textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- A Heat Advisory is in effect for many locations east of Highway 281 today until 9 PM.

- Severe storms may impact parts of the area this evening into tonight. Large hail and damaging winds are the main threats.

- Severe storms will again be a threat Tuesday evening into Tuesday night. Large hail and damaging winds will be possible.

- Strong to severe storms will again be possible on Wednesday. Details are more uncertain than the previous 2 days.

- Severe storms may impact portions of the area during the evening hours on July 4th. Details are uncertain at this time.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 242 PM CDT Mon Jun 29 2026

An upper trough is over the western half of the country with an upper low over Montana and another upper low over California. An upper level ridge is over the extends from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes. South central and central Nebraska and north central Kansas are under the transition zone between the upper trough and upper ridge. A surface low is across the area with breezy south to southwest winds. These conditions will result in temperatures heating up into the 90s and low 100s this afternoon. Heat index values today are expected to rise to around 105 to near 110 for many areas east of Highway 281 due to higher dewpoint temperatures. This area is in a Heat Advisory until 9 PM this evening.

All of this heat and moisture is expected to result in very high CAPE values this afternoon (over 1,000 J/kg to over 5,000 J/kg). 0 to 6 km wind shear will also be fairly high (25 to 50 knots). Mid- level lapse rates of 7 to 8+ degrees C/km this afternoon into this evening. A weak cold front is expected to move into the area this evening into tonight and will provide a focus and an additional source of lift for thunderstorms. Strong to severe storms may develop this evening into tonight based on the above mentioned conditions. The hindering factor in storm development across the area may be a strong enough CAP to overcome any atmospheric lift. If storms overcome the CAP, they will likely become strong to severe. The 14z HRRR shows storms beginning to develop across the area between 8 and 9 PM this evening and continuing until around 2 AM. The 12z NAM is not really showing any storm development across the forecast area (it shows development across NE Nebraska). The main hazards with any storm would be hail up to around half dollar size and wind gusts up to around 60 MPH. Low temperatures tonight are expected to range from the low 60s to upper 70s.

Temperatures will be a little cooler on Tuesday with highs in the upper 80s to mid/upper 90s. Showers and thunderstorms may develop across portions of the area beginning Tuesday afternoon. Chances will increase up to 50% Tuesday evening into the overnight hours. Some of these storms may become strong to severe in the evening and overnight hours with high CAPE values (mostly between 3,000 to 4,000+ J/kg), wind shear up to 50 knots across portions of the area, and mid-level lapse rates of 7 to 8+ degrees C/km. Large hail and damaging winds will be the main threats. Storms may develop along the stalled cold front from the day before. Some models don't show any storms. Rain and storm chances increase up to around 50% Tuesday evening and overnight. Low temperatures tomorrow night will generally range from the mid 60s to mid 70s.

Similar high temperatures will be present on Wednesday as on Tuesday. Showers and storms will again be possible Wednesday afternoon (up to 20% chance) and evening/overnight (up to near 60% chance). A few of those storms may become strong to severe but the parameters are not quite as high as the previous 2 days so not expecting as widespread/intense severe weather. Winds will strengthen out of the south on Thursday with temperatures warming up into the upper 80s to mid/upper 90s. Temperatures will heat up even more on Friday with highs in the 90s to low 100s. Temperatures have the potential to heat up even more (mainly south of I-80) on Saturday (4th of July) in advance of an approaching cold front. The degree of heating is somewhat uncertain at this point but some locations across north central Kansas could reach 105 degrees. Showers and thunderstorms may develop (especially across northern portions of the area along and north of I-80) Saturday evening and overnight. These storms may become strong to severe given high CAPE, wind shear, and mid-level lapse rates. Cooler temperatures are expected on Sunday with highs in the 80s to low 90s.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1209 AM CDT Tue Jun 30 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

VFR conditions are expected throughout the TAF forecast. A boundary is currently bisecting the area, with KEAR/KGRI currently observing southerly winds. Winds are expected to shift and become northerly as this boundary moves slightly south. Because the winds are relatively light and there is ongoing convection to the North of the area, there is some uncertainty with the exact timing of the wind shift. Nonetheless, winds should be northerly around 10-11Z.

During the afternoon, winds are expected to return to S/SE, with speeds between 7-10kts. Tuesday evening, thunderstorms are expected to develop in the area. However, this potential was left out of the TAF due to low confidence in the storm coverage/timing/location. If a thunderstorm does impact the terminals, hail and strong wind gusts may be possible.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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