textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- A cold front moves across the area today, turning winds to the north and resulting a wide range of temperatures from north to south.

- Scattered showers with a few embedded thunderstorms move through the area today and Sunday, but many locations will remain dry. - More widespread rain overspreads the area Sunday night into Monday. Highest rain totals (1.00"+) is favored in areas west of Highway 281.

UPDATE

Issued at 321 AM CDT Sat Oct 24 2026

As of 3am, radar depicts a cluster of scattered showers with a few weak thunderstorms sliding north-northeastward into south- central Nebraska. Some areas near and west of Highway 281 could pick a tenth or two of rain as they continue northward this morning, but many areas will remain dry.

A cold front that is currently nudging into north-central Nebraska will continue into the area today. This front is anticipated to reach I-80 around noon and then continue southward into northern Kansas before stalling out this evening evening. As such, northern areas may have already seen their high temperatures for today (low to mid 60s), while portions of Kansas could once again reach the low 80s. A few showers remain possible through the afternoon and evening, but CAMs show this remaining fairly isolated and light.

On Sunday, the stalled front will once again result in a wide range of temperatures across the area...ranging from the low 50s in the north to the mid 70s in the southeast. Spotty showers remain possible in western areas, but most of the daytime looks to remain dry. More widespread rain chances arrive as the upper level shortwave moves through the area Sunday evening through Monday evening.

The highest rainfall totals continue to favor the western half of the areas. The 00Z global ensembles have nudged the maxima even a bit further west. In total, some areas along Highway 81 may struggle to see 0.10", while areas in Nebraska west of Highway 183 are most favored to see 1.00" or more (50-70% chance).

DISCUSSION

Issued at 201 PM CDT Fri Oct 23 2026

An upper level ridge extends from Texas to the Upper Midwest with an upper trough just behind the upper ridge. Winds across south central and central Nebraska and north central Kansas are gusting out of the south in response to a strengthening surface trough across western Nebraska and eastern Colorado. Wind gusts up to 35 to 45 MPH are expected this afternoon across portions of the area. Temperatures this afternoon are expected to warm up into the mid 70s to lower 80s. Winds will weaken some this evening (around 15 to 20 MPH sustained) and moreso late tonight (around 5 to 10 MPH) but will remain out of the south. Low temperatures tonight will be in the low 50s to low 60s. Light rain showers may develop across portions of the area this afternoon in response to a near shortwave trough, but the main development of rain and possibly isolated thunderstorms is not expected until later this evening into tonight.

A cold front will begin to push into the area on Saturday as the upper trough begins to move over the region. Rain and storm chances will increase on Saturday (up to around 70% in some areas) near and behind the front. High temperatures on Saturday are somewhat uncertain due to strength and timing of the front but generally expect temperatures to range from the low 60s to upper 70s. Low temperatures Saturday night are expected to range from the mid/upper 30s to mid 50s. The southern portion of the previously mentioned upper trough will still be to the west and southwest of the area (just beginning to move over Nebraska and Kansas) on Sunday which will keep upper lift over the area. This will result in more rain (and possibly isolated storm) chances on Sunday and Sunday night (chances ranging from around 40% to near 100%). Temperature uncertainty will continue into Sunday but generally expect high temperatures to range from the mid 50s to mid 70s. The upper trough is expected to be over the region on Monday allowing for rain and storm chances to continue (around 60% to 90%). High temperatures on Monday will mainly be in the 50s and 60s. Low temperatures Monday night are expected to range from the low 30s to low 50s.

High temperatures in the 50s and 60s will continue for Tuesday with mostly dry conditions. There may be a slight warm up for Wednesday (highs in the 60s and 70s) with temperatures cooling again for Thursday (highs in the 50s and 60s). Low temperatures Tuesday night and Wednesday night will generally be in the mid 30s to low 50s. Various low-end (15% to near 30%) precipitation chances will be present Tuesday night through Thursday night.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 700 AM CDT Sat Oct 24 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

Showers will continue to slide northward this morning, near or just west of EAR/GRI.

A cold front moves through GRI/EAR around 17Z, with a brief period of MVFR ceilings behind it.

A shower or two cannot be totally ruled out the rest of the day, but the probability is too low (<20%) to include in the TAF.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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