textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Wind chill values as low as ten to near twenty degrees below zero to start the day. Modest improvement this afternoon, but a cool (highs in the 20s/low 30s) and breezy (NW winds 15 to 25 MPH) start to the week.

- Generally warm (40s/50s) temperatures expected for the remainder of the period with a brief dip in temperatures to near seasonable values (30s/40s) Thursday afternoon behind a back door cold front.

- No precipitation is expected through at least next Monday (and likely continuing through much of next week).

UPDATE

Issued at 342 AM CST Mon Dec 29 2025

A cold and breezy start to the day across the region with temperatures in the single digits and teens along with widespread wind chill values below zero. Some locations north of I-80 could see wind chills fall to near 20 degrees below zero around daybreak, with gradual improvement expected by late morning/early afternoon.

While a few clouds can be seen on satellite across north central Nebraska early this morning, this cloud cover should mostly erode by mid-morning as an area of surface high pressure slides south across the region. This area of high pressure will help to relax winds across the area by afternoon, with light and variable winds returning this evening.

As winds shift and become predominantly westerly overnight tonight, expect a more mild start to the day on Tuesday along with a return to above normal temperatures Tuesday afternoon.

Overall, a mild and dry period is in store for the local area through at least the upcoming weekend with the one exception coming Thursday afternoon when a backdoor cold front is expected to dip temperatures back down closer to normal and bring some increased cloud cover for the latter part of the week. That said, no precipitation appears to be in sight with long range models/ensembles not having much of a precip signal until the middle of the following week (7th and beyond), and even these chances look fairly sporadic amongst the different ensemble members.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 146 PM CST Sun Dec 28 2025

Following this morning's cold frontal passage and quick burst of snow, we can now observe clouds clearing out for the afternoon. Temperatures this evening and tonight, despite the clearing skies, will only continue to tumble as those strong northerly winds continue to pelt the area. Winds this afternoon have already surpassed their peak values (45-55MPH) and are gradually on their way back down, though gusty winds are expected to continue through the rest of the day/night. Occasional gusts overnight may still reach as high as 25-35MPH.

These gusty north to northwest winds will continue to suck down colder air through the first half of Monday. Temperatures, as result, will drop to as low as the single digit to low teens with wind chill values falling as low as 0 to -15 degrees overnight tonight. The coldest temperatures and wind chills will generally be concentrated towards northward lying locations (-10 to -15 degrees for locations north of I-80)

Rising pressure on Monday will mark the stabilization and in turn lightening of the surface wind field. Though winds will continue to keep their northwesterly direction, speeds will diminish through the day, eventually calming in the evening. Despite clear skies, temperatures will only be able to return to similar values in comparison to the start of the day today (mid 20s to mid 30s). Lows overnight will fall back to the low teens, though light/calm winds overnight will keep windchill values greater than 0 degrees.

Dry conditions continue to dominate the forecast the rest of the week as we soon find ourselves trapped underneath northwest flow established from western U.S. ridging and eastern U.S. troughing. A mini-warm up will more than likely take place Tuesday and Wednesday as light winds, influenced from the weak pressure gradient, turn westerly. This will close off the cold air advection pattern and will open up a warming downslope one. Highs may reach the mid 40s to low 50s Tuesday and the upper 40s to upper 50s Wednesday.

Following this brief warmup, a fairly weak New Years Day cold front may drop highs down 10-15 degrees again (mid 30s to upper 40s). There still remains some uncertainty on how much temperatures could fall this day (15 degree temperature spread between the NBM 25th and 75th percentile). Looking at cluster analysis, it is more apparent why this spread appears. The two leading clusters diverge on both the cloud coverage and the strength of a Central U.S. ridging pattern. The leading cluster (greater weight from the GEFS and ENS) favors a stronger ridging pattern with greater cloud coverage. This leading cluster also more likely resembles our current forecast. Cluster two (GEPS weighted), the alternative scenario, suggest a weaker ridging pattern with less cloud coverage and warmer temperatures.

Either way, steady southerly winds establishing Friday should help warm highs back to the 40s/50s to end the week off. The rest of the forecast remains dry for now. The next shortwave disturbance may not even reach the area until at least next Sunday or Monday, keeping the pattern aloft fairly stagnant.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 511 AM CST Mon Dec 29 2025

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

High confidence VFR conditions through the period with mostly clear skies and good VSBYs anticipated.

Expect breezy NW winds this morning, with gusts 25-30 KTS...to gradually diminish through the afternoon hours...with light and variable winds expected this evening as an area of surface high pressure slides southeast across the local area. Generally clear skies and VFR VSBYS expected through the period.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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