textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- A handful of severe storms capable of producing large hail, damaging wind gusts or an isolated tornado will be possible between 3-8PM today. The severe threat will mainly be for places near and east of HWY-81.

- A few showers, areas of drizzle and non-severe thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon across areas outside of the severe threat.

- Highs, following the passage of a cold front today, will peak in the 50s and 60s for much of the area. A few north central Kansas locations as well as far southeast Nebraska areas could see highs in the 70s.

- The next chance of precipitation will come Wednesday night (40-50% chance).

- Highs the rest of the week will stay in the 60s for Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday, the low to mid 70s for Friday and the upper 70s to low 80s for Saturday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 244 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

A broad upper level trough over the Rockies has been the driving force for severe weather yesterday and today. Water vapor imagery shows an upper level wave crossing much of the Central Plains this afternoon. Severe thunderstorms are currently going up along a boundary stretching from Hebron, NE to Lincoln, KS, as of 2:30 PM CDT. The main threat are a few tornadoes, golf ball size hail, and wind gusts up to 60 mph. Severe weather is forecast for Mitchell and Jewell continues in KS and Thayer county in NE. Storms will move out the region by the late afternoon with a majority of the severe weather threat off to the east. Areas behind the cold front, which is much of the county warning area, will see low stratus lingering into tonight causing light rain and drizzle.

Tonight, temperatures are forecast to drop down into the mid to upper 30s across the county warning area. However, cloud cover and elevated winds, around 15 mph, will likely keep frost from forming. Low stratus should start to clear out by the early morning hours west to east. Tomorrow, temperatures are forecast to climb up into the 60s. Low temperatures tomorrow night are forecast to drop down into the lower to mid 30s across the northern half of the warning area. Unlike tonight, winds are forecast to be on the lighter side allowing frost to potentially form.

Southwesterly flow aloft will continue across the Central Plains. A shortwave trough is forecast to move through the region Wednesday bringing forth chances for more precipitation. Temperatures will remain on the cooler side through the middle of the week as the cooler airmass lingers across the Plains. Thus, temperatures are forecast to range from the 60s to low 70s through Friday. Daily chances for thunderstorms returns from Wednesday night into the weekend. NSSL machine learning program and the CSU machine learning program are pegging Friday with a low chance of Severe weather mainly across the southern half of the county warning area. It is possible this low chance of severe weather shifts further south. Temperatures will warm this weekend as an upper level ridge begins to build across the Central US. This warm pattern will continue into early next with conditions drying out. The NBM 25th to 75th percentiles have high temperatures ranging from the lower 80s to the mid 90s. Thus, fairly high confidence on above normal temperatures to start out next week.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 637 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

Low level cloud cover and gusty winds will remain a concern this evening through the overnight hours. There is some uncertainty with ceilings...as models show them hovering either side of the MVFR/IFR threshold. Model time heights don't show a more improvement in ceilings until mid-late morning on Tuesday...VFR conditions do return, confidence in the exact timing is not high. Not looking at changes in the winds out of the northwest...with the potential for gusts around 25-30 MPH not out of the question through the overnight hours. Speeds gradually taper off Tuesday, mainly during the afternoon hours.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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