textproduct: Midland/Odessa

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 202 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2026

- A strong cold front sweeps through the region this morning, bringing very windy conditions to the area (especially the Guadalupe Pass) and a much cooler weekend.

- Blowing dust is forecast areawide today behind the cold front, making for dangerous travel conditions (visibilities down to one mile or less expected).

- Warm temperatures and breezy conditions are forecast each afternoon through Tuesday. Temperatures cool down with the arrival of a storm system midweek.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Saturday afternoon) Issued at 221 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2026

A front is currently making its way across the Texas Panhandle this morning. In the next couple of hours, this front will start moving across northern portions of the Permian Basin and southeast New Mexico (in fact, it has already reached northern Lea County). Strong winds (with gusts up to 50-55 mph) have been measured along and behind the front. Though little in the way of blowing dust has been observed farther north so far, we still anticipate dusty conditions to accompany the stronger winds as the boundary moves across our area. As a result, no significant changes were made to the existing Wind Advisory, Blowing Dust Advisory, and the High Wind Warning for the Guadalupe Mountains. Gusty northerly to northeasterly winds will persist throughout the day today, and much cooler conditions can be expected areawide. Given the timing of the front and the continual cold air advection this afternoon, many of today's high temperatures will actually be realized early this morning as opposed to this afternoon. Temperatures remain in the 50s and low-to-mid 60s today for most locations. Farther south closer to the Rio Grande, highs in the 70s will be more commonplace.

Friday night, lows bottom out in the upper 30s and low- to-mid 40s for most. Guidance still indicates a low (10-30%) chance of light rain Friday night, though rainfall totals would be negligible with any shower that does occur. Temperatures remain below seasonal norms Saturday. Most locations top out in the mid-to- upper 60s and low 70s as return flow starts to redevelop Saturday afternoon.

Sprang

LONG TERM

(Saturday night through Thursday) Issued at 221 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2026

Saturday night, surface high pressure transitions east of our area, while a lee trough begins to take shape near the Panhandle. These steer southerly winds across our region, allowing temperatures to rebound. Saturday night will see temperatures largely in the 40s again, though our southern counties shall only slip into the 50s. Sunday, the aforementioned surface low deepens, leading to breezy southwesterly winds over the eastern Permian Basin during the afternoon. Sunday's highs are forecast to top out in the 80s (90s along the Rio Grande), with lows then falling to the 50s Sunday night. The surface low continues to deepen Monday, resulting in breezy southerly winds again Monday afternoon. Expect afternoon highs to reach into the upper 80s to 90s (over the Trans Pecos and along the Rio Grande). By Tuesday, westerly downsloping winds allow highs in the 90s to spread to include the Permian Basin. Temperatures drop back a touch Wednesday due to lowering heights associated with an approaching upper trough. Highs in the 80s become more dominant Wednesday afternoon, along with the potential of isolated (10-20%) shower development regionwide late Wednesday afternoon and evening. Thursday, highs in the 80s look to prevail.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1224 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2026

VFR conditions persist for the next 4-6 hours. By 10-12Z, a front makes its way through the area, bringing with it strong winds and BLDU. Gusts at or above 40 kts can be expected at all sites through much of the morning. Have went ahead and included TEMPO groups for all TAF sites for IFR VIS as well (with prevailing MVFR VIS). VFR conditions are expected to return later in the afternoon, though exactly when VFR VIS returns remains questionable. A broken cloud deck of 4-7 kft is still expected during the afternoon as well. Winds remain gusty through the afternoon, but gradually weaken during the evening and towards the end of the TAF period.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 221 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2026

A cold front sweeps through the area this morning, bringing gusty winds out of the north/northeast. There is a possibility of isolated critical fire weather conditions along/behind the front as the front moves through initially, particularly over southeast New Mexico and far west Texas. RH values in these locations currently remain below critical thresholds, though are expected to recover as the front pushes in. Temperatures fall below normal Friday and minRHs improve overall during the day, lowering fire weather concerns.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Big Spring 59 43 65 48 / 0 20 10 0 Carlsbad 62 45 69 44 / 0 0 0 0 Dryden 76 49 69 49 / 10 20 10 0 Fort Stockton 68 44 69 50 / 10 10 0 0 Guadalupe Pass 58 38 64 49 / 0 0 0 0 Hobbs 57 41 67 43 / 0 0 0 0 Marfa 66 33 69 38 / 0 10 0 0 Midland Intl Airport 61 43 66 49 / 0 10 10 0 Odessa 60 44 66 49 / 0 10 10 0 Wink 63 43 67 47 / 0 0 0 0

MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...Blowing Dust Advisory until 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ this evening for Andrews-Borden-Central Brewster-Chinati Mountains-Crane- Davis Mountains-Davis Mountains Foothills-Dawson-Eastern Culberson-Ector-Gaines-Glasscock-Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains-Howard-Loving- Marfa Plateau-Martin-Midland-Mitchell-Pecos-Reagan-Reeves County Plains-Scurry-Terrell-Upton-Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor-Ward-Winkler.

High Wind Warning until 7 AM CDT /6 AM MDT/ Saturday for Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains.

High Wind Watch Saturday morning for Guadalupe Mountains Above 7000 Feet-Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains.

Wind Advisory until 9 PM CDT this evening for Andrews-Borden- Central Brewster-Chinati Mountains-Chisos Basin-Crane-Davis Mountains-Davis Mountains Foothills-Dawson-Eastern Culberson-Ector-Gaines-Glasscock-Howard-Loving-Marfa Plateau-Martin-Midland-Mitchell-Pecos-Reagan-Reeves County Plains-Scurry-Terrell-Upton-Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor-Ward-Winkler.

NM...Blowing Dust Advisory until 8 PM MDT this evening for Central Lea-Eddy County Plains-Guadalupe Mountains of Eddy County- Northern Lea-Southern Lea.

High Wind Warning until 6 AM MDT Saturday for Guadalupe Mountains of Eddy County.

High Wind Watch Saturday morning for Guadalupe Mountains of Eddy County.

Wind Advisory until 8 PM MDT this evening for Central Lea-Eddy County Plains-Northern Lea-Southern Lea.