textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Patchy fog possible through the mid-morning hours. Visibilities may drop to one mile or less at times.

- Well above normal temperatures continue through Monday, with record high temperatures possible on Monday (see climate section for more details).

- As a result of the above normal warmth, there is at least limited potential for ice jam flooding over the next few days along our Nebraska counties residing along the Platte/Loup River systems (see separate HYDROLOGY section below for more).

- Low probability chances for precipitation (15-30%) return mid- late next week, though widespread or significant accumulations appear unlikely at this time.

UPDATE

Issued at 346 AM CST Sat Feb 7 2026

Aloft a trough sits over the eastern U.S. with ridging over the Rockies. An embedded disturbance moving through this ridging is currently located over the central Rockies. Patchy fog is beginning to develop over the area. At this time, widespread dense fog appears unlikely, but visibility may drop to one mile or less at times in fog. Any fog is expected to dissipate by the mid-morning hours. Highs today will climb into the 50s, with 60s possible west of Highway 183 as the aforementioned disturbance lifts a warm front into the area. Breezy southerly winds are expected today, gusting 25- 35mph, strongest along and north of Interstate 80. Lows tonight will be in the 30s as the warm front continues to lift across the area.

Warmer weather is expected on Sunday as highs soar into the 60s under mostly sunny skies. Winds remain light on Sunday, resulting in a very pleasant day overall. Monday continues to be the warmest day of the forecast period, with record warmth expected. Highs soar into the 70s, around 35 degrees above their climatological normals!

The forecast remains on track through the rest of the forecast period as a cold front moves through the area Monday night as southwesterly flow aloft sets up over the area. This brings results in multiple low probability chances (15-30%) for precipitation to the area. Cooler but above normal temperatures (highs 40s/50s) are expected through the end of the forecast period.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 202 PM CST Fri Feb 6 2026

A backdoor cold front pushed into the area early this morning bringing some stratus to northeastern portions of the forecast area to start the day. This cloud cover has since mostly eroded/retreated to the northeast, with widespread afternoon temperatures in the 50s and breezy north winds being observed this afternoon.

Expect an area of surface high pressure to settle in across the local area from the north this evening, helping diminish winds across the area. As this high tracks away from the area during the overnight hours, southeasterly return flow will eventually provide a somewhat favorable environment for some light fog formation to start the day on Saturday. While there will be some high clouds filtering in from the west overnight, still think that temps will fall off enough early in the night to allow for the the potential of at least some patchy fog formation in upslope flow to start the day Saturday, with some models (such as the 18Z HRRR) indicating some patchy dense fog is a possibility. While dense fog was not introduced to the forecast or HWO, did include the mention of at least patchy fog development across the area in the most recent forecast update.

As southerly winds increase across the area on Saturday, expect a breezy afternoon with southerly winds gusting to near 35 mph along with increasing temperatures, likely topping out in the mid 50s to near 60...as the axis of the upper level ridge shifts east across the region. This should mark the start of a significant warm-up late in the weekend, with afternoon temperatures climbing into the 60s Sunday and likely 70s Monday. These unseasonably warm temperatures will be accompanied by light winds both days, making for a spectacular finish to the weekend and start of the new week. Given how temperatures have been trending upwards, would not be surprised to see Monday top out closer to the 75th percentile of NBM guidance, meaning mid-70s when all is said and done.

Beyond Monday, the upper level flow flattens out and becomes more zonal, bringing several west coast disturbances across the southwest/intermountain west towards the middle and latter portion of next week. This should help moderate temperatures some, holding them back down closer to 50 most afternoons as well as bringing a chance for some light precip back to the area as early as Tuesday afternoon. While the better chances for precip look more towards Thursday, we have a small chance for light rain or snow mixed in across the local area Tuesday on-ward, with temperatures favoring more rain than snow, with little to no snow accumulation anticipated if any snow is eventually realized during the late night through overnight hours any one of those days.

Long range computer model data as well as the latest 8-14 day outlook from CPC both favor above normal temperatures continuing into the latter part of the month (through at least the 21st), with no significant cool-down in sight.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 523 AM CST Sat Feb 7 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

Patchy fog is possible at KEAR through 15z, given brief 1SM fog development earlier in the night, but confidence in it re- developing is too low to include in the TAF at this time. Have indicated this potential with a 6SM BR group but an amendment may be needed if fog re-develops. Otherwise VFR conditions are expected through the rest of the TAF period.

Southerly winds strengthen this morning, with sustained winds around 20kts and gusts around 30kts during the late morning-mid afternoon hours. Winds decrease during the late afternoon hours, becoming light and southwesterly around sunset. Winds shift to the northwest overnight. SCT-BKN High level clouds are possible through the TAF period.

HYDROLOGY

Issued at 856 PM CST Fri Feb 6 2026

- REGARDING LOCALIZED ICE JAM POTENTIAL ALONG THE PLATTE/LOUP RIVER SYSTEMS...MAINLY THROUGH MONDAY:

At this time, we are not aware of any active/ongoing ice jam flooding within our central/south central NE counties that reside along the Platte and various segments of the Loup River (meaning most of our counties along/north of I-80).

However, continued well-above normal temperatures (especially through Monday) will cause increasing ice melt along these rivers, which could result in the POSSIBLE formation of localized ice jams and resultant flooding. Unlike "traditional" warm season flooding from heavy rain that is typically easier to detect via radar rainfall estimation and our network of river gages, ice jam flooding is typically very difficult to detect proactively/remotely (unless it occurs very near a gauge). Thus we are very reliant on emergency management, spotters etc. to keep us informed of any ice jam flooding issues.

Although our confidence level in actually realizing ice jam flooding issues within our forecast area over the next few days is not deemed high enough to justify a formal Flood Watch, this potential concern is now being highlighted not only in our Hazardous Weather Outlook (HWOGID), but also in a somewhat more "visible" Special Weather Statement (SPSGID).

CLIMATE

Issued at 856 PM CST Fri Feb 6 2026

- REGARDING RECORD WARM HIGH TEMP POTENTIAL MONDAY (FEB. 9): Although high temps will jump solidly into the 60s across our forecast area Sunday afternoon (Feb. 8), existing daily records in the low-70s at Grand Island/Hastings airports appear to be out of reach (these are the two NWS-maintained sensors for which we issue official Record Event Reports/RERs).

HOWEVER, Monday (Feb. 9) carries a greater potential for tying and/or breaking existing record highs at both sites. Please note that * indicates our latest forecast would would tie or break the existing daily record:

- RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE | Latest Forecast Grand Island, NE (GRI) Feb. 9: 70 in 1996 | 72*

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Hastings, NE (HSI) Feb. 9: 70 in 1954 | 71*

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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