textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Hot Wednesday, thunderstorms are likely by evening (50-80% chance). Some of these storms may be severe with damaging wind and large hail.

- Thursday will be noticably cooler (mainly 80s) with another chance for evening/overnight thunderstorms favoring areas south of I-80 (marginal risk of severe thunderstorms)

- Overall drier conditions by this weekend into next week and heating back up into the 90s by Sunday and at least several days thereafter.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 231 PM CDT Tue Jul 7 2026

Summer Heat...

Hot weather with highs in the 90s will persist into Wednesday afternoon. A cold front sinking south Wednesday evening will bring thunderstorms to the area (Wednesday evening/night) and cooler weather for Thursday through Saturday (highs mainly in the 80s). A strong and unusually anomalous upper level ridge (600 decameters at 500 mb) is projected to initially build over the Rocky Mountains this weekend and slide east into the plains early next week. This will result in hot and dry conditions even by July standards. Our projected highs early next week in the lower to mid 90s may be too cool and would not be surprised to see upper 90s and even some 100 degree temperatures if this upper ridge patter fully materializes.

Wednesday and Thursday Severe Thunderstorm Threat...

We have two remaining decent chances to get moisture before the upper ridge builds in and precipitation is likely to shut off for awhile. The best chance for thunderstorms across our Nebraska counties will be Wednesday evening into Wednesday night. The best chance for thunderstorms across our Kansas counties will be Thursday night. Unfortunately this rain may come in the form of severe weather for some areas with the main threat being the wind gusts, but also at least a marginal hail threat as well.

There are currently two main areas to watch Wednesday afternoon/evening. The first area will be along the cold front with afternoon heating mainly across our northern and northeastern areas where storms may initially develop, will probably be more isolated, but will be slower moving and capable of dumping heavier 1" plus rainfall amounts. There is lower confidence in this initial thunderstorm development. However, there is higher confidence that a more widespread line of thunderstorms will develop west of our forecast area later Wednesday evening associated with the upper level shortwave and then track east across much of our area Wednesday night. This later precipitation will bring mainly a severe wind threat to our area with some of these thunderstorms, rain amounts generally less than 1" but more widespread.

The Thursday night rain chances are pretty high in the NBM (50-70%), but storms may end up being further south. Best chances for storms Thursday night will be south of I-80 and even higher across north central Kansas. The severe threat Thursday night should be more marginal than on Wednesday evening.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1155 PM CDT Tue Jul 7 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

Other than possible thunderstorms Wednesday evening (mainly 23-04Z) VFR conditions are expected at EAR/GRI. Winds turn to the south/southwest early Wednesday and will turn to the north late in the period after thunderstorms depart the area.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...None. KS...None.