textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Highs in the mid 80s to mid 90s today.

- Isolated-scattered non-severe storms possible tonight- Saturday morning.

- Hot weather is expected this weekend with highs and heat index values in the 90s to around 100 degrees.

- Off and on thunderstorm chances continue next week with highs in the 80s and 90s.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 222 PM CDT Thu Aug 27 2026

An upper level trough centered over Canada extends southward over the Midwest and Northeast. An upper ridge is centered over Arizona and New Mexico and extends northward to Montana. Nebraska and Kansas are in between these two features. Winds across south central and central Nebraska and north central Kansas are mostly out of the south to southeast at 5 to 15 MPH with gusts up to 15 to 20 MPH across mainly western portions of the area. High temperatures today will be in the 80s with mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies. Some storms may impact (20% or less chance) mainly western portions of the area (west of the Tri-Cities) late this afternoon into this evening. If these storms develop, they could become strong to severe given fairly high CAPE, wind shear, and lapse rates. Perhaps the deciding factor in storm development will be if a shortwave trough moves over/near the area. Hail up to around the size of half dollars and wind gusts up to around 60 MPH will be the main threats with these storms. Additional storm development is more likely (up to 35% chance) later tonight into Friday morning. This development is most likely along and north and east of the Tri-Cities area. These additional storms are not expected to be severe but some strong storms with small hail and wind gusts up to 50 MPH are not out of the question. Low temperatures tonight will be in the 60s.

Showers and storms may linger into the morning hours on Friday from Highway 281 eastward. Winds across the area will strengthen out of the south Friday afternoon at around 15 to 20 MPH with gusts up to 25 to 35 MPH. Temperatures Friday afternoon will warm up into the mid 80s to mid 90s with sunny to mostly sunny skies. Showers and thunderstorms may move into the area (25% or less chance) Friday evening and night from the west and northwest. Some of these storms, if they develop and move into the area, may become strong to severe. The earlier the storms develop, the more likely they will be severe due to decreasing CAPE and wind shear during the evening and night hours. Large hail and damaging winds will be the main threats with these storms. Again, the determining factor on severe storms (and timing) may be when a shortwave moves into the area. Low temperatures Friday night are expected to be warmer with cloudier skies and stronger winds. Lows are expected to mainly be in the 70s.

The upper ridge shifts further east this weekend which will result in warmer and drier conditions for south central and central Nebraska and north central Kansas. The upper ridge becomes more centered over the southeastern part of the country next week which will allow for more upper disturbances to move over Nebraska and Kansas. This will result in more opportunities for showers and thunderstorms for various portions of the area Monday through Wednesday. High temperatures Saturday and Sunday are expected to be in the low 90s to low triple digits. Heat index values may reach near 104 or 105 degrees in portions of north central Kansas and perhaps even in the southern row of Nebraska counties this weekend. Temperatures will decrease slightly Monday through Wednesday to the mid 80s to upper 90s.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 129 AM CDT Fri Aug 28 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports: - General overview: Very high confidence in VFR ceiling/visibility throughout the period with only varying degrees of mid-high level cloud cover mainly at-or-above 10K ft. There might be the smallest chance of a rogue shower/non-severe thunderstorms both early this morning and again later Friday evening, but at this time the likelihood appears too low to even justify a PROB30 group. As for winds, surface winds will become somewhat breezy out of the south especially during the afternoon-evening with gusts topping out 20-25KT. However, of overall-greatest concern is the likelihood for moderately-strong low level wind shear (LLWS) starting later Friday evening.

- Wind details: - Surface winds: Right away this morning, speeds will will prevail at-or-below 10KT as they transition from southeasterly to more southerly. Then from late-morning onward (and especially during the afternoon and evening), southerly winds become a bit breezy with sustained speeds commonly 14-16KT/gusts up to around 24KT (although there will likely be a bit of a lull in speeds especially 00-03Z).

- Low level wind shear (LLWS): Although some fairly weak LLWS exists early this morning, it will certainly become stronger Friday evening, as southerly winds within the lowest 1-2K ft. AGL ramp up to around 45KT...creating 30+KT of shear difference between the surface and this level. As a result, LLWS groups have been introduced at both KGRI/KEAR starting 03Z.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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