FXUS64 KMAF 190503 AFDMAF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 1203 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1203 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 - The sharp warming trend persists through the weekend. There is an increasing likelihood of multiple high temperature records tied or broken this week. && .SHORT TERM... (This afternoon through Thursday night) Issued at 130 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026 Water Vapor Imagery shows a ridge of high pressure located across the southwestern CONUS, bringing record high temperatures to those locations. The eastern periphery of the upper-level ridge is expected to remain over southeast New Mexico and west Texas today, allowing for afternoon highs to top out into the upper 70s to low 80s for most. Record-high temperatures are possible Thursday afternoon as the aforementioned ridge of high pressure gradually shifts east over our area, with highs in the low 90s across southeast New Mexico, the Permian Basin, and Trans Pecos. For reference, the current record high temperature at Midland International Air and Space Port (KMAF) is 90F, set back in 2017. According to the NBM and HREF-CONUS, there is a low to medium (30- 60%) chance of high temperatures topping out above 90 degrees across these regions Thursday afternoon. Greening && .LONG TERM... (Friday through Tuesday) Issued at 130 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026 The warming trend continues late this week through the weekend, with additional record-high temperatures likely to be tied or broken. This is thanks to the upper-level ridge of high pressure axis shifting over our region. With that said, highs Friday through Sunday are forecast to top out into the mid-to-upper 90s for most. Some spots in the Trans Pecos and along the Rio Grande could even see readings top out into the lower triple digits. There is a medium to high (40-80%) chance of temperatures climbing to or above 95 degrees this weekend. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and take frequent breaks to protect yourself from the heat! Guidance continues to show the development of surface lee troughing and low-level thermal ridging this weekend across west Texas and southeast New Mexico, resulting in breezy conditions across portions of these areas. Long-range guidance continues to depict the arrival of a cold front late Sunday night into Monday next week, yielding much cooler temperatures and breezy conditions behind it. However, temperatures look to remain above normal, with highs ranging from the mid 70s to mid 80s. Cluster analysis shows ridging across the western CONUS building again by Tuesday, putting west Texas and southeast New Mexico under northwest flow aloft. This means that more warmer weather can be expected by the middle of next week. Dry conditions persist through the whole forecast period. Greening && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1203 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 VFR conditions with light and variable winds at terminals throughout TAF period, with winds becoming more southerly 22Z-01Z, and these southerly winds persisting into the end of the period. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Big Spring 92 54 95 56 / 0 0 0 0 Carlsbad 93 51 95 53 / 0 0 0 0 Dryden 87 53 94 56 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Stockton 91 58 96 61 / 0 0 0 0 Guadalupe Pass 84 59 87 61 / 0 0 0 0 Hobbs 91 50 94 53 / 0 0 0 0 Marfa 86 44 89 45 / 0 0 0 0 Midland Intl Airport 90 54 95 58 / 0 0 0 0 Odessa 90 55 95 58 / 0 0 0 0 Wink 91 51 95 54 / 0 0 0 0 && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...None. NM...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...55 LONG TERM....55 AVIATION...94