textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Isolated to scattered strong to severe storms this evening into tonight for the far northern edge of the CWA and westward towards Lexington. Damaging winds and hail will be primary concerns, with a brief, weak tornado or two possible but not likely. No flooding is expected.

- Mostly dry conditions expected to persist after tonight, with only light, isolated chances through the weekend. Friday night and Saturday night pose the next best chances for measurable rain.

- Unseasonably hot temperatures continue through Labor Day weekend, with temps in the 90s to low 100s F. Heat indices may approach Heat Advisory threshold (105 F) Thursday into the weekend.

- A few gusts of 25 30 mph will be possible south of I-80 through Friday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 212 PM CDT Tue Sep 1 2026

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible this evening into tonight, mostly north of Highway 30 and west of Highway 183 as the right-entrance of a mid-level jet streak exits northeast NE. The likeliest zone of storm activity looks to scrape right along a stretch of area from Broken Bow to Ord between 6 PM this evening and 12 AM Wednesday morning. Confidence is high that coverage will be spotty in nature as synoptic forcing for ascent will be limited. A strong to severe thunderstorm capable of wind gusts to 60 mph and hail up to 1 in diameter will be possible this evening, with a few 2+ stones possible for our northernmost locations where shear most overlaps with buoyancy. SPC has also included a 2% tornado risk for these areas where 12z HREF probabilities suggest marginal overlap in STP and high cell reflectivities. The heaviest storm cells look to be capable of producing precip rates of 0.25 0.5 per hour (~30% chances to see these rates) owing to HRRR and RRFS-progged PWATs of ~1.5 coupled with MLCAPE of 2600 3100 J/kg.

Beyond tonight, very low chances (<10%) of isolated precip continue each day given our sandwiched position between the western CONUS trough and the persistent east-central ridge. Despite this, the overwhelming majority of the CWA is favored to remain dry, and any additional rainfall will be miniscule in amounts. The next reasonable precip chances look to arrive Friday night into Saturday (~20% chances), and again Saturday night into Sunday (20 30% chances).

Those of us who enjoy cool fall weather will have to wait. A hot start to September is expected to continue as an upper-level ridge and surface high pressure slowly meanders across the east- central CONUS. Temperatures in the 90s F to low 100s F will likely stick around as we get into Labor Day weekend. Our six KS counties are the likeliest to see temps hit 100 F over the next few days (12z HREF probabilities ~50 70%) with overnight lows bottoming out in the mid 70s F. Despite modest dewpoints, latest NBM guidance indicates heat indices will approach and may exceed 105 F Friday afternoon into the weekend for the southeastern border counties of our CWA. The best chances for any overnight relief will be our far northwestern counties bordering NWS North Plattes CWA, where temperatures can dip to the low-to-mid 60s F (~60% chances of lows <65 F). The next cool down looks to arrive late this weekend to bring in Labor Day, but this regrettably doesnt look to be anything more than a few degrees relief. CPC continues to foresee warmer-than- average temperatures through the next two weeks.

As far as winds go, a diffuse frontal boundary will gradually retreat northwards through the rest of Tuesday, shifting winds north of Highway 30 from northerly to southerly as it passes. This boundary may re-shift southward overnight into Wednesday and repeat the process tomorrow morning. South of Highway 30, generally southerly flow will prevail into Labor Day weekend. Wind speeds will stay mostly steady from 5 - 15 mph throughout the forecast period, with the exception of a few pockets of 10 - 20 mph winds in KS where daytime heating and mixing will boost winds in the afternoon and evening hours each day. A few gusts can reach as high as 25 30 mph south of I-80.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1230 PM CDT Tue Sep 1 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

VFR conditions are expected for the next 24 hours. Winds will transition towards the southeast by 21z then to the south by 00z at around 5 to 10 knots. Southwest winds are expected by 15z along with an increase in wind speeds to 10 knots with perhaps some higher gusts.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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