040 FXUS64 KHGX 011052 AFDHGXArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 552 AM CDT Wed Oct 1 2025
...New AVIATION...
.KEY MESSAGES... Issued at 1231 AM CDT Wed Oct 1 2025
- Dry conditions persist through Thursday. Continue to use caution when working with open flame or equipment that can cause sparks and start a fire.
- Rain chances rise on Friday into the weekend when moisture deepens enough to allow for some isolated seabreeze showers/storms along the coast.
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.DISCUSSION... Issued at 1231 AM CDT Wed Oct 1 2025
Forecast remains on track as drier conditions remain the status quo through Thursday. Slim to none rain chances still anticipated throughout this period with relative humidity dropping to 27-40 percent during the afternoon hours. These conditions with the presence of dry vegetation & fuels has resulted in enhanced fire weather concerns across the area. While these conditions are conducive for starting fires, the low wind speeds and gusts should inhibit their spread, making for easier containment thus mitigating the fire weather danger. Still, use caution when working with open flames, and be mindful of equipment which could create sparks.
Ridging builds over the Plains on Friday while easterly flow develops near the surface from a coastal trough over the Gulf. This will tighten the pressure gradient over the waters, resulting in a rise in winds and seas. In addition, moisture advection will strengthen, resulting in a daily risk of showers/storms. Initially these rain chances will be restricted to more coastal locations south of I-10, but as this moisture builds next week, we could see rain chances reach further inland. Still, the best chances for any showers/storms throughout this period of the forecast will be along the coast and over the waters. Temperatures will be generally above normal throughout the forecast period (3-10 degrees or so), with highs ranging from the upper 80s to mid/lower 90s.
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.AVIATION... (12Z TAF Issuance) Issued at 552 AM CDT Wed Oct 1 2025
VFR conditions and light winds will prevail throughout the TAF period. By the early afternoon, winds will be predominantly northeasterly around 4-7 kt. For terminals closer to the coast, winds will transition to easterly in the mid to late afternoon before becoming light and variable once again shortly after sunset.
Batiste
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.MARINE... Issued at 1231 AM CDT Wed Oct 1 2025
Light sea breeze, land breeze driven winds are expected through Thursday. Afterwards, a coastal trough will set up a long easterly fetch with winds of around 15-20 knots gusting to 25 knots offshore. This will usher in seas of 4 to 6 feet as well, prompting caution flags on Friday and Saturday. Small Craft Advisories could be needed during this period as well, should the long fetch & coastal trough bring seas to 7 ft or frequent gusts over 20 knots. Around this time, scattered showers and storms will return to the forecast. Rain chances should then rise over the waters heading into next week.
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.FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1231 AM CDT Wed Oct 1 2025
Active burn bans in SE Texas: Madison, Colorado, and Wharton counties.
Dry conditions continue over the next few days with afternoon RH values dropping to 27-40% for inland areas through Thursday. Fuels are generally dry on the whole, with observed 10 hour fuel moisture below the 25th and 10th percentiles over portions of SE Texas. Driest fuels are generally located in our northwestern counties, where some locations are forecasted to see fuel moisture fall below the 3rd percentile. On the other hand, speeds and gusts will remain generally light during this period, favorable for firefighting efforts and thus mitigating the overall fire weather threat.
Bottom line, areas across SE Texas will be vulnerable to wildfires due to the dry conditions. As mentioned previously, those preforming land clearing should exercise caution, ensuring any fires are contained and have contingency plans should they grow out of control. Individuals should be mindful of equipment that could create unintended sparks, (i.e. loose chains) especially in areas with flammable surfaces.
Easterly flow and rising moisture on Friday will lead to improved rain chances over the weekend.
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.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... College Station (CLL) 94 67 93 68 / 0 0 0 0 Houston (IAH) 94 71 94 72 / 0 0 0 0 Galveston (GLS) 91 76 91 77 / 0 0 10 20
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.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...None. GM...None. &&
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DISCUSSION...03 AVIATION...Batiste MARINE...03
NWS HGX Office Area Forecast Discussion