textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- One more cold night (lows in the teens)...then warming up with record high temperatures possible later in the week (see climate section). - There is a low chance (20-30%) for light rain/snow on Tuesday, mainly north and east of Grand Island. Dry weather forecast the remainder of the period.

- A modest cooldown possible late next weekend (with highs falling into the 50s & 60s), but still near to above normal area-wide.

- Fire weather conditions continue to be the main weather concern over the course of the next week and a Red Flag Warning and Fire Weather Watch are in effect for parts of the local area Tuesday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 204 PM CDT Mon Mar 16 2026

A chilly March afternoon across the region today as despite mostly sunny skies, a cold airmass lingered behind yesterdays cold front. Gusty north winds have also not helped out wind chills, with wind gusts of 30 to 35 MPH being observed across the region this afternoon. Given the gusty winds and dry airmass, elevated fire weather concerns remain mainly southwest of a line from Kearney to Hebron, with current RH values in the range of 20 to 25 percent at several locations.

Expect winds to diminish fairly rapidly this evening as they shift and become more southerly overnight, in response to an approaching trough from the northwest. All signs point to this front being mostly dry for the local area, with only the smallest chances (15-25%) for a light rain/snow shower northeast of the Tri-cities Tuesday. Despite the increased clouds...temperatures will still climb significantly across the region tomorrow as a warm front crosses from the west. This will likely lead to a sharp gradient in temperatures across the area, with enough warming to justify fire weather headlines for areas primarily west of Highway 281 earlier today.

Behind this system, expect further warming through the rest of the week as high pressure builds aloft and temperatures climb into the 80s for the middle/latter portion of the week. Thankfully, with high pressure aloft, the pressure gradient near the surface appears on the weaker side, so very strong winds are not anticipated. That said, with dry fuels, low RH values and warm temperatures, would not be surprised if additional fire weather headlines will be needed later this week.

After a 3 day period of near/record warmth, expect a glancing blow from a cold front to our north to help knock down temperatures closer to climo for Sunday and Monday, along with the potential for some gusty winds (40+ mph) next Sunday. At this point, no precipitation is expected locally with this front and ensembles look fairly bleak, precipitation wise, through at least day 10.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 1231 PM CDT Mon Mar 16 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

High confidence VFR conditions at both terminals through the period with increasing mid/high level clouds and good vsbys throughout.

Expect breezy northwesterly winds to continue across the area...with gusts to around 25 KTS...through 17/01Z. Thereafter, surface winds should decouple and become light and variable during the late evening hours, before shifting and becoming southerly across the area ahead of an approaching trough during the overnight hours. Southerly winds will then increase across the area Tuesday by late morning, but remain lighter (Gusts closer to 20 KTS) than what we have seen today. CIGS will lower some overnight, eventually to around 5-8KFT by early Tuesday morning, but are expected to remain VFR throughout.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 204 PM CDT Mon Mar 16 2026

Near-critical fire weather conditions are expected this afternoon across areas generally southwest of a line from Kearney to Hebron, Nebraska...due to the combination of gusty north winds (up to 35 MPH) and low relative humidity values (as low as 25 percent).

There will be a large spread in temperatures on Tuesday, but western areas could see temps reach the 70s and humidity dip below 20 percent. At the same time, a surge of stronger westerly wind could result in near-critical conditions west of Highway 281, with critical conditions expected across portions of Dawson and Gosper counties.

Wednesday through Saturday will be unseasonably warm. Winds do not look overly strong for most of this timeframe, but with near record warmth and low relative humidity values, expect to see at least elevated to near-critical fire weather concerns each afternoon.

CLIMATE

Issued at 204 PM CDT Mon Mar 16 2026

As temperatures climb into the 80s later this week, a few record warm temperatures could be in jeopardy across the local area.

Thursday March 19 Forecast High Record Max/Year Hastings 79 84 (1921) Grand Island 80 86 (1921)

Friday March 20 Forecast High Record Max/Year Hastings 84 82 (1939) Grand Island 84 84 (1921)

Saturday March 21 Forecast High Record Max/Year Hastings 84 87 (1910) Grand Island 82 83 (1988)

In addition, record warm minimum temperatures will also be possible Friday and Saturday.

Friday March 20 Forecast Low Record Warm Min/Year Hastings 48 46 (2011) Grand Island 47 50 (1921)

Saturday March 21 Forecast Low Record Warm Min/Year Hastings 49 47 (2012) Grand Island 48 54 (1911)

Temperature records for Hastings date back to 1907 and they date back to 1895 for Grand Island.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday evening for NEZ039-046-061-073-074-082>084. Red Flag Warning from noon to 9 PM CDT Tuesday for NEZ060-072. KS...Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday evening for KSZ005-017.