Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Jan. 19 21

Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

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000
FXUS64 KHGX 192347
AFDHGX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
547 PM CST Tue Jan 19 2021

.AVIATION [00Z TAF Issuance]...

A messy aviation forecast with MVFR to occasional LIFR conditions
through through most of the period. A weak/shallow front,
currently between KCLL and KCXO will slowly move southward, before
washing out around 06-09Z near the Houston Metro area. Behind the
front, IFR to LIFR conditions are expected along with some light
rain/sprinkles. Ahead of the frontal boundary, south to southeast
winds around 04-07 knots are expected, leading to areas of fog
overnight for terminals south of KIAH. Areas of fog will gradually
diminish by mid-late morning; but MVFR ceilings may persist
through the TAF period at all sites. 05

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION /Issued 336 PM CST Tue Jan 19 2021/...



.SHORT TERM [Wednesday Through Thursday Night]...
The day started rather warm for the southern half of the CWA with
temperatures in the mid 60s. As a result, temperatures today will
end up higher than guidance is indicating with highs in the mid-to-
upper 70s, especially with the cloud cover breaking up over much of
the CWA as dry air pushes in from the west. This drier air has also
steepened the low-level lapse rates so we`re getting moderate wind
gusts getting mixed down to the surface. For the far northern
counties, high temperatures today will depend on the speed of the
cold front currently in Central Texas. Latest high-res guidance
shows the front being on the Brazos Co./Washington Co. border around
00z. This will likely relegate high temperatures north of this to
the low 70s. The movement of the cold front is a key part of the
forecast for the next couple of days. It is expected to make it as
far as the coastline by 09z before stalling out. Winds will
transition to northeasterly after frontal passage except along the
coast where winds will be more easterly. As a result, temperatures
tonight will be a bit cooler than last night with lows in the low-to-
mid 50s. A weak area of low pressure will develop in Southern Texas
early on Wednesday and push a weak warm front through most of the
CWA by Wednesday afternoon. Southeasterly winds will make a return
at this point and so will some suitable WAA. Current thinking is
that the warm front will not move in early enough to drive afternoon
temperatures up on Wednesday, so most locations will remain under
the 70 degree mark. Wednesday night will reflect the WAA with
temperatures not dropping that much, only down into the upper
50s/low 60s. Low-to-mid 70s return for high temperatures on Thursday
as the southerly winds continue to drag in warm, moist air from the
Gulf of Mexico.

Now that was the temperature/wind impacts of the cold front. Let`s
get into its implications on the rain chances. PWATs for today are
around 1.2" across most of the CWA, but the best chance for rain
will be along the cold front since this is the only source of lift.
Jet dynamics are not favorable as we have upper-level convergence
aloft. As the front slowly moves southward this evening/overnight,
there will be less and less rain associated with it due to dry air
aloft down in the southern portion of the CWA. This is evident
around 700 mb with large dewpoint depressions and is accented by a
subsidence inversion. All of the moisture will be trapped below 750
mb for today, so only looking at light rain/drizzle. This also
creates an environment for low cloud ceilings overnight tonight. For
Wednesday, most of the rain will stay to the west of the CWA as the
weak area of low pressure develops in South Texas. Once the weak
warm front pushes through, PWATs will shoot up to 1.5"-1.8" by
Thursday morning. Theta-E values will be on the rise as well. This
will help moisten the mid-levels and remove the subsidence
inversion. As a result, moderate rain is more likely for Thursday
afternoon with forecast soundings indicating a very saturated
profile into the upper-levels. The highest chances of rain will be
further north near the frontal boundary, which as of right now looks
to be just north of the CWA. However, rain is likely to extend south
of it due to the high PWATs so went ahead and added higher POPs for
the far northern counties for Thursday afternoon. With the still
cool sea surface temperatures and warmer temperatures (and dew
points) being advected over the Gulf, sea fog will be possible
beginning tonight and likely lasting into the weekend. 26


.LONG TERM [Thursday Night Through Tuesday]...
Upper trof currently off the SoCal/Baja coast will steadily be
filling and become absorbed in the wsw flow aloft over the
Plains. South and east of this, there will be a corridor of
moisture & embedded disturbances between that & the remnant Gulf
ridging along the coast. Rain & showers should be ongoing across
northern parts of the CWA Thurs evening within this particular area
and ahead of where a weak sfc frontal boundary will be situated.
PW`s will be quite high (1.6-1.8") for this time of year, though
instability will be lacking. Models are showing some 0.75-2.5"
accumulations across n/ne parts of the region, though it`ll likely
come in the form of some steady/training light to moderate rains
over several hours so am not anticipating much of a FF risk attm.
Aforementioned frontal boundary will backdoor thru the remainder
of the area and offshore Fri night. Slightly drier airmass will
filter in Sat, but will quickly modify as the front returns north
as a warm front late Sat and Sat night. This will put us right
back in the soup...with periods of drizzle, light rain and fog
heading into Sunday. Medium range solns showing decent agreement
bringing a Pacific front into the region Monday. 47


.MARINE...
Winds and seas will continue on a slow downward trend tonight as a
weak frontal boundary sags into southeast Texas then stalls.
Patchy sea fog may develop later tonight in advance. The front
will dissipate and onshore winds will persist into Friday leading
to a better/continued risk of sea fog at times. A weak cold front
should move into the waters Friday night. Onshore winds will
quickly resume by late Saturday then strengthen. This will bring a
return of rain chances, sea fog and elevated seas into Monday
when the next front should approach the coast. 47

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...

College Station (CLL)  49  61  55  70  60 /  40  30  30  60  60
Houston (IAH)          54  67  59  73  64 /  10  10  10  30  60
Galveston (GLS)        58  64  60  68  63 /   0  10  10  20  40

&&

.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

TX...None.
GM...SMALL CRAFT SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION until 9 PM CST this evening
     for the following zones: Waters from Freeport to Matagorda
     Ship Channel TX from 20 to 60 NM...Waters from High Island
     to Freeport TX from 20 to 60 NM.


&&
 

$$ 

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