textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Temperatures will peak in the 60s to low 70s through Tuesday before later warming up to the 70s to low 80s for the period Wednesday-Friday.

- Though highs are not expected to drop below the mid 30s tonight, a few locations north or west of the Tri-Cities could still see some areas of patchy frost form.

- The forecast through Thursday remains precip-free with the next chance of precipitation not coming until Friday (30-50% chance).

DISCUSSION

Issued at 226 PM CDT Sat Oct 17 2026

Today (Saturday) through Tuesday...

Following the first freeze of the season earlier this morning, temperatures have made a quick recovery today back into the low to mid 60s. This warmup has and will continue to be assisted by steady south to southwesterly warm air advecting winds across the next several days. Though temperatures overnight tonight may not fall as low as this past morning (overnight lows: mid 30s to mid 40s), a few areas of frost may still be able to form tonight across portions of the area west or north of the Tri-Cities.

Aloft, ridging across the Intermountain West Region shifts east and over into the Central U.S., clearing skies and suppressing any chances for precipitation from subsidence. Winds speeding near 15- 20MPH and gusting as high as 25-35MPH this afternoon come as yesterday's strong high pressure center leaves behind a compressed surface pressure gradient. These occasionally gusty southerly winds should maintain across the Sunday-Tuesday afternoon timeframe as well, helping highs break into the upper 60s to low 70s for mainly Sunday and Tuesday. A few clouds passing through the area Monday could keep highs in the 60s (only a 20% chance of exceedance).

Wednesday and Beyond...

Long-range forecast models (LREF members) continue to show considerable agreement with the general timing and intensity of how this upper-level ridge progresses through the middle of next week. An intensification of this ridge across the middle of the week should translate down to the surface as temperatures will be likely to expand up into the mid 70s to lower 80s Wednesday-Friday. The next pattern chance looks to come near the end of next week as a building trough works to push the ridging pattern out. In addition, this disturbance will likely bring the area its next precipitation potential (30-50% chance of precipitation Friday/Saturday). Given the absence if any strong surface pressure gradient underneath the ridging pattern, broad southerly winds will be favored to prevail across much of the period.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1245 PM CDT Sat Oct 17 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

Clear skies and prevailing VFR conditions will continue through the period. Winds out of the south (180-210 degrees) today between 15-20kts and gusting as high as 25-30kts will be possible through the evening will gusts hovering around 20kts overnight. LLWS will appear between mainly 3-12z as the nocturnal low-level jet ramps up. Wind directions Sunday may become more due southerly with speeds again increasing across the late morning to early afternoon hours (10-20kts gusting up to 30kts).

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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