textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- After highs in the 50s on Monday, well above normal temperatures work their way back onto the Plains...peaking on Wednesday. Highs on Wednesday are forecast to reach into the 80s-low 90s, threatening record high temps at both Grand Island and Hastings.

- An upper level disturbance will be pushing a strong cold front through the area during the day on Thursday...making for a tricky temperature forecast. This front will also be ushering in stronger north winds, with gusts exceeding 30 MPH possible.

- Spotty areas of at least near-critical fire weather conditions continue through mid-week, mainly focused over the western half of the forecast area.

UPDATE

Issued at 1241 AM CDT Tue Mar 24 2026

Currently...

The forecast currently sits with overall quiet conditions...with upper air and satellite data showing the region under solidly west-northwesterly flow. The upper air pattern for us is being driven by broad ridging over the western CONUS, extending from high pressure along the western US/Mex border...to our east, broad troughing sits along the East Coast. Skies through the rest of the overnight-early morning hours tonight look to remain generally partly cloudy. At the surface, the breezy/gusty conditions from earlier have diminished, with speeds closer to 10 MPH. Winds remain southeasterly, with the forecast area set up between a large area of high pressure centered over the Great Lakes/Midwest region and a weak frontal boundary draped through the High Plains.

Today Through Thursday...

Overall no significant changes were made to the forecast, which for most of this mid-week period is dry. Models remain in good agreement showing the upper level ridging currently centered off to our west amplifying a touch, then shifting to the east as a broad disturbance moves onto the northern half of the West Coast tonight into Wednesday. As that energy continues sliding east across the northern CONUS, this will bring more zonal flow to the area for Wed night into Thursday.

For today, main story lies with temperatures starting to rebound from the highs in the 50s on Monday...thanks to that upper ridging/thermal ridge axis starting to shift east. Expecting sky cover to remain generally partly cloudy...and winds are southerly, picking up in speed a touch during the day as the sfc pressure gradient tightens up a bit across the area. Sustained speeds look to be around 15 MPH, gusts around 20-25 MPH are not out of the question. High temperatures are forecast to climb into the 70s...and at least near-critical fire weather conditions will be possible across western portions of the forecast area (along/west of HWY 183). Across this area, the warmest temps and lowest relative humidity values develop (15-25 percent)...but is also expected to have a relative lull in winds. Across central/eastern areas, winds are a touch higher, but so are are forecast relative humidity values. As a result of lowest RH/higher winds not quite matching up...forecast ends up with near-critical conditions, but things are not enough for a formal fire headline.

Wednesday remains the overall hottest day of the week...with the potential for record-breaking high temperatures. Winds start the day south-southwesterly, and models remain in good agreement then showing winds turning to the west-northwest as a sfc trough axis swings through the area. Not expecting a push of cooler air, if anything the more westerly, downsloping winds will help mixing potential/tap into the warmer air aloft. Current forecast calls for mid 80s in the NE to low 90s in the SW...with 89 forecast for both GRI and HSI, which would break record highs (see climate section below for more). Expecting widespread relative humidity values dropping into the teens during the afternoon hours...but current forecast winds look to remain light enough to keep fire weather conditions at bay...but we'll see how models trend, it wouldn't take much of an increase in winds for there to be bigger issues.

As we get into Thursday...NBM continues to keep some scattered low-end precipitation chances in the forecast (20-30 percent), as that upper level swings mainly through portions of the Plains. Models vary with how far south the system pushes, and whether the forecast area sees any precipitation or not. At this point...shouldn't get your hopes up on seeing appreciable moisture. The main impact from this system swinging through will be the accompanying surface cold front...which models showing pushing south through the area during the daytime hours. This timing makes a difficult temperature forecast...current highs range from the mid-upper 60s in the far NW to mid 80s in the far SE, it's that middle portion of the area that has the bigger bust potential depending on the frontal timing. Strong northerly winds will also be ushered in with this boundary...gusts over 30 MPH will be possible.

Friday on...

Forecast dries back out for Friday on into the weekend. Friday brings a brief cooldown behind Thursday's frontal passage, with highs currently in the low-mid 50s...but look to rebound back into the 70s by Sunday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 143 PM CDT Mon Mar 23 2026

Southeast winds persist through the afternoon, gradually diminishing this evening into tonight. There should be enough breaks in cloud cover to allow temperatures to once again fall to near freezing by Tuesday morning.

Winds become more southerly on Tuesday as upper-level ridging builds over the western CONUS. This will allow solidly above- normal temperatures to return to the area. Widespread highs in the 70s are expected...which is 10-20 degrees above climatological normals.

Wednesday trends even warmer as the upper level ridge moves overhead and we see west-northwesterly surface winds. Based on the NBM, there is a high chance (90%) that we will reach/exceed record high temperatures at both Grand Island and Hastings. The current records are 88 and 85 degrees, respectively.

A cold front moves through Thursday morning, ushering in stronger north winds. Gusts 35 to 40 MPH are likely in most areas, and there is a chance (20%) that some areas see gusts in excess of 50 MPH. The timing of the front will also result in a wide range (and uncertainty) of high temperatures across the area. A shortwave may bring some light rain/snow to portions of the area, mainly during the evening and overnight. That said, the probably for any snow accumulation is less than 5%...and many areas will remain completely dry.

Friday will remain on the cooler side, but above-normal temperatures are favored to return over the weekend and into early next week. Details remain very uncertain, but there are early indications that we could transition to a more active (wetter) pattern to start the month of April.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 623 AM CDT Tue Mar 24 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

Dry weather with VFR conditions are forecast for this TAF period...with any cloud cover passing through expected to remain near/above 10k ft. SErly winds early this morning will turn more southerly with time through the rest of the morning hours, increasing in speed closer to midday. Gusty conditions will be possible through the afternoon hours, with gusts around 20-25 MPH not out of the question. This evening, winds taper off in speed, turning back more southeasterly, before switching to a more southwesterly direction after midnight ahead of an approaching surface boundary.

CLIMATE

Issued at 1241 AM CDT Tue Mar 24 2026

Well above normal temperatures work their way back into the area for the middle of the week, peaking on Wednesday, March 25th. Record high temperatures will be threatened at both Grand Island and Hastings.

For Grand Island: Forecast high temp for March 25th: 89 Record high temp for March 25th: 88, set in 1910

Fore Hastings: Forecast high temp for March 25th: 89 Record high temp for March 25th: 85, set in 1956

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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