Friday, January 8, 2021

Jan. 8 21

 Area Forecast Discussion

Issued by NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

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000
FXUS64 KHGX 082338
AFDHGX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
538 PM CST Fri Jan 8 2021

.AVIATION [00Z TAF Issuance]...

The pesky 3000ft cloud deck that has been over the northern half
of the region all day has finally began to erode and should
scatter out completely over the next few hours. So MVFR conditions
will be possible at CXO, UTS, and occasically CLL through
midnight, but then clear skies should emergy. VFR conditions will
then continue through the rest of the period with the winds
becoming light overnight and turning southeasterly through the
afternoon tomorrow. High clouds begin to stream into the area from
the west tomorrow afternoon as well.

Fowler

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION /Issued 414 PM CST Fri Jan 8 2021/...

.SHORT TERM [Today Through Saturday Afternoon]...
Mostly pleasant weather in place over the area with lingering
cloudiness over the northeastern half of the region though
steadily eroding. Northerly flow keeping it cool though and
overnight expect temperatures to fall into lower 30s well inland
to the mid 40s on the immediate coast. An upper level low over
North Carolina and WNW flow aloft over Texas with two low pressure
systems over Pacific NW and Srn CA will become our big weather
maker this weekend. Saturday here should be similar today but with
more sunshine in the morning then going into the evening the skies
should begin to cloud up as first high clouds overspread the
region with the two low pressure system starting to phase up over
NM/Nrn Mexico.
45


.LONG TERM [Saturday Night Through Friday]...

A complex precipitation event bringing the first threat of
accumulating snowfall in around two years to the greater Houston
area will take place towards the end of the upcoming weekend.
Confidence has increased in the possibility of snowfall totals of
1 to 3 inches across the northern third of the area, though the
chance for locally higher totals remains due to the potential for
frontogenetically enhanced snow banding on Sunday night.

As an upper trough digs into the Four Corners region by Sunday while
upper-level support from a jet streak over central Mexico will
induce cyclogenesis along the southwestern Gulf Coast. While the
associated surface boundary pushes towards the northern edge of the
area, a coastal low pressure system will track northeastward towards
SE Texas. PWs rise into the vicinity of 1 - 1.25in by Sunday
afternoon, with precipitation initiating as rain across the area
during this time. With temperatures dropping as the surface boundary
progresses through the region, a changeover to snow or a rain-snow
mix across the northern third of the area is expected by late
afternoon. The greatest threat for accumulating snowfall continues
to be the overnight hours of Sunday. Global models still painting
different pictures regarding p-type and overall totals, though
confidence is higher in at least some accumulation across the
northern zones. 850mb temperatures continue to show a drop-off to
around -2C or below by Sunday evening, and forecast soundings
continue to show a well-saturated column below the freezing line
across the northern third of the area. GFS remains the least
aggressive solution with minimal accumulation, while 00Z EC
continues to maintain widespread 1-3" totals north of the I-10
corridor. Latest NAM runs have continued to show a potentially
concerning trend in depicting a strong area of mid-level
frontogenesis and thereby some locally heavy snowfall totals across
the northern zones. In considering all available model data and
latest trends, have opted to forecast 1 to 3 inch totals generally
north of SH-105 though the possibility of locally higher amounts is
possible depending on mesoscale forcing. South of I-10, a cold
rainfall will persist through the entire event with some locally
heavy downpours and minor flooding in low-lying and otherwise flood-
prone areas is possible. Precipitation should taper off by late
Monday morning as the coastal low shifts into the Central Gulf.

In the wake of the departing front, a period of quieter and colder
weather is expected with daytime highs in the mid-50s to lower 60s
and overnight lows near freezing through the middle of next week.
With high pressure becoming the dominant synoptic feature, no
additional rainfall/snowfall is expected through the middle of the
coming week.

Cady


.MARINE...
Northerly winds tonight becoming easterly Saturday afternoon and
night then strengthening as a low pressure system starts to
develop over South TX and eventually moving into the Coastal Bend
region Sunday morning then pushing east through the Upper Texas
Coastal Waters late Sunday. Hazardous marine conditions will
develop with strong east and southeast winds building seas along
with rain and lowered visibility. SCA conditions are likely
Sunday through Tuesday morning and may even flirt with near gale.
Seas building to 8 to 13 feet offshore and with the earlier
easterly winds tide levels will rise and as of now it appears the
window between 9 am Sunday and 7 am Monday tide levels may rise
high enough to cause beach flooding. The associated cold front
sweeps offshore late Sunday and winds strengthen out of the north
then gradually relax late Monday.

45

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...

College Station (CLL)  34  53  39  43  30 /   0   0  20  90  60
Houston (IAH)          37  55  41  46  37 /   0   0  20  80  90
Galveston (GLS)        44  54  48  53  42 /   0   0  20  80  90

&&

.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

TX...Winter Storm Watch from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning
     for the following zones:
     Brazos...Burleson...Grimes...Houston...Madison...Trinity...Walker...Washington.

GM...Low Water Advisory until 9 AM CST Saturday for the following
     zones: Galveston Bay.


&&

$$

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