textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Models are keying in on another round of thunderstorms impacting much of the local area late tonight. Given the available instability, some stronger storms with small hail and wind gusts to 60 MPH will be possible.

- Another round of thunderstorms is expected to impact at least parts of the local area Saturday evening/night. If storms develop Saturday evening, they could become severe. Hail to the size of ping pong balls and 60 MPH will both be possible.

- Seasonably warm temperatures (mainly 80s) are expected through the end of the forecast period with periodic chances for additional showers and thunderstorms each day.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 313 PM CDT Fri May 29 2026

An upper level disturbance passed mainly south of the local area today. Scattered showers and a couple of isolated weak thunderstorms were observed on its northern edge, but these are mostly exiting the local area this afternoon. As this disturbance exits to the east, expect a few breaks in cloud cover through the remainder of the afternoon hours as the local area will be inbetween disturbances...with these breaks potentially allowing for a few additional showers or weak thunderstorms through early evening.

Late tonight...anticipate the next upper level wave to cross the local area from the southwest. Models have been keying in on this disturbance all day and gradually increasing their areal coverage of showers and thunderstorms late tonight...primarily after midnight. While there is ample instability to work with as the disturbance crosses the local area, shear is fairly weak and widespread strong/severe storms are not expected. That said, a few pulsy stronger storms will be possible late tonight, with the general focus for the best coverage anticipated across areas primarily across our Nebraska coverage area. While this disturbance should be exiting the local area around daybreak, some models are trying to hang on to some scattered convection through the mid-morning hours, so gradually tapered off pops from west to east through around 18Z.

The fairly active weather pattern of late will then continue Saturday night as the next upper level disturbance reaches the local area. Given strong instability and a weak CAP, little forcing will be needed to get some activity going by early evening, although once again, shear is weak. Given the very strong instability, could see some large hail with the strongest storms, and kept the wording for ping pong potential along with wind gusts up to 60 mph in the HWO.

Thereafter...a messy west southwesterly flow pattern aloft is forecast to continue across the plains through the end of next week with periodic upper level disturbances maintaining an unsettled weather pattern across the local area along with modestly above normal temperatures in the 80s (normal high temperatures are in the upper 70s/low 80s for late May/early June).

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1232 PM CDT Fri May 29 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

Generally poor conditions through the period. While a few breaks in cloud cover may be realized later today, overall, MVFR or lower categories expected through the end of the period.

CIGS have mostly improved early this afternoon with IFR CIGS having lifted to MVFR level outside of any ongoing precip. While there could be additional -SHRA/-TSRA development over the next 2-4 hours, overall, these showers should be fairly hit and miss and limited their coverage to PROB30 groups at both terminals. Later this evening, expect a disturbance emerging from the southern Rockies to help spark an additional round of -SHRAs/-TSRAs after roughly midnight. Once again, covered this potential with another PROB30 group...with CIGs eventually returning to IFR levels overnight. This disturbance should clear the terminals by mid-Saturday morning, with MVFR or possibly VFR CIGS returning to the area during the afternoon hours.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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