textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Scattered light showers/weak thunderstorms possible this evening (any storms mainly in our southwest), with spotty light showers/sprinkles lingering here or there through the overnight. Any rainfall expected to be light (0.10" at most...many areas likely no more than sprinkles).

- Solidly near-critical fire weather conditions looking increasingly-likely Friday afternoon (especially counties along/north of I-80), due to a combination of breezy northwest winds and relative humidity (RH) as low as 20-25%. Next week, at-least-near-critical conditions likely nearly every day as temps warm/winds increase.

- Although likely only scattered in coverage, our overall BEST chance for showers/thunderstorms through the next 7 days arrives Sat afternoon-evening. Severe storms appear fairly unlikely, but a few stronger possible especially in our KS counties.

- Above normal temperatures will continue through the end of the forecast period with highs in the 70s/80s each day and overnight lows mainly 40s/50s. It is increasingly-likely that frost/freeze concerns are behind us for the spring.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 252 PM CDT Wed May 6 2026

An upper level disturbance in northwesterly flow will cross the local area tonight brining with it the chance for a few high based showers/sprinkles and possibly a weak thunderstorm to parts of the local area. Given the lack of surface moisture, little to no accumulation is expected across the vast majority of the local area, with the best chance of a thunderstorm expected during the evening hours across areas primarily southwest of the Nebraska Tri-cities.

Continued northwest flow will then persist into the weekend before an upper level ridge eventually transitions eastward across the local area by Sunday. Before the upper level ridge moves across the local area, one more notable disturbance is expected to impact the local area on Saturday brining with it a slightly better chance for showers and thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and evening (although there is a low end chance for a few pop up sprinkles Friday afternoon). While a few stronger storms with mainly gusty winds will be possible with this disturbance/surface front Saturday, limited instability will likely limit the potential for severe weather...and the local area remains outside the marginal risk from SPC. That said, a few models such as the NAMnest fire up a line of storms along the front Saturday afternoon which could eventually impact local portions of north central Kansas before exiting the area, so will need to continue to keep an eye on the timing of this system.

Thereafter...an upper level ridge is expected build across the area late in the weekend with a return to high temperatures well above normal (in the 80s) through at least the first half of next week. These warmer temperatures combined with a continued dry airmass and breezy afternoons will eventually likely result in some near-critical to critical fire weather concerns, although with fuels starting to green-up, some of this concern may be at least partially alleviated.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 100 AM CDT Fri May 8 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

High confidence VFR conditions with only a few sprinkles through sunrise.

Winds turn to the northwest this afternoon, with gusts near 20kt.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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