textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Steady light/briefly moderate snow will depart our far eastern forecast area by 7-8 PM, with isolated/scattered flurries (and possibly a few sleet pellets?) remaining possible over much of our area through around midnight (but of little consequence). Light snow winds down this evening.

- Sunday will be significantly (20 to 30 degrees) warmer than Saturday.

- There is a low (20%) chance for light snow Tuesday into Tuesday night.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 252 PM CST Sat Jan 31 2026

A band of snow is slowly moving across central Nebraska/Kansas, and is associated with an upper shortwave moving through the northern/central Plains. Area cameras and surface observations indicate that, as expected, heaviest snowfall has been generally near and north of Highway 92. This band will continue eastward through this afternoon and evening, eventually moving east of the Highway 81 corridor by 9-10pm. In addition to this main band of snow, some convectively-driven snow/sleet showers are moving into northern Nebraska, and could creep into northern portions of the area in the 5-8pm timeframe. All said and done, most of the area will only see a dusting of snow, but some locations could see 1" or slightly more (northern areas are most favored).

Despite today's snow, a very noticeable warmup is expected on Sunday as the eastern trough nudges eastward and ridging builds over the Rockies. Expected high temperatures range from the low 40s in the northeast to near 60 in southwestern zones. Monday will trend slightly cooler with more cloud cover as a shortwave moves in from the northwest.

Chances for snow return to the area on Tuesday into Tuesday night as a secondary shortwave moves into the area. As has been the case many times this season, only minor snow accumulations are expected. The probability for even 0.5" of snowfall is less than 10 percent for most of the area.

Near-normal temperatures continue in the wake of this system on Wednesday, but another significant warmup is expected for the end of the workweek.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/

Issued at 618 PM CST Sat Jan 31 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports: - General overview: High confidence in VFR ceiling/visibility through the period, although a lower VFR ceiling (down to around 5-6K ft.) will linger for at least a few more hours this evening). The vast majority of the period will also be precip-free, although a few passing flurries are still possible this evening. Winds will not be a significant issue, with sustained speeds through most of the period no higher than 10-15KT as direction transitions from southerly, to westerly, to northwesterly. Some mostly weak low level wind shear (LLWS) is also likely mainly for a few hours Sunday morning. Additional details found below.

- Ceiling/precipitation details: High confidence in VFR throughout, although a lower-VFR ceiling around 5-6K ft. will linger for at least a few hours this evening. Although not included in TAFs, a few brief/passing flurries cannot be ruled out through 03-04Z, but these should be of little-if-any consequence. Late in the period Sunday afternoon, there are subtle hints that KGRI could see some scattered low-VFR clouds (down to around 3K ft.), but a low ceiling currently appears unlikely.

- Wind details: - Surface winds: Sustained speeds through most of the period will range from 8-13KT, with any gusts topping out only 15-18KT (highest right away this evening, and then again Sunday afternoon). However, wind will be shifting direction...from southerly this evening, to westerly late tonight into Sunday morning, then northwesterly Sunday afternoon.

- Low level wind shear possibility: Fairly weak LLWS is likely within the lowest 2K ft AGL through much of these first 15 hours, but for the most part shear magnitude should not exceed 25KT so have omitted from latest TAFs. That being said, later TAFs will need to especially monitor especially the 12-15Z time frame as shear magnitude could try reaching 30+KT (considered TAF-inclusion criteria).

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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