Here is your updated forecast from the KLBK First Warning Weather Center as of Sunday evening:

It was a beautiful afternoon across the South Plains and the Rolling Plains on this Sunday. Highs topped out in the 60s and lower 70s across the area. The good news is we only had a light breeze today. As expected, many locations had another light freeze this morning. It will be milder tonight across the area, with lows dropping into the lower to middle 40s. The sky will remain clear to mostly clear this evening and tonight. The wind will return on Monday, along with warmer weather across the area. Highs will climb into the lower to middle 80s under a sunny to mostly sunny sky. There is a critical wildfire danger across the South Plains and the Rolling Plains on Monday. 

Fire Weather Concerns Monday & Tuesday:
The National Weather Service in Lubbock has issued Red Flag Warning for Bailey, Briscoe, Castro, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Hall, Hockley, Kent, King, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Motley, Parmer, Stonewall  Swisher, Terry and Yoakum County from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM Monday.

The National Weather Service in Midland has issued a Red Flag Warning for Borden, Dawson, Gaines and Scurry County from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM Monday. 

The National Weather Service in Lubbock has issued a Red Flag Warning for Bailey, Briscoe, Castro, Cochran, Cottle, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Hall, Hockley, Kent, King, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Motley, Parmer, Stonewall  Swisher, Terry and Yoakum County from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM Tuesday.

Extended Forecast:
Warmer weather will return to the South Plains and the Rolling Plains on Monday with highs in the middle to upper 80s. It’ll be even warmer on Tuesday with lower to middle 90s expected. Highs will drop back middle 70s for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We’ll fall back into lower 70s by Saturday and Sunday. 

Lows will warm into the middle 50s for Tuesday morning. We’ll cool back into the middle 40s for Wednesday and Thursday morning. It’ll warm back into the lower to  middle 50s Friday morning but will once again cool into the middle 40s Saturday morning. We’ll be in the lower 40s Sunday morning. 

The forecast will remain dry for the first half of the upcoming week. Blowing dust is expected across the area Tuesday afternoon and early Tuesday evening.  I’m still tracking the chance for showers and thunderstorms returning late week and into the early part of the weekend. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms Thursday evening along the Texas/New Mexico state line. The American and European Forecast models continue to show decent shower and thunderstorms chances on Friday across the South Plains and the Rolling Plains. The models are in disagreement on Saturday. The American model is showing a dry forecast, while the European model is showing another decent chance for showers and thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center is still noting a chance for severe weather across our region during the Friday and Saturday time frame. Excluding the chance of thunderstorm related wind gusts, the forecast overall will be windy on Friday and Saturday. 
 

Drought Update:
Latest update of the U.S. Drought Monitor shows most of the South Plains and the Rolling Plains remain in severe to extreme drought. Moderate stage drought conditions remain in place across the far southwestern portions of the South Plains. Exceptional state drought conditions are now showing up across extreme northern Swisher, Briscoe and Hall County. We’re also some exceptional drought now over a small portion of King and Cottle County.  As of Sunday evening, 1.07″ of rain has fallen in Lubbock at the airport in 2018. 

Lubbock Climate Data for Monday, April 16:
Sunrise: 7:15 a.m. 
Sunset:  8:19 p.m. 
Normal High: 76°
Normal Low: 46°
Record High: 100° (1925)
Record Low: 31° (1947)

Your KLBK First Warning Forecast:
Tonight: Clear to mostly clear and not as cold. Lows in the lower to middle 40s. South-southeast wind 5-10 mph.

Monday: Sunny to mostly sunny, breezy and warmer. Highs in the middle to upper 80s. South-southwesterly wind 15-25 mph. 

Monday Night: Mostly clear, breezy and milder with lows in the lower to middle 50s. Southwesterly wind 15-25 mph. 

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, windy and warmer. Patchy blowing dust in the afternoon. Highs in the lower to middle 90s. Southwesterly wind 25-35 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph. 

Have a nice week!

Meteorologist Chris Whited
KLBK First Warning Weather
cwhited@klbk13.tv
Facebook: Meteorologist Chris Whited
Twitter: @severewxchaser