textproduct: Midland/Odessa

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 345 AM CST Thu Jan 15 2026

- A series of cold fronts will intrude upon West Texas and Southeast New Mexico into next week, resulting in a roller coaster of temperatures.

- Today will be the warmest day this forecast. The first cold front arrives Friday, and Saturday will be the coldest day this forecast. Saturday night will be the coldest night.

- The only opportunity for precipitations will be a slight chance of rain showers Tuesday/Tuesday evening in the Presidio Valley and Big Bend Area.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Friday afternoon) Issued at 345 AM CST Thu Jan 15 2026

WV imagery this morning shows dry, northwest flow aloft over West Texas and Southeast New Mexico, which will persist through Friday.

Today, surface troughing from Manitoba to the Texas Panhandle will induce southwesterly surface winds over the area. This will combine with mostly sunny skies to yield the warmest day this forecast, as highs top out over 15 F above climatology.

Tonight, winds will begin backing ahead of an approaching cold front. Despite mostly clear skies promoting efficient radiational cooling, this will be largely negated by a southwesterly LLJ of 35 kts or better. Overnight minimums will average almost 10 F above normal.

Friday, the aforementioned cold front arrives, w/NAM buffer soundings putting fropa at KMAF at around 14Z. This front is dry, but rather strong, and will take highs Friday afternoon all the way down to normal, if not a degree below, w/50s in the north and 60s in the south.

LONG TERM

(Friday night through Wednesday) Issued at 345 AM CST Thu Jan 15 2026

Saturday, a secondary cold front bangs the region, taking highs even lower, resulting in what should be the coldest day this forecast. Highs will struggle to reach a couple of degrees below normal, w/the northeast zones staying in the 40s.

Saturday night, although surface winds veer back to return flow, they'll go light, as well, combining w/mostly clear skies to allow lows to plunge into the 20s for most of the area, averaging around 5 F below normal. Lows Sunday morning will be the coldest temperatures this forecast.

Sunday, temperatures make a valiant attempt to recover, only to be foiled by a tertiary cold front arriving late Sunday night/Monday. This will not be quite as strong as the first two cold fronts, but close enough. Temperatures will decrease through Tuesday afternoon, coming in only a couple of degrees warmer than Saturday. Highs make a big recovery Wednesday, with highs similar to today. Thursday looks just a skosh warmer than today, but is out of the scope of this forecast.

The long term looks dry except for Tuesday/Tuesday evening, when models (mainly the GFS) bring a shortwave through the Presidio Valley/Big Bend Area, for a slight chance of rain showers. Stay tuned.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 345 AM CST Thu Jan 15 2026

VFR conditions will prevail next 24 hours, with a couple of high clouds late Thursday night. Modest southerly winds will veer to west w/the approach of a cold front.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Big Spring 70 37 56 27 / 0 0 0 0 Carlsbad 70 39 57 28 / 0 0 0 0 Dryden 71 41 67 33 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Stockton 73 42 59 33 / 0 0 0 0 Guadalupe Pass 59 38 54 32 / 0 0 0 0 Hobbs 68 38 55 25 / 0 0 0 0 Marfa 64 30 61 22 / 0 0 0 0 Midland Intl Airport 69 39 56 29 / 0 0 0 0 Odessa 68 40 55 29 / 0 0 0 0 Wink 70 36 57 28 / 0 0 0 0

MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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