textproduct: Midland/Odessa

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 115 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026 - Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening, mainly in/around the Davis Mountains of West Texas.

- Above normal temperatures return Saturday, and continue through next week. Highs during the middle part of next week should average around 10 F above normal, making it feel more like early July than mid May.

SHORT TERM

(This afternoon through Saturday night) Issued at 115 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

WV imagery this afternoon shows the upper trough over northern Chihuahua, and this feature is set to very slowly traverse the Davis Mountains/Big Bend Area later this afternoon and tonight, opening a window for convection, which CAMs concentrate in the Davis Mountains. Return flow will continue advecting rich Gulf moisture into the area, adding 3-4 F to overnight minimums, pushing them to ~ 3-4 F above climatology.

Saturday, dry, northwesterly flow aloft develops in the wake of the exiting trough, with thicknesses continuing to increase under mostly sunny skies. Highs will top out ~ 5-10 F above normal, around 6-8 F warmer than today, and putting most locations solidly in the 90s.

With these warmer temperatures, continued return flow, and a 35 kt LLJ developing, lows Saturday night should come in 4-5 F above tonight's.

LONG TERM

(Sunday through Thursday) Issued at 115 PM CDT Fri May 8 2026

A cold front sweeps into our region Sunday morning, driven by an upper trough spanning from the northern Plains to the northeastern CONUS. Breezy north and northeast winds are expected behind the front. Highs in our northern counties and the higher elevations are forecast to reach the 80s Sunday afternoon, the triple digits along the Rio Grande, and the 90s elsewhere. As the trough shifts eastward late Sunday afternoon into Sunday night, an embedded shortwave may allow for some isolated shower/storm development within our easternmost counties. Rain chances are currently low (10-30%) Sunday afternoon and evening. Surface high pressure sets up behind the cold front overnight Sunday, keeping cool air flowing into our region. Temperatures Sunday night fall to the 50s/60s, then warm to the 80s Monday. Upper ridging builds from the west through the remainder of the Long Term period, with lee troughing developing over the Plains early Tuesday morning. Afternoon highs soar into the 90s for most each afternoon, with overnight lows generally in the 60s.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1139 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

Satellite imagery shows the stratus deck steadily eroding, albeit slowly. After this scatters out, VFR conditions should prevail for the remainder of the forecast period. Forecast soundings develop a few cu invof KFST this afternoon as the upper trough moves in, and a high cloud or two is possible, as well. Otherwise, winds remain light/variable.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Big Spring 60 92 66 89 / 0 0 0 10 Carlsbad 56 95 62 89 / 0 0 0 0 Dryden 62 89 64 97 / 10 0 0 0 Fort Stockton 58 93 64 96 / 10 0 0 0 Guadalupe Pass 57 85 63 83 / 0 0 0 0 Hobbs 55 92 59 85 / 0 0 0 10 Marfa 47 87 52 91 / 10 0 0 0 Midland Intl Airport 60 91 66 89 / 0 0 0 10 Odessa 60 91 66 89 / 0 0 0 10 Wink 58 93 62 91 / 0 0 0 0

MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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