textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Near critical fire weather conditions are possible this afternoon across portions of north central Kansas.

- Rain mixed with snow is expected tonight into Tuesday morning. Any snowfall accumulations will be a half inch or less.

- There is a marginal threat for severe storms Wednesday afternoon and evening primarily affecting north central Kansas and portions of far southern Nebraska.

- Rain and storm chances increase Thursday through Sunday with chances up to 80% across portions of the area.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 254 PM CDT Mon Apr 6 2026

A broad upper trough extends over the Northeast and Midwest with Nebraska and Kansas along the backside of the trough. A surface high out of Canada extends southward to Nebraska. Enhanced atmospheric lift is over the area which has resulted in some rain showers moving across northeast Nebraska. The surface high and cloud cover has kept temperatures cooler across most of the area today, but a warm front across Kansas is expected to move a little further northward this afternoon. This front may reach into north central Kansas and may result in temperatures across portions of Rooks, Osborne, and Mitchell Counties warming up into the 70s. If the warm front makes it that far north, humidity values may drop to around 20% to 25% across portions of the above mentioned counties. Wind gusts across north central Kansas may get up to around 20 MPH which may create near critical fire weather conditions this afternoon. High temperatures today are expected to range from the 40s across far northern portions of the forecast area with temperatures across far southern areas possibly reaching into the 70s. Upper level lift will increase across south central and central Nebraska and north central Kansas tonight as temperatures drop to around or below freezing. This will likely result in a mix of rain and snow across most of the forecast area. Any snow accumulations are expected to be a half inch or less.

The cooler air is expected to linger across most of the area on Tuesday with rain and snow showers lingering into the morning hours. There is some uncertainty in regards to high temperatures on Tuesday due to uncertainties with how long the cooler air will linger before a warm front lifts northward across the area. Low temperatures Tuesday night in the wake of the warm front will be mostly in the 40s. An upper trough will be over the northern Rocky Mountains and will extend to the Upper Midwest on Wednesday with it extending southward over Nebraska into Kansas. A cold front associated with this trough will push into the area on Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to warm up into the 60s and 70s on Wednesday with a surface trough present ahead of the front. Showers and thunderstorms may develop along this front Wednesday afternoon and evening. Increased CAPE, wind shear, lapse rates, and atmospheric lift will result in a marginal threat for severe storms. This threat will mainly be for north central Kansas and far southern Nebraska.

Cooler air will continue pushing into the area on Thursday but there are some uncertainties with how far south the cold front will get. Rain, with possibly some thunderstorms, is expected along and behind the front. High temperatures on Thursday are expected to range from the upper 50s to 70s. The cooler air will remain in place on Friday with high temperatures in the upper 50s to lower 60s. Shortwave troughs are expected to move over the area on Saturday allowing for more chances (65% to 80%) of showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures are generally expected to warm up on Saturday although there is some uncertainty to the degree of warm up due to moisture and cloud cover. More chances (35% to 65%) of showers and thunderstorms are present on Sunday as more shortwaves move over the area. Sunday may end up being the warmest day of the forecast with highs in the 70s and 80s with winds increasing out of the south to southwest.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 1235 PM CDT Mon Apr 6 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

Winds will be gusty out of the east northeast to east at least through this afternoon with the gusts possibly continuing into the evening hours. Low ceilings are expected to develop and move into the area around 06z-08z and continue through the rest of the period. Rain and snow showers, possibly mixed with sleet, are possible tonight into Tuesday morning. The most likely timeframe for precipitation is from around 11z to 16z.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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