived as upper-level ridging amplifies over the region Tuesday, yielding a return of temperatures into the 90s for most during the middle part of next week. Dry conditions persist during the long term period. Greening

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1210 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

VFR conditions prevail, along with generally light southerly winds. Slightly breezy winds develop at FST late this evening.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Big Spring 54 96 56 97 / 0 0 0 0 Carlsbad 52 95 53 97 / 0 0 0 0 Dryden 53 94 56 96 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Stockton 58 96 60 97 / 0 0 0 0 Guadalupe Pass 59 87 60 88 / 0 0 0 0 Hobbs 50 94 53 95 / 0 0 0 0 Marfa 44 89 46 89 / 0 0 0 0 Midland Intl Airport 55 95 58 96 / 0 0 0 0 Odessa 55 94 59 95 / 0 0 0 0 Wink 52 95 53 97 / 0 0 0 0

MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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