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SPC MD 92

MD 0092 CONCERNING HEAVY SNOW FOR A SMALL PORTION OF EAST-CENTRAL NEW MEXICO AND INTO AN ADJACENT PORTION OF THE TEXAS SOUTH PLAINS

MD 0092 Image


Mesoscale Discussion 0092
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0235 AM CST Tue Jan 24 2023

Areas affected...a small portion of east-central New Mexico and into
an adjacent portion of the Texas South Plains

Concerning...Heavy snow 

Valid 240835Z - 241100Z

SUMMARY...Snowfall rates in excess of 1" per hour are expected over
the next couple of hours in few-county area surrounding Clovis New
Mexico, straddling the New Mexico/Texas border.

DISCUSSION...Latest water-vapor loop shows the primary upper center
of circulation entering far southwestern New Mexico at this time,
and moving very slowly eastward.  Meanwhile, a smaller/more subtle
vort max is evident just southwest of the discussion area, moving
slowly northeastward.  This is contributing to the area of maximized
ascent/precipitation that extends from east-central New Mexico,
across the Texas South Plains and southern parts of the Panhandle.

While much of this precipitation east of the Caprock is falling as
rain, due to surface temperatures in the upper 30s to low 40s, snow
is observed westward across the Lubbock and Plainview areas and into
the Clovis vicinity.

A roughly east-to-west band of heavier precipitation is generally
advancing northward toward the Texas Panhandle.  As such, heavier
snowfall rates are generally occurring for only a limited amount of
time over any one area.  However, the band has remained
quasi-stationary within the discussion area over the past hour or so
-- which seems to be due to some easterly/locally east-northeasterly
upslope flow.  As the aforementioned vort max translates only slowly
northeastward, this area of enhanced snowfall rates appears likely
to continue across the discussion area over the next couple of
hours.

..Goss.. 01/24/2023

...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov for graphic product...

ATTN...WFO...LUB...AMA...ABQ...

LAT...LON   34730254 34710227 34520242 34230268 34080322 34070371
            34440383 34800326 34730254 

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