textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- As skies clear and winds lessen this evening, could see some patchy fog development across parts of the area overnight.

- Another upper level storm system will pass by on Friday. The best chances for measurable precip will be mainly across northeastern portions of the local area. Little accumulation is expected.

- After a breezy and seasonably cool start to the weekend, temperatures will climb back above seasonal norms Sunday afternoon, which along with lighter winds, should make for a nice Easter Sunday across the local area.

- Precip chances return as early as Monday afternoon to parts of the local area with more widespread (and potentially beneficial) precipitation chances coming Wednesday/Thursday of next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 257 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

The upper level low that impacted the area overnight can be see on satellite tracking across Iowa this afternoon with the next upper low upstream of the local area spinning near northwestern Wyoming. In between these 2 systems, clearing skies are gradually making their way across the local forecast area.

As skies clear across the area this evening, winds diminish and become more southeasterly, could see some fog development across mainly our Nebraska counties overnight. The HRRR has been very consistent all day indicating dense fog across much of the state during the overnight hours, but while winds do shift and become more favorable for fog development, they remain 10-15 MPH, which isn't exactly ideal. As a result, introduced some patchy fog to the forecast through the morning commute Friday, but did not completely buy into the HRRR and mention more widespread or dense fog.

Expect the upper level low to our northwest to reach the panhandle of Nebraska by mid-day Friday, with the associated cold front ahead of it rapidly tracking across the local area and bring a shift in winds during the morning hours. Could see some light post frontal precip across areas mainly north and east of the Nebraska Tri-Cities through around midday, as the upper level low eventually lifts east northeast across South Dakota during the afternoon and evening hours. While some very small pops were retained mainly north of Highway 92 as the upper level low passes by later in the day, the track of the upper level low has trended further north, and confidence of any precip with the low itself is low.

Dry and mostly sunny weather then returns over the holiday weekend, but with a windy start to the weekend on Saturday combined with dry conditions across our western most counties, could see a return of elevated to near critical fire weather concerns for at least a few hours Saturday afternoon. Sunday, however, looks like really nice Easter, with lighter winds and the return of above normal afternoon temperatures across the local area.

With a fairly progressive northwestelry flow pattern across the local area aloft to start next week, expect multiple quick passing disturbances to brush the local area, and because of this, extended guidance is suggesting a return of precip as early as Monday afternoon. While a stray passing shower cannot be completely ruled out, think there are many more chances for precip early next week than eventually will be realized...with the best chance for more widespread and beneficial precip likely not returning until the middle to latter portion of next week.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 622 PM CDT Thu Apr 2 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

IFR and LIFR ceilings and visibilities possible overnight/Friday morning. An MVFR stratus deck shifts northeast of the terminals this evening with a window of VFR ceilings/visibilities through around midnight. After midnight, an IFR to LIFR Stratus deck is expected to move into KGRI/KEAR, though the exact timing is a little uncertain. Additionally, fog development is possible within this stratus deck. There is some uncertainty on how widespread fog will be with model guidance ranging from little fog to widespread fog across the area. Additionally if fog does develop, there remains spread in model guidance for how dense fog gets. Have opted to lean towards the fog development with potential for 1SM or less fog. Used TEMPO groups to highlight timing differences for fog and the potential patchy nature of fog. The time most favored to see the densest fog is 11-15z. Fog and stratus are expected to gradually clear/lessen during the mid-late morning hours. Any lingering fog looks to end around noon, with MVFR-IFR stratus lingering into the mid afternoon hours but becoming VFR late in the TAF period.

Light and variable winds become east-southeasterly this evening increasing to around 10-15kts overnight. Prior to sunrise, winds shift to the north, and become northwesterly by the late morning hours. Gusts around 20kts are possible during the late morning- early afternoon hours at KGRI and KEAR.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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