Monday, February 8, 2021

Feb. 8 21

 Area Forecast Discussion

Issued by NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

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155
FXUS64 KHGX 090252
AFDHGX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
852 PM CST Mon Feb 8 2021

.DISCUSSION...

Low ceilings are in the process of developing and once winds
decouple, the ceilings should lower to the ground and widespread
fog is expected. Will wait a bit for signs of this to occur and
will likely have a Dense Fog Advisory out by 06z or shortly
thereafter. Made some other changes in the short term, mainly for
Tuesday. A cold front over North Texas will slide south tonight
into Tuesday. The 00z NAM and the CAMs all bring the front down to
the US 59 corridor. MaxT values are going to be much cooler over
the north tomorrow and have some concern the even MaxT values for
Houston might be a little warm. Looking up stream, temperatures
at 9 PM are 10 to 20 degrees cooler than it is currently at KCLL
and temps are in the 30s in North Texas. Pressure rises look
strong enough to push the front into the CWA. Have lowered MaxT
values and brought a wind shift into the CWA for Tuesday. 43

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 639 PM CST Mon Feb 8 2021/

AVIATION...

Conditions will deteriorate overnight as low level moisture
increases beneath strong capping. With clear skies and light
winds over the northern half of the region, conditions look
favorable for radiation fog and near the coast, warmer air
overriding cooler shelf waters will produce periods of sea fog.
Would expect fog to develop near the coast between 03-06z and for
inland fog between 07-10z. A mix of IFR/LIFR expected areawide for
the morning push at area airports. Gradual improvement is expected
around 16z with modest improvement to a mix of VFR/MVFR by
afternoon. The exception is KGLS, as fog could linger for much of
Tuesday. 43

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 350 PM CST Mon Feb 8 2021/

SHORT TERM [Through Wednesday Night]...

Developing low near Abilene and an associated front along Northern
TX and Gulf Coast states. Southeasterly flow persists along the
coastal area of SETX and LA until a cold front later in the week.
The low and associated front will move southeast a bit, but will
stall right along the northern counties. Until then, the potential
for fog development will be on the rise. Moisture ridge over the CWA
developing over the area and amplifies tonight. Southerly flow will
help bring the warmer air over the area along with some extra
moisture. With that, fog development is looking promising. Coastal
counties will most likely see dense fog, but even our northern
counties will see fog late tonight, and early tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow, most of the fog should dissipate but the coastal counties
could have some lingering a bit as sea fog still remains. Low
stratus will persist most of the day with maybe some short breaks,
but not looking like an SPF50 day overall. Tomorrow night, the fog
will redevelop as the sunsets and the temperatures cool and we get
to saturation again. With the overall pattern in the area the same,
dense fog is still a possibility. Depending on how much of the
previous nights fog dissipates, or how much remains in the coastal
waters, onset could be soon for tomorrow night.  35

LONG TERM [Wednesday through Monday]...

Rain chances will be increasing on Weds...with the best POPs across
our N/NE CWA. The combination of a stalled cold front (likely close
to our northern borders) and a developing low/mid level jet as well
abundant daytime heating/low-level moisture (PWs from 1.2" to 1.4")
should support the development of scattered showers/isolated thund-
erstorms by Weds afternoon. As all/most of these features remain in
place, elevated POPs will likely persist into Weds night and Thurs.
However, the main WX story for Thurs will be the arrival/passage of
the strong cold front and the cold arctic air mass filtering down in
to the region in its wake. Did keep the mention of isolated TSRA in
for FROPA with most of this activity likely elevated. Rains will be
ending with the front from west to east by late Thurs afternoon/eve
and continuing through Thurs night.

As it has been hinted at previously, the main forecast issues going
forward will be related to the very cold air mass that`s progged to
settle over the region by the end of the week and into the weekend.
Low temperatures Fri morning should range from the mid to upper 30s
inland to the mid to upper 40s along the coast. Strong surface high
pressure building into the state from the north and persistent cold
air advection will help to keep high temperatures in the 40s/50s on
Fri. Temperatures could fall even lower for Sat/Sun by another 5 to
10 degrees for both highs and lows. As such, we could be looking at
a few nights of prolonged freezing or below freezing temperatures.
In addition to these colder temperatures, shortwaves moving across
the area from the SW will have the potential produce some low POPs
Sat/Sun/Mon. And yes, while there are hints that we could see some
frozen/wintry precipitation (per GFS extended runs), confidence not
high enough to include its mention in the grids at this time. 41

MARINE...

Light to moderate onshore winds have returned, while temperatures
and dewpoints are increasing to near and above water temperatures
across the coastal waters. This will create an environment favorable
for sea fog development, and this is expected to persist until a
cold front arrives early Thursday. At times, some of this fog may
become dense. Moderate to strong offshore winds are expected to
develop in the wake of this front, increasing seas - particularly
those closer to 60 nm offshore. Caution flags look likely at the
least, and a small craft advisory is a probable scenario.

PREV DISCUSSION /Issued 1142 AM CST Mon Feb 8 2021/...

AVIATION [18Z TAF Issuance]...

VFR conditions today with some MVFR ceilings around 030 for most TAF
site. Tonight, MVFR will turn to IFR, which  then turns to LIFR.
Foggy conditions tonight as a ridge of moisture sets up over the TAF
sites and light southerly flow brings in warm moist air. This set up
looks to remain until frontal passage Thursday morning, but fog
during the day should mix out. Low stratus during the daylight hours
will still keep most terminals at or below MVFR, before fog returns
tomorrow night. 35

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
College Station (CLL)      56  71  57  72  49 /   0   0   0  50  50
Houston (IAH)              59  75  61  77  60 /   0  10   0  40  40
Galveston (GLS)            61  68  62  69  62 /  10  10   0  20  40

&&

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

$$

Discussion...99

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