333
FXUS64 KEWX 172257
AFDEWX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
557 PM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026
..NEW AVIATION
KEY MESSAGES
- NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS CONTINUE TODAY FOR
PORTIONS OF THE RIO GRANDE, SOUTHERN EDWARDS PLATEAU, HILL
COUNTRY, AND I-35 CORRIDOR.
- A WARMING TREND CONTINUES THROUGH THIS WEEK WITH RECORD HIGHS
POSSIBLE FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND.
SHORT TERM
(TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT)
ISSUED AT 1252 PM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026
NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS CONTINUE TODAY AS SOUTHERLY
LOW LEVEL FLOW CONTINUES ACROSS THE AREA LEADING TO LOW RH VALUES.
ADDITIONALLY, DRY TO CRITICALLY DRY FUELS EXIST ACROSS MOST OF
THE AREA HELPING TO ENHANCE THE FIRE WEATHER THREAT. WE SHOULD SEE
LOWS TONIGHT BE SOMEWHAT WARMER THAN LAST NIGHT ALONG WITH DECENT
MOISTURE RECOVERY AS THE HIGH PRESSURE OVER US THE PAST COUPLE
DAYS DEPARTS OFF TO THE EAST. EXPECT LOWS TONIGHT UNDER PARTLY
CLOUDY SKIES TO REMAIN IN THE LOW TO MID 40S. WE CONTINUE OUR SLOW
WARMUP INTO WEDNESDAY AS WE START TO BECOME INFLUENCED BY A DEEP
RIDGE OUT OVER THE DESERT SOUTHWEST. MID LEVEL WINDS WILL REMAIN
NORTHERLY WHILE WE CONTINUE TO SEE SOUTHERLY WINDS AT THE LOWER
LEVELS THUS HELPING TO KEEP OUR AREA IN A DRIER PATTERN. AS SUCH,
HIGHS ON WEDNESDAY SHOULD REMAIN IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S WITH LOW
80S ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE PLAINS. EXPECT EVEN WARMER OVERNIGHT
LOWS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS SOUTHERLY FLOW CONTINUES WITH LOWS IN THE
LOW 50S ALONG WITH INCREASING MOISTURE ONCE AGAIN ACROSS THE AREA.
LONG TERM
(THURSDAY THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY)
ISSUED AT 1252 PM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026
OUR WARMING TREND CONTINUES FOR THE LONG TERM AS A STRONG THERMAL
RIDGE CONTINUES TO SLOWLY PUSH EASTWARD FROM THE DESERT
SOUTHWEST. WE WILL BEGIN TO FEEL ITS INFLUENCE BY THURSDAY AND
ESPECIALLY OVER THIS WEEKEND AS THE RIDGE WILL BE CENTERED JUST
OFF TO OUR WEST ACROSS WEST TX. STRONG SURFACE HEATING WILL ALLOW
TEMPS TO RAMP UP INTO THE UPPER 80S THURSDAY AND INTO THE LOW TO
MID 90S OVER THE WEEKEND. IN FACT, SOME RECORDS AT SAN ANTONIO
AND AUSTIN MAY BE IN JEOPARDY AS THIS UNSEASONABLY WARM AIRMASS
CONTINUES. THERE REMAINS LITTLE CHANCE OF A COOLDOWN BEYOND THIS
WEEKEND EVEN AS GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO INDICATE A WEAK COLD FRONT
TRYING TO PUSH THROUGH THE AREA. HOWEVER, WITH THE STRENGTH OF
THIS RIDGE JUST TO OUR WEST, TEND TO LEAN TOWARDS THE RIDGE
WINNING OUT AND THUS OUR AREA STAYING WARM AND WELL ABOVE NORMAL
FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, WE REMAIN DRY WITH NO CHANCE
OF RAIN IN SIGHT THROUGH THE NEXT 7 DAYS.
AVIATION
(00Z TAFS)
ISSUED AT 549 PM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026
VFR CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST FOR THE AREA TERMINALS THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING. SOUTHERLY WINDS OF 8 TO 13 KNOTS ALONG THE
I-35 SITES EARLY THIS EVENING TO BECOME 8 KNOTS OR LESS OVERNIGHT
INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. FOR KDRT, 14 TO 16 KNOTS WITH GUSTS UP TO
21 KNOTS ARE FORECAST THROUGH EARLY EVENING BEFORE SUBSIDING TO
10 KNOTS OR LESS AT 05Z WED. SOUTHERLY WINDS PICK BACK UP TO 10-12
KNOTS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
FIRE WEATHER
ISSUED AT 1252 PM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026
VERY DRY AIR PERSISTS WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES OF 5-20
PERCENT NOTED ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON BREEZY SOUTHERLY
WINDS WILL BE STRONGEST ALONG AND WEST OF THE I-35 CORRIDOR WHERE
20 FT SUSTAINED WINDS OF 10-20 MPH ARE FORECAST THIS AFTERNOON. A
FIRE DANGER STATEMENT IS IN EFFECT FOR THOSE AREAS THROUGH 8 PM
THIS EVENING FOR THESE NEAR-CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
CLIMATE
ISSUED AT 1252 PM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026
RECORD | FRIDAY | SATURDAY | SUNDAY |
(03/20) (03/21) (03/22)
AUS | 92 (1976) | 90 (1952) | 98 (1971) |
ATT | 91 (1976) | 91 (1952/1917) | 96 (1971) |
SAT | 93 (1976) | 94 (1904) | 96 (1971) |
DRT | 96 (1932) | 93 (1916/1907) | 96 (1995) |
PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS
AUSTIN CAMP MABRY 67 45 80 53 / 0 0 0 0
AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTL AIRPORT 66 41 79 50 / 0 0 0 0
NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AIRPORT 65 41 78 50 / 0 0 0 0
BURNET MUNI AIRPORT 65 43 78 51 / 0 0 0 0
DEL RIO INTL AIRPORT 70 46 81 53 / 0 0 0 0
GEORGETOWN MUNI AIRPORT 66 43 79 52 / 0 0 0 0
HONDO MUNI AIRPORT 67 41 78 49 / 0 0 0 0
SAN MARCOS MUNI AIRPORT 66 41 79 50 / 0 0 0 0
LA GRANGE - FAYETTE REGIONAL 65 42 78 50 / 0 0 0 0
SAN ANTONIO INTL AIRPORT 66 44 78 53 / 0 0 0 0
STINSON MUNI AIRPORT 67 43 79 52 / 0 0 0 0
EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
NONE.
SHORT TERM...CJM
LONG TERM....CJM
AVIATION...17
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