textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- High Winds this afternoon will diminish quickly this evening ending the primary impacts around sunset.

- Breezy winds from the south Friday allowing temperatures to moderate back into the 50s for most.

- Long-term trend, upper level ridging will bring well above normal temperatures for the Holiday week, including Christmas Day.

UPDATE

Issued at 535 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

The High Wind and Red Flag Warnings will be allowed to expire at 6pm as winds quickly diminish with sunset.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 356 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

Strong northerly winds have been present throughout the day today as the secondary front came through during the morning hours. Frequent northerly wind gusts exceeding 58 mph (with some exceeding 70 mph) have been present across much of south central Nebraska and north central Kansas. These winds will begin to diminish over the next couple hours as the upper system moves off and the sun sets minimizing boundary layer mixing. The change will be fairly rapid with surface high pressure overhead during the overnight hours and light and variable winds at most locations by midnight. The rapid decline in winds may allow the High Wind Warning to be expired/cancelled slightly early, but at a minimum the 6pm looks to be fine as an expiration time.

The strong winds coupled with low RH values will keep fire danger elevated, and a Red Flag Warning remains in effect until 6pm as well, as the winds decrease and RH values increase by 6pm, the RFW will also be able to be expired/cancelled early.

Overall upper level flow will transition from zonal/slight northwesterly flow to upper level ridging by mid next week. No major weather systems are expected to move through the area during this time. Temperatures will begin on a big of a roller coaster before moving higher as we approach Christmas Day.

Friday night/Saturday morning, another front will move through, dropping temps under mostly cloudy skies, but no precipitation is expected.

As we move into the Holiday week, temperatures will be well above normal. For reference, highs in the upper 30s are climatological norms for mid/late December. Temps will be in the 50s to 60s next week. On Christmas Day alone, the high looks to be in the low 60s. The Record High for Christmas Day at Grand Island, NE (KGRI) is 62 degrees. The full suite of 100 models at 7 days out indicates that there is a 31% chance that the temperature will exceed 60 degrees, and a 62% chance the temp will exceed 55 degrees at Grand Island. No holiday travel impacts are currently expected.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 529 PM CST Thu Dec 18 2025

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

VFR conditions are expected through the period (95% confidence). Winds quickly taper off this evening and turn back to the south and southwest for Friday. Gusts 25-30kts are expected at times through the daytime Friday.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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