textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- A few last lingering showers and non-severe thunderstorms this morning will come to an end between mainly 7AM and 11AM, clearing from the southwest to the northeast.

- Highs through Saturday are expected to range the 50s to low 70s with the warmest temperatures concentrated to the south.

- A few showers across a limited northeast portion of the area can't be completely ruled out Friday morning to afternoon (20-50% chance).

- The next areawide chance of precipitation does not come until Tuesday/Wednesday next week.

UPDATE

Issued at 102 AM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

Scattered showers with a few storms this morning are wrapping around the north end of a Kansas centric 996mb surface low. These showers/storms will be the last course of precipitation that this system serves to the area today. Despite the low temperatures, 500- 1,000J of MUCAPE with around 25-45kts of bulk shear may be enough to support a few stronger storms embedded within the shower cluster this morning. Storms are not expected to become severe, although a few of the stronger storms could produce some hail up to the size of pennies. Overall, most storms that do develop will likely remain generally more so on the weaker side of things.

The last of the showers/storms is expected to clear out of the area between 7AM and 11AM, clearing from the southwest to northeast as the surface low moves east and away. Clearing skies later today could let the sun peak out for a few hours, helping temperatures climb as high as the 60s to low 70s across locations south and/or west of the Tri-Cities. Showers slower to clear across northeast portions of the area this morning will likely keep highs from leaving the 50s to low 60s. Steady 10-15MPH winds will turn towards the northwest across the first half of the day before lighter and more variable winds take over across the later afternoon and evening hours. The steady 10-15MPH winds will reestablish out of the southeast during the overnight hours.

On Friday, northeast returning winds between 10-20MPH could turn gusty at times with peak afternoon gusts as high as 25-35MPH possible, especially across locations south and west of the Tri- Cities. Temperatures, however, will remain very similar with highs in the 50s (far northern areas) to upper 60s (far southern areas).

The biggest uncertainty for Friday will be if precipitation chances materialize. Our confidence has generally backed away some as the developing line of storms Friday evening now looks to develop east of the local area given the timing of a passing cold front (passing earlier in the day). A secondary system, taking a similar path as the system today, will pass by across the area on Friday. At this time, the only precipitation that may materialize across the area would be a few showers clipping a few northeast portions of the area Friday morning to early afternoon.

Otherwise, the exiting low on Saturday will bring gusty northwest winds across the afternoon hours. Winds between 15 to 25 MPH may gust as high as 30-40MPH will be likely. In addition, slightly cooler temperatures will stick around Saturday (50s to low 60s) as the strong northwest winds continued to push in cooler air from the north. Elevated to near-critical fire weather concerns could materialize as afternoon RH values near 25-45% across the southwest half of the area. The generally cooler temperatures Saturday may limit RH values from reaching critical levels, though the trend will be monitored closely.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 255 PM CDT Wed Apr 1 2026

Ap upper level low is expected to lift northeast from the four corners area into the plains overnight tonight. Ahead of this low, the atmosphere is already beginning to saturate, and some light showers have started to develop across our Kansas counties this afternoon. Expect light precipitation to continue to spread northeast across the entire area over the next several hours, with widespread light rain showers expected this evening and overnight. In addition, with marginal instability and the presence of the upper level low tracking across the area, expect an isolated rumble of thunder or two late this evening/ overnight, although severe weather is not anticipated. That said, given the presence of the upper level low aloft, some small hail cannot be ruled out with the strongest storms that do eventually develop.

Rainfall will begin to taper off from the southwest to northeast across the local area Thursday morning, with at least partial sunshine returning to the local area Thursday afternoon. This should allow afternoon temperatures to climb 5-10 degrees above this afternoons readings, before a subsequent upper level disturbance pushes across the local area from the northwest Friday. This second disturbance will have more of a northern track and is not expected to be a significant rainfall producer, with a few hundredths looking likely at best. That said, tonight system is expected to bring widespread wetting rainfall to the area, with most locations expected to receive between and quarter and a half of an inch of precip, with the more favored locations possibly receiving up to one inch of accumulation. The 18Z HRRR is even more promising, with much of the area north of Highway 6 favored to receive around an inch of rainfall. While the official forecast is not that wet, the trends in the mesoscale models cast some hope for a decent rainfall impacting much of the area tonight.

Beyond Friday, an upper level ridge is expected to build to our west over the upcoming weekend, with heights rising and northwest flow establishing itself aloft. This should allow for a seasonably warm weekend with a return of some marginal fire weather concerns, especially for areas west of Highway 183 where the combination of winds and low RH look to be the most concerning.

Given the progressive northwest flow expected to establish itself aloft late in the weekend, additional disturbances in this flow next week could bring some more rainfall to the region, with chances for precipitation returning again as early as Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 607 AM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

The last of the remaining showers are expected to clear out of the area for both terminal sites soon this morning (likely before 14z). Visibilities should primarily remain above 6SM, especially after 14z. Despite the quick exit of the precipitation, IFR and low-end MVFR ceilings are expected to maintain through much of the morning to early afternoon hours (mainly through 18-20z). Skies between 21-1z will clear until clouds move back in near the end of the period (between 6-10z).

Winds will keep a north to northwest direction through the early afternoon hours with speeds hanging near 15kts and gusting as high as 20-25kts. Lightening winds between 18-21z will temporarily introduce light and variable winds between 21-1z. Southeasterly winds blowing between 10-15kts will maintain through the rest of the evening and night.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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