textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Strong south winds return on Saturday. Gusts of 40-45 MPH are expected.

- Combined with the wind, continued low humidity will result in another day of widespread critical fire weather conditions. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the entire area.

- Exceptional warmth returns Sunday and Monday, followed by a strong cold frontal passage on Tuesday.

- Low chances (20-40%) for light precipitation return Tuesday- Thursday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 145 PM CDT Fri Mar 27 2026

Dry conditions continue through the weekend and into early next week. The primary weather impact this weekend will be gusty south winds on Saturday. Gusts over 40 MPH are likely (70% chance), and there is even a low chance (10%) for gusts over 50 MPH. Saturday will trend warmer...but not particularly warm by recent standards. High temperatures in the 60s to low 70s (warmest in the west) are expected.

The upper ridge moves overhead Sunday into Monday, allowing high temperatures return to the 80s. Some locations could even make another run at 90 on Monday.

Probably the most significant change is that temperatures have trended 15-20 degrees cooler for Tuesday due to faster timing of the cold front. Previously, the consensus was for highs in the 70s...but now it looks like most of the area will be stuck in the 50s.

Precipitation chances return Tuesday into Wednesday with an upper shortwave trough moving through. Unfortunately, this isn't likely to be widespread or particularly heavy. The probability for even 0.25" is relatively low at only 20-30%, and it is very possible that some spots miss out entirely. A mixture of rain and snow is possible at times, but no winter impacts are expected.

Low PoPs linger through Thursday, but this period is trending drier as we will potentially be in-between systems. After a cool day on Wednesday, temperatures rebound a bit Thursday into Friday. Additional rain chances return as another system moves through the area Friday into Saturday, but details remain uncertain.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 1245 AM CDT Sat Mar 28 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

VFR through the period with only minimal cloud cover. Main concern will be strong winds through most, if not all, of the daytime hours Saturday. Winds have turned to the SE, and will steadily pick up through the morning. Expect a noticeable jump in speeds by mid to late morning, and winds will be strong - sustained 25-30kt, gusts around 40kt, out of the S - through the afternoon. Winds will decrease around sunset, but still remain breezy...and despite the breezy surface winds Sat night, expect a strong low level jet to lead to some low level wind shear beginning around 02-03Z. Confidence: High.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 148 PM CDT Fri Mar 27 2026

The main day of concern with regards to fire weather is Saturday. Low humidity today will have pretty poor recovery overnight. Humidity may only be in the 30-40% range at sunrise on Saturday, with south winds already starting to increase. As mentioned above, widespread gusts near 45 MPH are expected. Humidity will ultimately dip to the 10-15% range in most areas by Saturday afternoon. Conditions will be slow to improve Saturday evening, but winds will eventually back off to only 10-20 MPH Saturday night.

Sunday and Monday will feature highs in the 80s. Returning moisture could help eastern areas from seeing critical humidity, but the western half will remain very very dry. Fortunately, winds will be significantly lighter than on Saturday, only resulting an elevated to near-critical fire weather threat.

The front has trended faster for Tuesday. It will remain windy, but cooler temperatures and higher humidity will hopefully prevent another widespread critical fire weather day.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...Red Flag Warning from 9 AM this morning to 10 PM CDT this evening for NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087. KS...Red Flag Warning from 9 AM this morning to 10 PM CDT this evening for KSZ005>007-017>019.