textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Multiple rounds of thunderstorms expected this evening and overnight into Saturday morning.

- Saturday, the 4th of July, looks largely dry during the daytime hours (drying out in northern Kansas from lingering storms). The evening hours look largely dry as well, most activity is expected to the west and south of central/south central Nebraska.

- Drying out and summer like (highs in the upper 80s and low 90s) for the end of the weekend and first of the next work- week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 230 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

I have focused on the nearest 24-48 hours and thus the majority of this discussion will focus on that period.

This evening and overnight hours has multiple rounds of thunderstorm activity, I will go into the expectations of each one.

Round 1: This evening 5 PM - 11 PM This area is what we are watching now, primarily development is expected along the Hwy 30/Platte River Corridor between Grand Island and Columbus, NE. Between 1 PM and 2 PM cloud cover, cumulus has grown in areal extent. The vertical nature of this cumulus is still relatively shallow, but the area shows where there is more instability. This area southward along Highway 81 will be will be the favored area for development between 5-7 PM. This activity could be severe and is highlighted by the SPC enhanced risk, and expect a convective watch at some point in time. Severe winds to 70 mph, hail to the size of golf balls are the primary threats. A tornado cannot be ruled out, and flooding, especially for areas that receive multiple later rounds is a threat.

This activity is expected to track south and east into eastern/southeastern Nebraska and into northeastern Kansas as we move towards sunset and beyond.

Round 2: Tonight midnight - 4 AM Thunderstorms are expected to develop along the nose of the Low Level Jet with thunderstorms developing along an east-west line following roughly Interstate 80. There is some question exactly where this activity will develop, but anywhere along and south of I-80 is in the region for being impacted by these thunderstorms. Some of this activity could be severe.

This activity is expected to track southeast with time. Meanwhile Round 3 will be starting off....

Round 3: Tonight 3 AM - Saturday mid-morning Thunderstorms are expected to develop across the High Plains of northwestern Kansas and southwestern Nebraska and track slowly east during the overnight and early morning hours. This activity is expected to be similar to what we saw this morning, with weak showers/thunderstorms. Severe storms are not anticipated.

How will these storms impact Saturday July 4th? All of these rounds of thunderstorms today will impact how the chance for thunderstorms develops Saturday. The morning thunderstorms will push the potential for afternoon/evening thunderstorms southward into central and southern/eastern Kansas. While we cannot rule out some of the afternoon storms impacting Rooks, Mitchell, and Osborne counties, as of this forecast it's looking optimistic. For the areas that are impacted by Round 3, once it stops raining and clears out, it is expected to be a dry and sunny day. For everyone else, it looks to be a dry and sunny day. Thunderstorms are expected to develop across the High Plains of the Nebraska Panhandle, and they are expected to track southeast with time, similar to the track seen last week. This could impact north central Kansas counties in the late evening and early overnight hours. Overall the picture for tomorrow for north central Kansas will become more clear tomorrow morning after all of these rounds of thunderstorms.

Highs on the 4th are currently forecasted to be in the upper 80s to low 90s.

After the 4th... The end of the weekend and start of the work-week look dry as upper level ridging begins to build in from the southwest. It doesn't last overly long as some stronger disturbances break the ridge down and precipitation chances return for the second half of the work week. Temperatures will generally be seasonal with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 633 PM CDT Fri Jul 3 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

There is low confidence in wind direction with mostly variable winds present. Expect thunderstorms in and around the terminals between 03z and 07z. Wind shear may develop for KEAR between 11z and 13z but confidence is not high enough to include at this time. Low clouds may also develop around KGRI around 08z to 13z but confidence is not high enough to include at this time.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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