textproduct: Midland/Odessa

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 122 AM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026

- A strong cold front continues to move through this morning with gusty north winds bringing much cooler temperatures and blowing dust. - Scattered showers/storms will affect Permian Basin and Lower Trans Pecos this morning.

SHORT TERM

(Today through Sunday afternoon) Issued at 122 AM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026

A strong cold front is currently moving through the region with very gusty north winds behind it. Gusts have reached near 50 mph at every reporting site so will allow the Wind Advisory to continue. Blowing dust will lower visibilities briefly so will cover with Dust Storm Advisories as the front advances south. Strong gap winds will continue in the Guadalupe Mountains so the High Wind Warning continues there. A few showers and storms are developing along the front from Andrews to Colorado City. This activity will move south clipping eastern portions of the region. Severe weather is not expected and rainfall amounts will be limited by the fast progression. Temperatures are falling behind the front into the 50s. Highs will be much cooler today only making the low 70s at best.

Winds subside overnight and temperatures fall accordingly with most locations falling into the 40s. There is even a low (20%) chance of northern portions of Lea County hitting the freezing mark. Increasing clouds will limit a warmup Sunday with highs generally around 10 degrees below normal. A few showers enter the picture late Sunday afternoon across the Big Bend as our next weather maker heads this way.

LONG TERM

(Sunday night through Friday) Issued at 122 AM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026

A weak shortwave will generate showers and an isolated thunderstorm Sunday night into Monday morning. QPF will be limited to under a tenth of an inch due to dry surface airmass. With clouds and precipitation expect another day of below normal temperatures (likely our last one for a while).

Mid level ridging builds in midweek leading to much warmer temperatures and dry conditions. Will need to monitor a developing dryline late in the week for thunderstorm chances, but most guidance keeps the boundary just east of our area.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1127 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Latest NAM buffer soundings put fropa at KHOB/KCNM at around 07Z, and clearing KFST ~ 11Z. This will likely be accompanied by a little BLDU, and we'll keep vsbys MVFR or better attm. Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail. Gusty post-frontal winds should continue through the end of the forecast period.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

Big Spring 69 41 71 49 / 0 0 0 10 Carlsbad 72 42 71 48 / 0 0 0 30 Dryden 71 52 67 52 / 30 10 20 20 Fort Stockton 71 46 68 50 / 0 0 10 30 Guadalupe Pass 62 43 61 46 / 0 0 10 20 Hobbs 69 38 71 46 / 0 0 0 20 Marfa 68 39 62 40 / 0 0 30 20 Midland Intl Airport 69 43 71 50 / 0 0 0 20 Odessa 69 43 70 51 / 0 0 0 20 Wink 72 43 71 49 / 0 0 0 30

MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

TX...High Wind Warning until 1 PM CDT /noon MDT/ this afternoon for Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains.

Wind Advisory until 10 AM CDT this morning for Andrews-Borden- Chinati Mountains-Crane-Davis Mountains-Davis Mountains Foothills-Dawson-Eastern Culberson-Ector-Gaines-Glasscock- Howard-Loving-Marfa Plateau-Martin-Midland-Mitchell-Reagan- Reeves County Plains-Scurry-Upton-Van Horn and Highway 54 Corridor-Ward-Winkler.

NM...High Wind Warning until noon MDT today for Guadalupe Mountains of Eddy County.

Wind Advisory until 9 AM MDT this morning for Central Lea-Eddy County Plains-Northern Lea-Southern Lea.