Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Mar. 15 21

 Area Forecast Discussion

Issued by NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

Home | Current Version | Previous Version | Text Only | Print | Product List | Glossary Off
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
579
FXUS64 KHGX 160440
AFDHGX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
1140 PM CDT Mon Mar 15 2021

.AVIATION...

A mix of MVFR/IFR and LIFR ceilings are developing across SE TX.
The KHGX VWP shows winds of 20 knots at 1000 feet and the
additional bit of mixing should favor more of a low stratus deck
overnight and have leaned toward the ECMWF and LAV guidance that
favors the stratus over fog. Ceilings should begin to mix out by
16z with a SW wind in the 1000-850 mb layer. Ceilings near the
coast may never fully mix and MVFR/VFR ceilings will likely
persist for much of the day. Low stratus will redevelop tomorrow
night with a mix of mVFR/IFR ceilings developing between 00-03z.

Sea fog has developed and moved into KGLS. Visibility will likely
fall below a 1/2 mile at times and will likely persist all night.
Should get a break on Tuesday but sea fog looks again possible
tomorrow night with a mix of IFR/LIFR ceilings. 43

&&

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 351 PM CDT Mon Mar 15 2021/

SHORT TERM [Tonight through Tuesday Afternoon]...

Clear skies north and cloudy/mostly cloudy south start off the
forecast early this evening. Warm front on the coast will edge
northward tonight and light onshore flow will bring with it the
expansion of a low cloud deck across the region with fog becoming
more widespread again. Dense fog advisories will probably be needed
first near the coast then expanding inland through the late evening
hours and after midnight. Also in the short term as the warm front
meanders inland some spotty showers and even an isolated brief
thunderstorm or two will be possible mainly along and south of a
Columbus to Conroe to Liberty line through early evening.  Tuesday
will be dealing with strengthening WAA and a strong cap. Spotty
showers will be possible throughout the day initially south then
shifting north in the afternoon. Fog should dissipate a little
quicker with the expected mixing so by 9 or 10 at the latest inland.
Another warm day in the prefrontal environment and expect
temperature to pop up into the 80-85 degree range.

45

LONG TERM [Tuesday Night Through Monday]...

By late Tuesday, an upper trough/closed low will be centered over
the Four Corners region, with global models indicating its
associated surface cyclone deepening to below 1000mb. Across SE
TX, low level moisture will continue to be on the rise behind the
departure of today`s surface warm front, with PW values eventually
surging to 1.25 to 1.5 in by early Wednesday. While scattered to
isolated showers will continue to develop under this onshore flow
regime, the main weather event in the extended period continues to
be the approach of a stronger surface cold frontal boundary which
will traverse the region on Wednesday as the aforementioned
surface low pushes towards the Ozark Plateau. Global models
continue to agree in regards to the timing of this fropa, with the
boundary reaching the Brazos Valley around daybreak on Wednesday,
pushing through the metro area by early afternoon, and advancing
offshore by late afternoon.

As the front moves through the region, more widespread showers and
storms are expected to accompany its passage. The pre-fropa
environment looks fairly conducive for thunderstorm activity,
with GFS/NAM soundings indicating around 1500 J/kg of SBCAPE and
40 to 50kt EBWD showing on latest NAM/GFS model soundings. That
being said, soundings also indicate a fairly robust capping
inversion (-100 to -200 CINH) around 06 to 09Z on Wednesday, which
may prove difficult to erode with the front pushing through prior
to peak diurnal heating. SPC continues to include areas generally
west of I-45 in a marginal risk area for severe storms during
this time. In any discrete cells that form along/ahead of the
advancing front, strong winds and hail may be a risk. Those
commuting or with outdoor plans on Wednesday morning and afternoon
should keep a close eye on their conditions and be prepared to
respond to a warning if issued.

Showers and storms will diminish by late Wednesday afternoon as
the boundary pushes offshore. Moderate north to northwest winds in
its wake will allow for cooler and drier air to filter into the
region, with high temperatures returning to more seasonable values
(high 60s/low 70s into the weekend). Dominant surface
high pressure will allow for generally clear skies and pleasant
conditions during this time, with the weekend shaping up to be
more favorable for outdoor activities. By Sunday afternoon, high
pressure will push eastward and allow for a return to onshore
flow. A warming and moistening trend can be expected ahead of the
next potential frontal passage early next week.

Cady

AVIATION [18Z TAF Issuance]...

Stationary front off the coast south of PSX and stalled around
GLS...(may have just briefly pushed southeast of GLS 12-16z) but
back near Bolivar/GLS now. Temperatures on the rise and fog
dissipating so for the CXO area southward to GLS still mix of
LIFR south-improving to MVFR at CXO then SKC. The northern edge
should continue to erode southward expecting IAH/HOU/SGR to go VFR
this afternoon and persist through early evening then as warm
front intrudes inland lowering ceilings. IFR lowering into
widespread VLIFR for most terminal sites by 09z sooner closer to
the coast. Slow improvement Tuesday morning with winds becoming
southerly and by late morning/early afternoon expect gusty south
winds to take hold at 5-15 knots over the southwestern areas and
may reach into HOU/IAH after 18z Tuesday.

Spotty showers will be possible over the southern terminals
through 00z and should probably shift northward through 03z though
rapidly decreasing in coverage and intensity.

45

MARINE...

Moist southerly flow will continue overnight and expect sea fog to
return to the nearshore waters/bays tonight...probably after 9 pm
and latest by 2 am. Just a few showers this afternoon and early
evening then rain chances should diminish. Winds gradually
increasing Tuesday as LLJ develops and extends from near the Coastal
Bend arcing up into SETX so the western waters will no doubt get a
little gustier than the eastern waters. Shower and thunderstorm
chances increase as a cold front moves across SETX Wednesday and
into the coastal waters late Wednesday afternoon...the tail of the
front will likely fight against the cap and lose and so coverage of
storms looks better over the Galveston Bay area than Matagorda Bay.
Winds in the wake of the front strengthen to 15-20 knots a few hours
after FROPA.  Thursday morning NNW flow gradually veers to the NE
Thursday night/Friday and continues into Saturday. SCEC conditions
likely with seas of 5-7 feet/winds 15-20 knots with a brief period
of SCA as seas potentially reach 7 feet.

Moderate to strong persistent easterly flow Saturday night veers to
the southeast Sunday and will look for elevated tide level
impacts/rip currents/SCA conditions Sunday into Tuesday.

45

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
College Station (CLL)      61  84  63  76  47 /  10  30  60  50   0
Houston (IAH)              65  82  67  78  50 /  40  30  60  80   0
Galveston (GLS)            65  76  67  73  56 /  20  20  50  80   0

&&

.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...Dense Fog Advisory until 11 AM CDT Tuesday for the following
     zones: Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula.

GM...Dense Fog Advisory until noon CDT Tuesday for the following
     zones: Coastal waters from Freeport to Matagorda Ship
     Channel TX out 20 NM...Coastal waters from High Island to
     Freeport TX out 20 NM...Galveston Bay...Matagorda Bay.

&&

$$

Discussion...99
Aviation/Marine...99

No comments:

Post a Comment