Here is your updated forecast from the KLBK First Warning Weather Center as of early Tuesday afternoon.

Short Term Forecast:
Scattered showers across the western and southwestern South Plains this morning didn’t really product much rainfall. The majority of the measurable rainfall has been to our east across the Big County and Texoma. It looks like the large complex of rain that moved across that part of Texas this morning cut off some of the moisture flow into the South Plains and the Rolling Plains. Radar early this afternoon was still showing a few light returns over parts of the South Plains and the Rolling Plains. I’ll keep the mention of an isolated shower in the forecast for the rest of the afternoon over the Rolling Plains. We’ll become partly cloudy with clearing by late afternoon and early evening. We’ll top out in the lower to middle 60s for highs this afternoon. It will become mostly clear this evening and cooler with lows back into the lower 30s. Breezy and even milder weather is expected on Wednesday with highs in the upper 60s and lower 70s with abundant sunshine. 

Extended Forecast:
Colder air and the possibility of wintry precipitation over the holiday weekend continue to be the main points of concern in the extended forecast period. For now, very mild weather will stick around for Wednesday and Thursday with highs in the lower 70s and breezy conditions. A cold front will drop highs back into the 40s on Friday and we’ll top out in the upper 40s and lower 50s on Saturday. An even stronger cold front will arrive late Saturday night. This front will knock highs back into the upper 20s and lower 30s on Christmas Eve. Highs on Christmas Day will be in the middle to upper 30s. Overnight lows will be in the 30s but will drop back into the 20s by late week and the early part of the weekend. It’ll be even colder with lows in the 10s Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. The American (GFS) forecast model run still showing a light snow chance on Sunday morning. The European (ECMWF) forecast model is keeping snow chances for the most part across the Texas Panhandle and northeast New Mexico. The Canadian (GEM) forecast model is still showing a chance for light snow across the South Plains and Rolling Plains on Sunday. At this point, it’s still a wait and see game.

Winter Solstice:
The Winter Solstice will occur at 10:28 a.m. CST on Thursday, December 21 here on the South Plains and the Rolling Plains. It’s the shortest day of the year and the longest night of the year. 

Lubbock Climate Data for Tuesday, December 19:
Sunrise:  7:47 a.m.
Sunset:  5:42 p.m.
Normal High:  53°
Normal Low:  26°
Record High:  76° (1921)
Record Low:  0° (1924)

Your KLBK First Warning Forecast:

This Afternoon: Becoming partly cloudy this afternoon. Slight chance of showers across the Rolling Plains. Highs in the lower to middle 60s with a westerly wind 5-10 mph. 

Tonight: Becoming mostly clear and cooler. Lows in the lower 30s with a west-northwest wind 5-10 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, breezy and milder with highs around 70. West-southwest wind 10-20 mph.  

Have a great afternoon.

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