textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Critical fire weather conditions through the evening hours. A Red Flag Warning is in effect until 10pm.

- Well above normal temperatures on Sunday and Monday with highs in the 70s to low 90s.

- Cooler and breezy weather behind a cold front on Tuesday.

- Off and on precipitation (20-45%) chances Tuesday through the end of the forecast period.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 347 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2026

This afternoon and Tonight...

Temperatures this afternoon are currently sitting in the 60s. Southerly winds gusting 35-45mph combined with relative humidity values in the teens are resulting in critical fire weather conditions across the area. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 10pm. Gusty southerly winds will continue into the evening hours, but steadily decrease after sunset. Lows tonight will be in the upper 30s to mid 40s.

Sunday...

Aloft ridging builds over the Rockies/Plains on Sunday, resulting in another warm day across the area. Highs climb into the 70s and 80s across the area. A push of westerly winds during the afternoon hours will allow western portions of the area to climb into the mid to upper 80s. Winds will be much lighter than on Saturday, with gusts generally below 20mph. The lighter winds will also keep fire weather concerns lower despite relative humidity values below 20% along and west of Highway 281. Still, an area of elevated to near- critical fire weather conditions remains possible Sunday afternoon across western portions of the area where gusts reach 20mph.

Monday...

The center of the ridge moves over the area on Monday with a shortwave trough moving into the western Rockies. Highs soar into the 80s to low 90s, warmest across southwestern portions of the area. Afternoon relative humidity values on Monday will be similar to Sunday, below 20% along/west of Highway 281. Light winds (gusts generally below 20mph) keep fire weather concerns lower. Enjoy this warmth while you can, as noticeably cooler weather is expected through the end of the forecast period.

Tuesday Onwards...

A shortwave trough and associated cold front move through the area Tuesday morning, bringing much cooler (seasonable) temperatures to the area. Northerly winds gusting 30-40mph are favored behind the front, continuing throughout the day on Tuesday. Precipitation chances return to the area behind the frontal passage. Anything that does fall on Tuesday looks to remain quite light, with the ECMWF and GFS ensembles indicating a less than 10% chance for 0.10" or more.

Southwesterly flow sets up across the area and persists through the end of the forecast period. Model spread within this southwesterly flow results in broad, continued PoPs throughout the latter half of the forecast period. This model spread brings some uncertainty as to how much precipitation the area will actually see, but overall accumulations do not look to be much at this time. The GFS and ECMWF ensembles indicate a 50-70% chance for 0.10" through Friday morning and a less than 20% chance for 0.5", with the overall highest chances across east/southeast portions of the area. Some of this could fall as a rain/snow mix during the overnight hours but any winter impacts are not expected. A stronger shortwave trough looks to move through the Plains Friday night-Saturday, with the best PoP chances across eastern portions of the area.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z MONDAY/

Issued at 658 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

Tonight: Strong Srly winds will gradually decrease this evening after sunset, but remain breezy through at least midnight. Expect a low level inversion to develop by around 02-03Z which should support some low level wind shear at both sites. Both sfc winds and LLWS should weaken by dawn, and weaker winds are likely for Sunday. Wind direction should gradually veer midday Sunday into the afternoon.

VFR conditions expected through the period, though there will be considerable mid to high clouds overnight.

Confidence: High.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 347 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2026

Southerly winds gusting 35-45mph are expected to continue through the mid evening hours. Winds steadily decrease after sunset, though gusts of 25-30mph remain possible through midnight. Relative humidity values remain below 20% through sunset, climbing above 25% around 10pm. The breezy-gusty winds and low humidity keep a Red Flag Warning in effect across the area through 10pm. Humidity is expected to climb above 60% overnight, with gusts falling below 20mph by sunrise on Sunday.

Well above normal temperatures on Sunday and Monday will result in afternoon relative humidity values falling below 20% along and west of Highway 281. Higher dewpoints across eastern portions of the area will keep RH values higher/above concern despite the warm temperatures. Winds also look to remain light, with gusts generally below 20mph. Still, periods of elevated to near-critical fire weather conditions may develop across western portions of the area Sunday/Monday where gusts reach 20-25mph during the afternoon hours.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...Red Flag Warning until 10 PM CDT this evening for NEZ039>041- 046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087. KS...Red Flag Warning until 10 PM CDT this evening for KSZ005>007- 017>019.