textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- A Red Flag warning remain in effect until 8PM tonight. Northwest winds gusting as high as 25-35MPH with low relative humidity brings widespread critical fire weather conditions to the entire area.

- Below freezing temperatures as low as the upper 20s to low 30s will be possible tonight across areas mainly along and east of HWY- 281.

- The next precipitation potential does not arrive in the forecast until Wednesday (20-35%) and Thursday (25-45%). The best precipitation potential both nights will be concentrated to the north and east.

- Temperatures will warm up to the upper 70s and 80s by Monday with a cold front passing through later in the week, dropping highs for Friday (upper 50s to mid 60s)

DISCUSSION

Issued at 247 PM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026

The gusty northwest winds, dragging in a cooler airmass today, have helped keep highs from escaping out of the upper 50s to low 60s. As result of the gusty conditions with dry relative humidity, a Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 8PM tonight. Please refer to the fire weather section below for more more information.

Winds this evening and tonight will become light. The calm conditions will once again allow temperatures to drop down near to just under freezing (Overnight Lows: upper 20s to low 30s). The coldest temperatures overall will be concentrated towards the northwest portions of the area. Locations near and mainly west of HWY-281 will have the best potential for temperatures to drop below freezing for a few hours tonight (1-6 hours). Given the slightly warmer temperatures compared the the night previous and given the short residence time of the freezing temperatures, a freeze warning was not concentrated at this time. Though the very light winds could break way for a few areas of frost formation (best chances northeast of the Tri-Cities), the lowered RH values overnight (40-65% max) is expected to limit the overall coverage of frost.

The exit of a upper-level Central to North Central Plains trough with an upstream building ridge west of the area, will establish northwest flow aloft through the first part of next week. Temperatures will be on the up and up through Tuesday with highs in the mid 60s and 70s Sunday, upper 70s to mid 80s Monday and the mid- to-upper 80s Tuesday.

Light easterly winds will setup Sunday among a weak surface pressure gradient. Pressure falls to the west with rising pressure to the east on Monday will help sandwich in southerly winds. The next chance for precipitation will not come until Wednesday as the broad ridging pattern transitions over to a slow approaching trough. Though 20-35% PoPs return Wednesday night, the slightly better chances for the week (25-45%) lie Thursday. It is advised not to raise one's hopes quiet yet on meaningful precipitation accumulations as early on QPF forecast keep the area mainly under 0.25" of precipitation (several completely dry areas towards the south and west). The best potential will be concentrated to the north and east.

Besides the weak precipitation chances, stronger and gustier winds look to return to the area Wednesday through Friday afternoon. These stronger winds will likely come as a surface cyclone sweeps through the Northern Plains. Temperatures behind a cold front Thursday will look to knock highs out of the upper 70s and 80s for Friday (upper 50s to mid 60s). Drier conditions with periods of gusty winds will keep fire weather concerns in and around the area next week. For more information regarding the fire weather potential, please refer to the fire weather section below.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z MONDAY/

Issued at 1217 AM CDT Sun Apr 19 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

VFR conditions expected through TAF period. Light and variable winds are forecast through the mid morning hours, though winds will be largely southwesterly. After noon, winds shift to the northeast and increase to around 8-10kts. Around sunset, winds shift to the southeast sustained around 10kts. Mostly clear skies expected with a few high clouds possible Sunday afternoon/evening.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 247 PM CDT Sat Apr 18 2026

Gusty northwest winds today blowing between 15-25MPH and gusting up to 35MPH will continue through the afternoon to early evening hours. The strongest winds today have set up along/north of Interstate 80. Despite highs only in the mid 50s to low 60s, dewpoints in the single digits and teens have resulted in relative humidity values as low as 12-22%. As result of the dry conditions and gusty winds, critical fire weather conditions have set up across the entire area. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for the full area until 8PM. While winds drop off after sunset due to a loss of atmospheric mixing, relative humidity values will be slower to improve, remaining below 40-65% overnight.

Fire weather concerns will be limited Sunday as lighter winds will generally gust below 20mph. Relative humidity values of 10-20% are possible along and southwest of the Tri-Cities during the afternoon. Near-critical conditions will potentially develop across portions of Phillips/Smith/Rooks/Osborne counties where gusts of up to 20-25mph can't be ruled out.

Near-critical fire weather conditions will be possible across at least a portion of the area Monday-Friday due to the overlap of low humidity (10-20% and breezy winds (gusts at least 20-30mph). The strongest winds and likely worst fire weather conditions for the week should occur Wednesday-Friday. The main forecast feature that will determine the fire weather potential each day will be where the driest conditions set up each afternoon.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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