FXUS64 KLUB 212338 AFDLUB Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lubbock TX 638 PM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 634 PM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026 - Critical fire danger is expected Sunday as a strong cold front moves through the region. - A brief cooldown is expected on Monday, but unseasonably hot weather will return Tuesday through most of next week. && .SHORT TERM... (This evening through Sunday) Issued at 134 PM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026 It's the same tune, different day. The upper high remains over the Desert Southwest. The upper high has moved just slightly east from it's previous position on Friday. This is allowing for the warmer temperatures expected this afternoon, mid/upper 90s on the Caprock and around 100 across the Rolling Plains. A surface lee trough is slowly beginning to develop per surface obs. Despite this, we should only see winds top out around 10-15 mph this afternoon with a few gusts to 20 possible as the surface pressure gradient remains relaxed. The upper high will begin to flatten this evening through tonight. During this same time a cold front will push southward from the Northern Plains and is progged to reach our northern zones by noon Sunday. Breezy conditions are expected behind the cold front with sustained winds being just below advisory criteria. Despite relative humidity increasing to 20 percent or higher behind the cold front, stronger winds will create critical fire weather danger as fuels will already be extremely dry and will be slow to respond to the increase in humidity. While temperatures will be noticeably cooler behind the front, high temps will still likely reach into the mid/upper 90s on the Caprock and around 100 across the Rolling Plains. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday night through next Friday) Issued at 134 PM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026 Monday will be an average of 20-25 degrees cooler than Sunday thanks to the cold front. Cooler temperatures will be short lived, however, as the upper high is expected to build once again by Tuesday just as surface winds veer to the south. The upper high will move eastward through mid-week and eventually settle over the Southern Plains. While this will warm highs back into the 90s, we should avoid highs near 100 as the high will be weaker than the current upper high, H588 vs H594. Even this warm up should only last through the end of the week. Models have been in fairly decent agreement with bringing another cold front into the region by late Friday/early Monday. This front will also be dry with no precip. && .AVIATION... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 634 PM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026 South to southwesterly breezes will continue this evening through tonight, with LLWS expected overnight at all TAF sites as a strong low level jet develops overhead. A cold front will pass through the region from north to south on Sunday from about midday to early afternoon. Winds will turn north-northeasterly and increase behind the front, with gusts near 30 kt likely on Sunday afternoon. VFR will prevail otherwise. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 134 PM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026 The Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 8 PM CDT this evening. Critical fire weather danger is expected area wide Sunday afternoon. A cold front will move through the region beginning at noon Sunday and will bring breezy northerly winds. 20 foot wind speeds are expected to average 20-25 mph with gusts to 35 mph. Despite relative humidity increasing to 20 percent or higher behind the cold front, extremely dry fuels will be slow to respond as ERCs remain in the 95+ percentile. The Sunday Fire Weather Watch will remain in effect for the time being. && .LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Red Flag Warning until 8 PM CDT this evening for TXZ021>044. Fire Weather Watch from Sunday morning through Sunday evening for TXZ021>044. && $$ SHORT TERM...51 LONG TERM....51 AVIATION...30