textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- The West Fork Big Blue River near Grafton remains in minor flood stage but is slowly dropping. The Flood Warning is in effect until 1 PM today.

- The forecast still looks to be fairly dry through the next 7 days (high confidence).

- High temperatures will range from the low 70s to mid 80s with low temperatures ranging from mid 40s to mid 60s through the week.

UPDATE

Issued at 101 AM CDT Sun Oct 4 2026

The West Fork Big Blue River near Grafton remains in minor flood stage but is slowly dropping. The Flood Warning for this area is in effect until 1 PM today. Currently across south central and central Nebraska and north central Kansas, winds are light and somewhat variable with clear to mostly clear skies. Winds will mostly be out of the north and will remain light by sunrise with temperatures dropping into the low/mid 40s to low/mid 50s. Cooler air will move into the area with a surface high nearby today. Winds will remain light (around 5 to 10 MPH) and will transition towards the east this afternoon into this evening as the surface high becomes centered across eastern Nebraska. High temperatures today will be in the low to mid 70s with mostly sunny skies.

Temperatures on Monday will be fairly similar to those today (maybe a degree or two warmer in some locations). Winds will increase on Monday out of the south with gusts up to 20 to 35 MPH across most of the area during the afternoon. Temperatures then warm up on Tuesday into the upper 70s to mid 80s before cooling a little on Wednesday (highs mostly in the 70s). Low temperatures are expected to range from the mid 40s to mid 60s through the week. The forecast still looks to be fairly dry through the next 7 days (high confidence).

DISCUSSION

Issued at 110 PM CDT Sat Oct 3 2026

The NBM high temperatures have been coming in too cool today and this problem could continue as the bias corrected grids may take time to catch onto this cooler fall airmass. Our actual air temperatures were already climbing above our forecast highs in a few locations by noon today. Therefore, already made two updates regarding today's high temperatures to increase highs. Our temperature forecast for the next few days may also be 2-5F too cool.

The overall pattern through the week ahead will be a dry northwest flow regime. This will result in very pleasant fall conditions with highs a few degrees either side of normal. Normal highs for this time of year are in the lower 70s. We expect highs from the upper 60s into the 70s most days through the week ahead. Kansas zones might even see some 80 degree highs by late in the week. There is a pretty good 7-8F model spread between the 25th and 75th percentile from Wednesday onward indicating higher model uncertainty, but most models are calling for highs in the 70s. On the higher end we could reach the lower 80s, on the lower end we would be looking at 60s. Overnight lows will be in the 50s most nights, but Sunday night looks particularly cool with lows possibly in the 40s for many locations.

Rain chances are currently near zero this week. It will be a good opportunity to dry out.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/

Issued at 1226 PM CDT Sun Oct 4 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

High confidence (90%) in VFR conditions through the period. Any fog that develops tonight should remain to the southeast of the area.

Winds remain light/variable through tonight, then will increase out of the south for Monday.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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