textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- The main rain band, currently east of Highway 281, will continue to gradually shift eastward through the afternoon, bringing an end to the rainfall area wide later this evening

- Strong northerly winds, gusting up to 40-45 MPH, will gradually decrease through the afternoon and evening hours.

- Aside from the slight chance (15-20%) of rain showers tomorrow evening into early Thursday morning, the rest of the forecast period is expected to be mostly dry.

- Temperatures are expected to be near-normal throughout the forecast period, with highs generally in the 50s and into the 60s by Saturday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 114 PM CST Tue Nov 3 2026

Today and Tonight ...

The main story of this forecast package is the evolution of the upper-level trough that is currently situated through the southern Great Plains. Amidst this parent trough is an embedded shortwave, currently lifting to the northeast. This shortwave, and its surface low-pressur center in northwestern Missouri, supporting the dreary conditions across much of the region, with the main rain band just east of Highway 281. As this low pressure center continues to move northeastward, this rain band will also slide eastward over the next few hours, bringing an end to the rainfall area wide this evening (though some western locations have already seen an end to this rain). Likewise, strong northerly winds, gusting up to 40-45 MPH, will gradually decrease through the afternoon and evening hours, with gusts above 25 MPH eventually tapering off tomorrow morning. However, the low stratus layer is expected to continue through the night for most of the area (especially areas east of Highway 183). This cloud cover, along with the cold air advection behind the front, will limit the temperature fluctuation today, with highs in the upper 40s to mid 50s (a temperature fluctuation of up to 5 degrees). Low temperatures tomorrow morning will primarily be in the 30s, with about a 30-60% chance of seeing temperatures drop below freezing northwest of a line from roughly Bertrand to Ord (which will largely depend on how much clearing will be on the back side of this system).

Tomorrow Into Thursday...

As the shortwave trough continues to move off northeast, the cloudy skies will start to clear the area by mid morning tomorrow. However, high temperatures tomorrow will still be limited to the upper 40s to 50s, as breezy northwesterly winds gusting up to 25-30 MPH are possible, particularly north of Highway 30. As the main upper level low stalls over Minnesota and Iowa, another shortwave trough passes over the area Wednesday night into Thursday morning. This upper-level disturbance brings with it a 15-20% chance of rain showers tomorrow evening into early Thursday morning, though widespread precipitation is not expected. Furthermore, cloudy skies are expected to build back into the area tomorrow night through Thursday afternoon, limiting highs on Thursday in the 50s.

Friday and Beyond...

After Thursday, the rest of the forecast period is expected to be mostly dry as an upper-level ridge starts to build over the plains, though there is a nonzero (less than 10%) chance of precipitation Saturday night into Sunday. Temperatures are expected to be near-normal, with highs increasing to the low 60s Saturday through Monday.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 546 PM CST Tue Nov 3 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

Overall a high-uncertainty forecast for ceilings tonight into Wednesday, but MVFR conditions are expected to be the prevailing group through roughly 15z Wednesday morning for both airports. Have also opted to put a couple of SCT009 decks from 06z - 15z tomorrow morning given latest model data, but confidence is moderate that we will not slip back to fully IFR conditions. KEAR looks to sit right on the sharpest edge of stratus deck through tonight, with instances of VFR possible in spotty fashion. VFR, however, is not expected to prevail until mid Wednesday morning. Despite low confidence for ceilings, confidence is high that visibilities will not be a concern.

Gusts through this evening can still reach 25+ kts at both airports. After 02z, northwesterly winds are expected to relax somewhat down to 10 kts sustained with gusts of 15+ kts. These winds will then likely stick around through the end of the TAF period. No LLWS is expected tonight.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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