National Weather Service Raw Text Product

342 
FXUS64 KCRP 151829 AAA
AFDCRP

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX
129 PM CDT Fri Mar 15 2019

.DISCUSSION...

Updated to extend the Small Craft Advisory to the southern bays
until 21z based on recent observations/deterministic model 
output. Note Aviation discussion below corresponding to the 18z 
TAFs.

&&

.AVIATION...

Predominate VFR conditions expected during the period, except for
brief MVFR ceilings near isolated showers generally 12-16z
Saturday over the southern Coastal Bend. Moderate/breezy north
wind this afternoon will transition to light overnight/early
Saturday.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 634 AM CDT Fri Mar 15 2019/ 

DISCUSSION...Updated forecast for the near shore marine to
include mention of slight chance of thunderstorms this morning.
See Aviation section for 12Z TAFs.

AVIATION...VFR conditions are expected to continue through the 
period. Mid level clouds will continue to increase through the day.
Reinforcing high pressure has arrived early this morning with 
gusty north-northeast winds over the coastal plains. The winds 
will gradually subside by the afternoon. Isolated showers could 
affect the coastal areas this morning. Better chance for showers 
will be possible during the evening and nighttime hours over the 
Coastal Bend as an upper level disturbance moves across. These 
showers could provide brief MVFR vsbys this evening and overnight.
Ceilings are expected to remain above 3 kft.

PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 430 AM CDT Fri Mar 15 2019/ 

SHORT TERM (Today through Saturday)...

Surface high pressure continues to build south toward the region
this morning with windy conditions already occurring along the
coast. Latest MSAS analysis shows the secondary surge of colder
air moving south through central Texas and expect this air mass
will be in the area before daybreak. 

Weak impulse in the southwest flow aloft is interacting with 
elevated moisture to provide isolated showers along the coast and 
scattered showers over the Gulf waters early this morning and will
continue for today. Isolated thunderstorms are expected to be 
offshore where mid level lapse rates are steeper. Another short 
wave trough will move into the region tonight, with MOS guidance 
and HRRR/Texas Tech WRF showing a bit better coverage of showers 
for the coastal plains into the waters. Adequate moisture and weak
impulses in the southwest flow aloft will keep a chance of rain 
in the forecast for Saturday for the coastal plains.

Temperatures will be quite cool over the next couple of days
as high pressure moves into the region and cloud cover remains in
place. Highs will be 60-65 today and 55-60 on Saturday.

Tide levels are running around 1.25 feet above expected early this
morning. Wave watch models shows swells of 6 to 8 feet moving
toward the coast today. ETSS and P-ETSS are showing the tide
levels at Bob Hall Pier reaching 1.8 feet this afternoon around
the time of high tide. But ETSS/P-ETSS are not showing the anomaly
as high as it is currently. So will go on the safe side and issue
a Coastal Flood Advisory for this afternoon for the beaches south
of Port Aransas with minor tidal overflow expected here.

Wave watch model shows higher swells impacting the Middle Texas
coast. Even though the winds are alongshore with north-northeast
winds, swells with high periods will provide a moderate risk of
rip currents for Gulf facing beaches today through Saturday.

LONG TERM (Saturday Night through Friday)...

A reinforcing surge of high pressure will help to keep temps cool on 
Sunday with much of the region struggling to reach the mid 60s. Lows 
will fall into the mid 40s to mid 50s Sunday and Monday night. Winds 
will remain out of the north-northeast to kick off the work week. An 
upper level disturbance will help to keep us cloudy throughout the 
weekend with best chance for precip along the coast and over the 
waters. Another upper level disturbance will slide just south of the 
region early next week. Could see some showers with this feature as 
PWATs will be around 1.3" across the Southern Coastal Bend and over 
the Gulf waters. 

We begin to dry out mid week as a mid level ridge builds in 
overhead. As onshore flow returns, moisture will begin to pool along 
the Rio Grande. Model soundings hint at PWATs reaching ~1.5" towards 
the end of the work week. The forecast then becomes a bit tricky. An 
upper level low will form across the southwest U.S. late Thursday 
into early Friday. Models vary right now on location and timing on 
this feature. The GFS is the fastest right now with the low lifting 
to the NE out of Texas Friday evening. The Euro lags by a good bit. 
An associated cold front will swing across the state towards the end 
of the period. Showers and thunderstorms will be likely as low level 
moisture pools (PWATS ~1.25") and instability increases (MLCAPE 
~1500 J/kg) ahead of the boundary.

After a cooler start to the week, temps will rebound into the mid 
70s by Thursday as onshore flow strengthens and skies clear.

MARINE... 

Strong offshore flow will continue over the Gulf waters today as 
high pressure builds into the area. Wind gusts will be near gale 
over the offshore waters. Winds are expected to subside for the 
bays by this afternoon and for the near shore waters by this 
evening. Extended the SCA for the offshore waters through tonight 
as elevated seas will be slow to subside and a strong north to 
northeast flow will likely continue over this region into
Saturday. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will be
possible today through Saturday as upper level impulses in the
southwest flow aloft move across the waters.

A series of upper level disturbances will maintain rain chances over 
the waters early next week. Weak to moderate northeast flow will 
continue through mid week before winds gradually veer to the east. 
Onshore flow will strengthen ahead of an approaching low pressure 
system late next week leading to likely SCA conditions. Although the 
threat does not look as high as over the next couple of days, we 
could see another round of minor coastal flooding Saturday night 
(ESTOFS/P-ETSS output indicates water levels nearing 2ft).

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Corpus Christi    47  56  48  62  50  /  40  30  30  30  10 
Victoria          45  55  45  63  45  /  20  20  20  20  10 
Laredo            48  57  46  62  49  /  10  10  20  10  20 
Alice             46  56  46  61  46  /  30  30  30  20  10 
Rockport          47  56  50  63  52  /  40  30  30  30  10 
Cotulla           46  56  43  63  46  /  10  10  20  10  10 
Kingsville        47  56  48  62  49  /  30  30  30  20  20 
Navy Corpus       49  57  53  63  56  /  40  30  30  30  10 

&&

.CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...Coastal Flood Advisory until 6 PM CDT this evening For the 
     following zones: Kleberg Islands...Nueces Islands.

GM...Small Craft Advisory until 7 AM CDT Saturday For the following 
     zones: Waters from Baffin Bay to Port Aransas from 20 to 60 
     NM...Waters from Port Aransas to Matagorda Ship Channel 
     from 20 to 60 NM.

     Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM CDT this afternoon For the 
     following zones: Bays and Waterways from Baffin Bay to Port 
     Aransas.

     Small Craft Advisory until 7 PM CDT this evening For the 
     following zones: Coastal waters from Baffin Bay to Port 
     Aransas out 20 NM...Coastal waters from Port Aransas to 
     Matagorda Ship Channel out 20 NM.

&&

$$

WC/87...AVIATION