Here is your updated forecast from the KLBK First Warning Weather Center as of Sunday evening:
Short Term Forecast:
It was a windy and very warm Sunday across the South Plains and the Rolling Plains. Highs ranged from the lower to upper 70s on the Caprock, with lower 80s across the Rolling Plains. Lubbock’s official high this afternoon was 78° at the airport. You can think the gusty southwesterly wind for the warm weather. It’ll stay breezy tonight with lows falling only in the upper 40s and lower 50s across the area. Expect a partly cloudy sky this evening, then we’ll become mostly cloudy overnight. The sky will become partly cloudy on Monday, but we’ll have another windy and warm day on tap. Highs will warm into the middle 70s (if not warmer) with a southwesterly wind 15-30 mph, with wind gusts up to 40 mph. Despite the fact we had rain a few days ago, some blowing dust will be possible.
Extended Forecast:
We’ll squeeze out one more warm and breezy day on Tuesday with highs in the upper 60s before a cold front arrives dropping highs back into the lower to middle 40s on Wednesday. We’ll climb back into the lower 50s on Thursday. Daytime highs will warm back into the lower 60s on Friday. Middle 60s return by next weekend.
Overnight lows will be in the 40s Monday night and into Tuesday morning. It’ll be colder Wednesday and Thursday morning with lows back into the 20s. Morning lows will climb back into the 30s Friday and over the weekend.
I’ll keep the forecast dry for the first half of the week as it appears the dryline should be well to our east, despite some models showing it holding in place over the Rolling Plains. I’ve introduced a small rain chances on Thursday and Friday as model data looks a little more reasonable for precipitation Thursday evening and into Friday. The dryline will also be in the vicinity, so that could play a role in the amount of rain chances. If the dryline stays farther east, we’ll be stuck in the dry air and that would kill our rain chances. We’ll have to wait and see at this point.
Drought Update:
The latest update of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows severe to extreme stage drought conditions are in place across the northern and central counties of the South Plains and the Rolling Plains. Severe stage drought conditions are in place across the southern counties of the South Plains and Rolling Plains, as well as the northern Permian Basin. U.S. Drought Monitor updates are released each Thursday.
Lubbock Climate Data for Monday, February 19:
Sunrise: 7:27 a.m.
Sunset: 6:35 p.m.
Normal High: 60°
Normal Low: 31°
Record High: 85° (2016)
Record Low: 2° (1978)
Your KLBK First Warning Forecast:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, breezy and warmer. Lows in the upper 40s and lower 50s. Southwesterly wind 15-20 mph.
Monday: Mostly cloudy in the morning, then partly cloudy the rest of the day. Windy and warmer with highs in the middle 70s. Southwesterly wind 15-30 mph. Higher gusts possible at times.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy with lows in the middle 40s. Southwesterly wind 15-20 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny and a little cooler. Highs in the upper 60s. Southwest wind 10-20 mph.
Have a a great week!
Meteorologist Chris Whited
KLBK First Warning Weather
cwhited@klbk13.tv
Facebook: Meteorologist Chris Whited
Twitter: @severewxchaser