textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- A mix of snow/freezing drizzle moves south-southeast across the area this morning. Localized accumulations of a light glaze of ice and/or a dusting of snow are possible.

- Well above normal temperatures arrive Thursday and continue into next week. Highs will be in the upper 40s to mid 60s.

- Dry weather expected Thursday through early next week.

UPDATE

Issued at 251 AM CST Wed Feb 4 2026

Low stratus currently resides across the eastern half of the forecast area, with temperatures in the low 30s under stratus. To the west, under partly cloudy skies, temperatures have sunk into the 20s. Aloft, a trough is deepening over the Plains/Midwest with a lobe of energy embedded within the broader troughing diving towards the area. This will push a band of precipitation towards the area. Forecast soundings and surface temperatures near to below freezing favor a mix of snow and freezing drizzle, which will slide south- southeast across the area throughout the morning hours. Widespread accumulations do not appear likely, but localized areas could see a light glaze of ice and/or a dusting of snow which could result in slick spots on roads and surfaces. Snow/Freezing drizzle is expected to exit south/southeastern portions of the area by the early afternoon hours. Skies clear this afternoon, becoming mostly clear this evening. Highs today will range from the upper 30s in the east where stratus lingers the longest, to the upper 40s in the west.

Otherwise the warm up through the rest of the forecast period remains on track, with highs soaring into the upper 50s to mid 60s on Thursday. If highs on Thursday were to overperform the current forecast, Grand Island and Hastings could approach records (GRI/HSI forecast 61 degrees. GRI record 65, HSI record 66). Highs in the 50s and 60s continue through early next week. The next chance for precipitation will arrive mid-week next week though the details remain uncertain at this time.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 323 PM CST Tue Feb 3 2026

Today through Wednesday night...

A broad upper trough covers the eastern 2/3rds of the country with an upper ridge over the West Coast. Northerly winds are across south central and central Nebraska and north central Kansas. A surface high is centered over Minnesota and extends southward to Texas. The coldest temperatures across the area are generally along and east of Highway 81 with the warmest temperatures along and west of Highway 183. Areas of rain may impact western portions of the forecast area this afternoon into this evening. Another round of precipitation is expected to move in from the north Wednesday morning. The precipitation will likely mostly be in the form of snow early Wednesday morning then transition to freezing drizzle/freezing rain later in the morning as the dendritic grow zone becomes dry with a saturated layer between 0 and -10 degrees C. The precipitation is expected to end by early to mid Wednesday afternoon. Little to no snow accumulation is expected (less than 1 inch). Some light ice accumulation is possible (up to 0.01 inches). Low temperatures tonight will be in the 20s. High temperatures on Wednesday will range from the upper 30s to around 50 degrees with northerly winds. Low temperatures Wednesday night will be similar to the previous night.

Thursday through Monday...

The upper trough will be further east on Thursday with the upper ridge over the Rocky Mountains. Northwesterly winds will be across the area on Thursday with temperatures expected to warm up into the 50s and 60s. The warm-up will continue into Thursday night with lows in the 30s. The upper ridge will begin to move into the Plains on Friday with a surface high extending from the northern Plains/Upper Midwest to Oklahoma. There is some uncertainty with high temperatures on Friday due to boundary placement, but expect highs to generally be in the 50s. The region will be on the backside of the surface high Friday night with temperatures cooling into the 20s across most of the area. Temperatures will warm up into the mid 50s to mid 60s on Saturday as winds will mostly be out of the south. Similar temperatures are expected on Sunday. A further warm up is expected on Monday as winds increase out of the southwest. High temperatures on Monday are expected to mostly be in the 60s.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 521 AM CST Wed Feb 4 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

MVFR stratus moves into KGRI/KEAR over the next couple of hours, and is expected to persist into the afternoon. Precipitation is expected to remain outside of the forecast area but a brief -SN or -FZDZ is possible through the mid-late morning hours, but confidence is not high enough to include a Prob30 group. There remains some uncertainty how quickly stratus clears this afternoon, but have opted to lean to a slower clearing/transition to VFR. Partly cloudy high level clouds are expected through the overnight hours.

Northwest winds increase to around 10-15kts this morning, and persisting through the afternoon. Winds become light and variable during the evening-overnight hours before shifting to the west-southwest late in the TAF period. Additionally, late in the TAF period LLWS is favored to develop due to stronger winds aloft.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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