textproduct: Hastings

UPDATE

Issued at 228 AM CDT Fri Jun 26 2026

Scattered showers are ongoing across the area this morning under overcast skies. Aloft a weak disturbance over the plains is embedded within broadly zonal flow. Patchy fog currently located over southwest Nebraska may sneak into western portions of the area through the mid-morning hours, but dense or widespread fog appears unlikely. Showers/fog will come to an end by the mid-morning hours as the disturbance departs the area. Widespread stratus will be slow to clear today limiting daytime heating, though sunshine returning by the mid afternoon should allow highs to reach the upper 70s.

Another round of widespread stratus and fog develops over the area tonight-Saturday morning. Within this stratus deck, drizzle or weak showers are possible, though any accumulations will be light/minimal. Similar to today, lingering stratus may be slow to clear and lead to a slightly cooler day than currently forecast (current highs low 90s southwest-low 80s northeast). Breezy winds are expected during the day, gusting 20-30mph.

Southwesterly flow strengthens over the area on Sunday as troughing deepens over the western U.S. Highs on sunday and Monday soar into the 90s to around 100. Dewpoints in the 60s to low 70s combined with highs results in heat index values topping out around 105 degrees (near Heat Advisory criteria). Should the forecast remain on track or increase slightly, a headline may be needed for a portion of the area. Otherwise, southwesterly flow remains in place through the end of the forecast period. This keeps above normal temperatures in place with highs in the 90s and breezy winds each day.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 305 PM CDT Thu Jun 25 2026

For the rest of the day and overnight, scattered off and on showers with very isolated thunder will be present through the evening hours, tapering off overnight and towards Friday morning. The latest guidance, including high-res ensemble guidance keeps the bulk of any additional rainfall to the south and east of the area. There is a potential that Rooks county could be clipped by some stronger activity that slides southeast out of western Nebraska and Kansas and could bring additional water concerns if that does occur, but confidence is not high on that solution.

The upper level pattern shifts Friday as an upper low digs into the Pacific Northwest. This causes the Central Plains to be under southwesterly upper level flow with a low developing in the lee of the Rockies. This will cause moist southerly return flow to the region. The tightening gradient will keep winds breezy at times, stronger than we've seen for a few days. Likewise, temperatures will be much warmer, with highs quickly returning to the upper 80s and low 90s for Saturday and then 90s will be widespread on Sunday and Monday.

Model solutions indicate that 70+ dewpoints will surge back north. The highest dewpoint values will be across eastern Nebraska and into Iowa/Missouri, etc. That being said, this will be quite a shock to the system after the cooler past week has been. Heat index values exceeding 100 degrees are possible especially along and east of Highway 81. Contrastingly, the dryline will set up across western Kansas and the moisture gradient will be visible where the drier air is able to mix out and temps surge even higher...primarily western portions of north central Kansas.

As June ends and July begins next week, temperatures look to stay in the 90s while the trough persists out west with ridging to the east of the Plains. Disturbances ejecting out of the upper low in the west could cause a few sporadic precipitation chances to impact the area next week, confidence in any details is low.

There is an indication that the pattern will break down towards the end of the work week and holiday weekend begins which could allow for slightly cooler temperatures and rain chances over the holiday weekend. Stay tuned.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 616 AM CDT Fri Jun 26 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

MVFR ceilings persist through the morning hours becoming VFR this afternoon. MVFR-IFR conditions expected Friday night- Saturday morning.

MVFR stratus will continue over the area through the morning hours. Within this stratus, patchy fog is possible through 9-10am but visibilities look to stay largely above 6 miles. Stratus rises gradually during the late morning hours, and clears during the afternoon. Recent model guidance favors a slightly faster clearing this afternoon, so the ending of MVFR at KGRI was sped up where stratus is favored to clear first. This will result in a window of VFR conditions from the mid afternoon-late evening hours. Around midnight MVFR stratus is expected to develop over KGRI/KEAR, with a chance to lower to IFR during the early morning hours. Model spread in timing and location precludes an IFR mention at this time, but it will likely be needed. Additionally patchy fog is favored to develop over the area Saturday morning. Some of this fog could be IFR, though again spread in timing and location precludes a sub-VFR mention at this time. For now have indicated this IFR VIS/Ceiling potential with a 6SM BR OVC010 group.

easterly winds shift to the southeast and increase to 10-12kts during the afternoon. Winds of 8-10kts are expected overnight.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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