textproduct: Midland/Odessa

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 131 AM CST Sat Jan 17 2026

- Breezy conditions (15-20 mph sustained) across the Permian Basin and well below normal temperatures expected today.

- Near to below normal temperatures are forecast through much of next week behind a series of cold fronts.

- Low (10-20%) rain chances Tuesday evening through early Wednesday morning in the Big Bend, Rio Grande, and Presidio valleys. Otherwise, the forecast remains dry.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Sunday afternoon) Issued at 131 AM CST Sat Jan 17 2026

Surface high pressure behind the cold front that moved through yesterday continues to filter in colder air into the area. This yields afternoon highs in the 40s across the Permian Basin and southeast New Mexico, with 50s further south. Breezy conditions (15- 20 mph sustained), albeit less breezy than yesterday, are expected again this afternoon as surface high pressure to our northeast and low pressure to our west tightens pressure gradients. Winds become light as high pressure moves further south and clear skies promote effective radiational cooling tonight, allowing for some areas to feel the coldest low temperatures so far this season. Overnight lows are forecast to bottom out into the low 20s across the northern half of the CWA, with mid-to-upper 20s further south (teens in the Davis Mountains). Northwest flow aloft coupled with southwesterly surface winds yield warmer temperatures Sunday, with afternoon highs in the upper 50s to mid 60s. No precipitation is expected during the short term period. Greening

LONG TERM

(Sunday night through Friday) Issued at 131 AM CST Sat Jan 17 2026

Early Monday morning, another front pushes into west Texas and southeast New Mexico. As a result, highs Monday end up in the upper 40s and low-to-mid 50s across the Permian Basin and much of the Trans Pecos. Further south, temperatures top out in the 60s before the front pushes all the way through our area. By Tuesday northeasterly winds begin to veer southeasterly, but temperatures stay in the low-to-mid 50s across the area under increasing cloud cover. A low (10-20%) chance of rain is maintained for the Big Bend and Presidio Valley thanks to the presence of a disturbance aloft. However, it should be noted that a considerable number of ensemble members still depict most activity missing our area completely to the south and east. That being said, we will continue to monitor how these rain chances Tuesday evening into early Wednesday morning trend. Highs briefly warm about 3-7 degrees above normal Wednesday as winds take on a westerly downsloping component. However, the GFS and ECMWF depict yet another front pushing south into our area Wednesday evening/Thursday morning (of course, the actual arrival time is still uncertain this far out). This helps keep temperatures in the mid-to-upper 50s and low 60s (near to just below normal) through the end of the work week.

Sprang

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1049 PM CST Fri Jan 16 2026

VFR conditions forecast throughout TAF period as surface high pressure develops south into northern Permian Basin Saturday afternoon and east of the Permian Basin by Saturday evening. East/southeast winds veer to south/southeast 01Z-03Z Sunday for terminals across SE NM plains, central and Eastern Permian Basin, and Stockton Plateau, but remain more easterly for terminals on the Upper Trans Pecos. Gustiest winds forecast between 14Z-23Z Saturday and likely to remain in the 15 to 20 knot range.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Big Spring 44 21 60 27 / 10 0 0 0 Carlsbad 49 23 62 30 / 0 0 0 0 Dryden 56 25 61 31 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Stockton 53 26 65 35 / 0 0 0 0 Guadalupe Pass 46 27 53 34 / 0 0 0 0 Hobbs 44 22 60 27 / 0 0 0 0 Marfa 56 18 59 26 / 0 0 0 0 Midland Intl Airport 45 24 58 29 / 0 0 0 0 Odessa 45 25 58 30 / 0 0 0 0 Wink 48 23 62 28 / 0 0 0 0

MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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