373 FXUS64 KMAF 211131 AFDMAF AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIDLAND/ODESSA TX 631 AM CDT TUE MAY 21 2013 .DISCUSSION... SEE 12Z TAF DISCUSSION BELOW. && .AVIATION... VFR CONDITIONS TO PREVAIL WITH COLD FRONT NOW MOVING THROUGH THE PERMIAN BASIN CONTINUING SOUTH THROUGH THE DAY. GUSTY NORTH WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT WILL PERSIST INTO THE AFTERNOON BEFORE DECREASING AROUND SUNSET. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 504 AM CDT TUE MAY 21 2013/ DISCUSSION... WV IMAGERY SHOWS AN UPPER TROUGH OVER NE NM...SET TO MOVE THRU THE PANHANDLES BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON. AT THE SFC...OBS SHOWED A COLD FRONT MOVING THRU SE NM/WRN LOW ROLLING PLAINS...AND WILL RESULT IN AFTERNOON TEMPS ABOUT A CAT BELOW NORMAL TODAY. MODELS DEVELOP CONVECTION ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE TROUGH AS IT SWINGS THRU THE PANHANDLES LATER TODAY...BUT ONLY GRAZES THE NE ZONES. COOLER WX WILL BE SHORT-LIVED THOUGH...AS THE SFC RIDGE QUICKLY MOVES SE...ALLOWING RETURN FLOW TO RESUME...AND A QUICK REBOUND TO ABOVE-NORMAL TEMPS WEDNESDAY UNDER A DEVELOPING RIDGE. MEANWHILE...RETURN FLOW WILL ADVECT ABUNDANT GULF MSTR INTO THE AREA...W/FORECAST DEWPOINTS OF 60F OR BETTER THRU KMAF BY 12Z THURSDAY. THURSDAY AFTERNOON...MODELS BRING THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF PERTURBATIONS THRU THE RIDGE...INITIATING CONVECTION INVOF A WEAK DRYLINE...AND EVEN MORE SO FRIDAY...WHEN MODELS BACK THE DRYLINE UP BEYOND KGDP. MODELS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT W/THIS SCENARIO FOR SEVERAL DAYS NOW...SO WE/VE INCREASED POPS...ESPECIALLY FRIDAY. BY 00Z SATURDAY...THE ECMWF INCREASES THE PWAT AT KMAF TO 1.45 INCHES...WELL-ABOVE THE 99TH PERCENTILE OF NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR...SO A DECENT SHOT AT MUCH-NEEDED RAINFALL WILL BE IN THE CARDS. SATURDAY WILL SEE ANOTHER SHOT AT CONVECTION...MAINLY OVER THE EASTERN ZONES. MODELS EVEN TRY TO REDEVELOP CONVECTION ALONG THE DRYLINE SUNDAY/MEMORIAL DAY...BUT DIFFER ON PLACEMENT...SO WE/VE KEPT GRIDS DRY THEN. FOR TEMPS...THE NAM HAS BEEN WAY TOO COLD ON LOWS...ESPECIALLY IN LIEU OF EXPECTED RETURN MOISTURE...SO WE/VE GENERALLY STAYED ABOVE GUIDANCE. HIGHS LOOK REASONABLE. && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NM...NONE. TX...NONE. && $$ 29