FXUS64 KMAF 201830 AFDMAF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Midland/Odessa TX 130 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 130 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 - Near- to record-breaking high temperatures through Sunday. - A cold front sweeps through the region Sunday night/Monday morning, bringing a brief cool down on Monday before another warm up by the middle of next week. - Elevated to near-critical fire weather conditions expected this weekend, particularly on Sunday. && .SHORT TERM... (This afternoon through Saturday night) Issued at 130 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 A potent upper-level ridge centered over the Desert Southwest is evident on water vapor satellite imagery this afternoon. Because of this ridge, unseasonably warm temperatures dominate the Short Term period. Highs in the mid-to-upper 90s are forecast for both today and Saturday across west Texas and southeast New Mexico, with some locations (particularly along the Rio Grande) approaching 100. Overnight lows both tonight and Saturday night only fall into the 50s and low 60s areawide. We are still anticipating a couple of records to fall or else be tied this weekend at KMAF. The forecasted high at KMAF for today is 96 degrees and for tomorrow is 98 degrees. The current record for March 20th is 94 degrees, and the current record for the 21st is 96. All that to say, the record highs for both today and tomorrow at MAF are well-within reach! Otherwise, very dry conditions persist today and Saturday, though winds remain relatively light. Sprang && .LONG TERM... (Sunday through Thursday) Issued at 130 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 The long term period begins with another record high setting day due to southwesterly downslope flow, low-level thermal ridging, and persistent upper-level ridging. Lee troughing is expected to increase winds, bringing near-critical fire weather conditions (also thanks to very low minimum relative humidity values and record heat) across the eastern Permian Basin and Lower Trans-Pecos region Sunday afternoon. A brief cool down is forecast on Monday as a cold front sweeps through the area Sunday night into early Monday morning. This yields afternoon highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s for most on Monday, with 90s along the Rio Grande. Winds will also become a bit breezy behind the front, with sustained winds of 10-20 mph expected (stronger in the higher terrain and mainly in the morning). By Tuesday, the upper-level ridge begins to build eastward, bringing additional chances of record high temperatures next week. Guidance shows the ridge becoming centered over the region by Thursday, increasing temperatures even more. Overnight lows in the 50s and 60s for most are forecast each night and dry conditions persist through the end of the period. Greening && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1222 PM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 VFR conditions prevail. Southerly winds remain light through the period, although winds become breezy at FST tonight (generally sustained between 13-18 knots). && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Big Spring 57 98 60 98 / 0 0 0 0 Carlsbad 52 97 55 98 / 0 0 0 0 Dryden 55 96 56 97 / 0 0 0 0 Fort Stockton 61 98 64 99 / 0 0 0 0 Guadalupe Pass 60 88 61 89 / 0 0 0 0 Hobbs 53 95 55 97 / 0 0 0 0 Marfa 46 88 47 91 / 0 0 0 0 Midland Intl Airport 58 96 60 98 / 0 0 0 0 Odessa 59 95 60 98 / 0 0 0 0 Wink 54 97 54 99 / 0 0 0 0 && .MAF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...None. NM...None. &&$$ SHORT TERM...13 LONG TERM....55 AVIATION...13