Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Jan.13 21

 Area Forecast Discussion

Issued by NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

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000
FXUS64 KHGX 132331
AFDHGX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
531 PM CST Wed Jan 13 2021

.AVIATION [00Z TAF Package]...

VFR conditions will generally persist through the duration of the
TAF package as clear skies continue through the evening. As we saw
last night, saturation near the surface may once again prove
favorable for the development of some patchy fog at LBX/CXO
between around 10Z - 14Z, though ample dry air aloft and slightly
stronger surface winds may inhibit this. For now, have taken both
sites down in visibility slightly and will monitor for potential
changes in the 06Z package.

A surface cold front remains on track to push into SE TX tomorrow,
though with limited moisture availability precipitation is not
expected. A northwesterly wind shift will occur behind the front,
around 19-20Z north of Houston, 21-22Z in the metro area, and
closer to 00Z along the coast.

Cady

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 259 PM CST Wed Jan 13 2021/

SHORT TERM [Tonight through Thursday Night]...

High pressure over the northern Gulf will bring clear skies and
cool temperatures to the region tonight. As the high drifts east,
light winds will become S-SW and low level moisture will begin to
increase. Fcst soundings show favorable conditions for some
radiation fog to develop is surface winds fully decouple. Despite
the SREF not showing much fog potential, feel some mention of
patchy fog will be needed in the weather grids for late tonight
into early Thursday. The fog will be shallow and will burn off
quickly tomorrow morning. The surface high will move toward the
eastern Gulf as low pressure over North Texas moves NE and a cold
front edges into SE TX by early afternoon. The cold front will
cross the rest of SE TX by sunset. Frontogenesis does increase in
the 850-700 mb layer on Thursday afternoon as the front crosses
the region so despite limited moisture (PW values around 0.50
inches or less), there might be enough forcing to generate a few
showers along the front. MaxT values on Thursday are a bit tricky
and will be dependent on when the front moves through the area.
850 mb temps are very warm and MaxT values could be warmer than
fcst if the front slows and cooler if the front is faster. Leaned
toward the quicker NAM/CAM guidance which brings the front through
between 18-21z. Skies will be clear in the wake of the front and
cool temperatures will prevail through Friday morning. 43

LONG TERM [Friday through Tuesday Night]...

Upper-level low system deepens across the Great Lakes, pushing
its associated front into central Gulf of Mexico by early Friday
morning. In the wake of this front, breezy to windy conditions are
expected, mainly along the coast. Thermal profiles suggest winds
generally above 30 knots at the top of the boundary layer. This
could produce wind gusts around 30 to 40 mph or greater when
mixing down to the surface. Winds will diminish late night as the
pressure gradient relaxes. With mostly clear skies and northwest
winds, another cold night is expected Friday night. Have leaned
towards the bias-corrected CONSALL to produce low temperatures
mainly from the low to mid 30s(inland) and from the mid 30s to low
40s (coastal).

Surface ridging prevails Saturday through Sunday before a coastal
low over far southeastern TX moves along the Upper TX coast by
Sunday. Precipitation-wise, not much is anticipated with this low
system. PWAT values remain less than 1.00" with better
opportunities over the Gulf waters.

The main active period arrives Tuesday and Wednesday with
potential for widespread rainfall. A strong closed upper-low will
develop and deepen over the Desert Southwest early next week,
bringing back onshore flow over the region. Persistent south to
southeast flow at the surface will result in stronger moisture
advection with PWAT values increasing greater than 1.5 inches (per
ECMWF/CMS) and even over 2.0 inches per GFS. As this happens, an
inverted surface low (or coastal low) will move through supporting
a northward lifting axis of showers and storms on Tuesday. The
better convergence zone develops late Tuesday night into Wednesday
as the associated surface front moves through; therefore, have
raised PoPs during this time-frame. 05

MARINE...

Southwest flow regime prevails tonight through Thursday afternoon
as surface high pressure moves eastward into central/eastern
Gulf. A cold front will cross the region on Thursday, approaching
the coastal waters by Thursday night. Strong north to northwest
winds are expected behind the FROPA with gusts around 35 knots or
greater at times. Elevated seas from 5 to 8 ft are also
anticipated offshore. Winds and seas will gradually diminish by
early Saturday. SCA headlines will be likely through this period.
As the front progresses eastward into central Gulf; low tide
and/or water levels conditions are expected; mainly at Galveston
Bay.

Surface high pressure builds in over south-central TX, leading to
benign weather conditions for our waters.Onshore flow returns by
early next week ahead of the next system moving through the
coastal waters Tuesday and Wednesday. This scenario will once
again bring SCA conditions with strong winds and elevated seas
along with showers and storms through late Wed. Another marine
concern will be the potential for sea fog prior to front Monday
night into Tuesday, though confidence is low at this time. 05

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
College Station (CLL)      58  39  64  36  56 /   0   0   0   0   0
Houston (IAH)              60  40  68  41  58 /   0   0   0   0   0
Galveston (GLS)            57  48  66  45  59 /   0   0   0   0   0

&&

.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...NONE.
GM...NONE.
&&

$$

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