Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Rockdale, TX

SHORT TERM
(Today and tonight)
Issued at 148 AM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026

A strong cold front is currently moving south through the Southern Plains, generally draped along an Ardmore-Nocona-Snyder line as of 2 AM. Near and just behind the surface boundary is a messy MCS that is expected to continue to develop back towards the west. The front and its associated storm clusters will advance south through the morning as its upper level support swings into the Great Lakes region, reaching our northwestern counties around 1:30-2 AM, the DFW Metroplex/I-20 corridor around 3-4 AM, and Waco/Central Texas closer to 6-7 AM. Gusty winds and showers/storms will occur shortly after FROPA, sticking around through the morning.

While overall coverage and intensity of the storms are expected to wane as they advance south, the environment will continue to be supportive of isolated elevated strong to severe storms capable of hail and strong winds thanks to MUCAPE of 1000-1500 J/kg, 7-8 C/km lapse rates, and 40-50 kts of deep layer shear. The threat for hail and winds this morning is greatest across North Texas and western portions of Central Texas. Scattered elevated showers and storms are expected to linger on and off near and south of the I-20 corridor through this afternoon and evening, generally moving from SW to NE. Lapse rates between 6.5-7 C/km will continue a threat for small hail in any of the more robust cores. The overall severe threat this afternoon in Central Texas remains marginal, though we cannot rule out a couple instances of 1" hail during this time. All showers and storms will eventually come to an end late tonight, leaving behind much cooler post-frontal air.

Tomorrow will be a much cooler, quieter day as morning low temperatures bottom out in the 40s to around 50 degrees.
Northerly winds will gradually shift out of the east as the post- frontal surface high slides through the region, and will aid in keeping afternoon temperatures mainly in the low-mid 70s.

LONG TERM
(Sunday through Friday)
Issued at 148 AM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026

North and Central Texas will find themselves on the western periphery of the surface high by Monday, marking the return of southerly flow. Continued ample Gulf moisture will quickly be advected northward across Texas as a shortwave disturbance moves across the Southern Plains. This will allow for scattered showers and storms mainly across our western counties on Monday, spreading eastward on Tuesday. Upper level ridging will nudge into the region, promoting the warm up of temperatures mid-late next week. Unsettled weather will make a return towards the end of the week as troughing becomes established over the western CONUS and shifts east.

AVIATION
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 554 AM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026

The current scattered convection should be generally exiting the D10 TAF sites by the start of the 12Z TAF period, with a temporary lull expected until around 15Z when rain showers will edge up into the D10 airports. The majority of this activity will likely remain showery in nature, with lightning potential uncertain this far north. Better chances for storms will occur near/at ACT closer to 16Z when additional convection spreads northeast on and off through the afternoon. Lingering patchy post-frontal MVFR cigs will finally lift around 15Z in D10 and 19Z at ACT. All precipitation will come to an end in the late afternoon for D10 and a few hours later in the evening for ACT, with VFR prevailing the rest of the period. Northerly winds will gradually shift easterly, eventually returning to east-southeasterly direction around 14Z tomorrow morning.

SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT
Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS
Dallas-Ft. Worth 65 47 74 52 / 40 10 0 0 Waco 63 45 72 50 / 70 30 0 0 Paris 63 42 72 45 / 40 0 0 0 Denton 64 40 72 46 / 20 0 0 0 McKinney 64 43 72 48 / 40 10 0 0 Dallas 65 48 74 51 / 40 10 0 0 Terrell 63 43 73 48 / 50 10 0 0 Corsicana 65 46 75 50 / 70 30 0 0 Temple 65 47 73 51 / 50 40 0 0 Mineral Wells 65 40 72 45 / 30 0 0 0

FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
None.