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Forecast Discussion for Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
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020 FXUS64 KFWD 131049 AFDFWD Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 549 AM CDT Fri Mar 13 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... - A strong cold front will arrive on Sunday bringing gusty north winds, sharply colder air, and a low chance for a few storms in East Texas. - Fire weather concerns may increase behind the front on Sunday afternoon amid the strong winds and decreasing humidity. - Much colder weather will settle in Sunday night into Monday, followed by a quick warm-up and dry conditions by midweek. && .SHORT TERM... (Today and tonight) Issued at 159 AM CDT Fri Mar 13 2026 A quiet but steadily warming pattern will take hold through the short term as surface high pressure shifts east and lee troughing deepens across the High Plains. This will maintain southerly return flow through this afternoon while mid-level ridging builds overhead, favoring broad subsidence and a dry column. Full insolation under mostly clear skies will support strong boundary layer warming this afternoon. Forecast highs were nudged a few degrees above the NBM across parts of the west and southwest where deeper mixing and more aggressive dewpoint mix-out should allow temperatures to outperform NBM guidance. Farther east, low-level moisture recovery (though marginal) may temper heating just enough to keep temperatures in the mid 70s this afternoon. Continued southerly flow Friday night should prevent as strong a temperature drop as we`ve seen the last few nights, with lows in the upper 40s to low 50s. && .LONG TERM... (Saturday through Thursday) Issued at 159 AM CDT Fri Mar 13 2026 Warm advection will continue Saturday beneath a strengthening ridge aloft, with the warmest temperatures west of Highway 281 where deeper mixing and a drier boundary layer should allow highs to climb the most efficiently. The pressure gradient will tighten through the weekend as lee cyclogenesis strengthens across the Central Plains, leading to breezier south winds by Saturday evening, especially as a nocturnal low-level jet develops. Even with that stronger return flow, the quality and depth of moisture recovery remain the key thermodynamic questions heading into Sunday, with the richer moisture axis still most likely to remain displaced to the east and southeast. Sunday continues to be the most active weather period in the forecast. A highly amplified pattern will be in place with a deep eastern CONUS trough and stout western U.S. ridge supporting a rapidly deepening surface low lifting toward the Great Lakes. In response, a strong cold front will surge south through the Plains and across North and Central Texas. The exact timing of this FROPA is the most important mesoscale detail in the forecast, as it will determine not only Sunday temperatures, but also the timing and magnitude of the post-frontal winds and the narrow window for convection. For much of the CWA, the diurnal curve will be skewed towards the morning with temperatures rising efficiently ahead of the boundary early before falling sharply in its wake. This still looks like a strongly forced but only modestly unstable setup locally. Frontal ascent and kinematic support will be more than sufficient, but the warm sector may be hampered by limited moisture return, a warm layer aloft, and a short residence time for richer boundary layer moisture ahead of the front. This suggests a more conditional severe weather setup, with confidence in widespread convection remaining lower than confidence in strong winds and a sharp temperature drop. Most of the region is most likely to experience primarily a frontal wind shift with strong cold advection and more than likely no rainfall. East Texas may have the best chance to briefly overlap stronger frontal forcing with modest moisture. If moisture recovery is a little more efficient Sunday morning, especially across the eastern third of the CWA, a narrow band of convection could accompany the front with damaging winds as the primary hazard. Outside of convection, non-thunderstorm winds will likely be the dominant concern, and a Wind Advisory may ultimately be needed as strong cold advection, pressure rises, and deep post-frontal mixing support sustained north winds near advisory criteria with higher gusts. Fire weather concerns may also re-emerge quickly behind the front if rainfall remains sparse and RH falls father than currently forecast. The cold shot behind the front will be sharp but brief. Sunday night into Monday morning will feature a much colder and drier airmass with lows in the 30s areawide and wind chills of greater concern by daybreak. It will feel like it is in the teens and 20s so dress appropriately before heading out. Monday will remain cool and breezy before surface high pressure settles overhead Monday night into early Tuesday, setting up another cool start and at least some light freeze potential across several of our Red River counties as well as other favored rural locations. By Tuesday afternoon, attention shifts back to fire weather concerns as the post-frontal airmass dries and winds begin turning back to the south. Even with the cooler antecedent air, receptive fuels, low humidity, and persistent wind may support elevated fire weather conditions west of I-35. Thereafter, the pattern becomes more amplified again as heights rise and the western ridge expands eastward. Once the surface high shifts east, return flow will redevelop and temperatures should rebound quickly to above normal by midweek with dry weather continuing through late week. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 532 AM CDT Fri Mar 13 2026 VFR conditions will continue at all TAF sites through the period. A steady south wind is already in place this morning and should persist through the day and into tonight, generally remaining in the 10 to 15 knot range. Aside from a few passing high clouds, sky cover will remain minimal with no meaningful aviation impacts anticipated. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Issued at 127 AM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026 Spotter activation is not expected at this time. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Dallas-Ft. Worth 78 53 82 62 / 0 0 0 0 Waco 78 52 82 61 / 0 0 0 0 Paris 74 49 78 59 / 0 0 0 0 Denton 76 49 82 60 / 0 0 0 0 McKinney 75 51 80 61 / 0 0 0 0 Dallas 78 54 83 62 / 0 0 0 0 Terrell 76 51 80 60 / 0 0 0 0 Corsicana 78 53 83 62 / 0 0 0 0 Temple 79 51 83 61 / 0 0 0 0 Mineral Wells 82 49 87 61 / 0 0 0 0 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && $$ SHORT TERM...12 LONG TERM....12 AVIATION...12 |
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