textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Northerly winds gusting 40-45 mph through around sunset. - Clearing skies and decreasing winds tonight-Saturday morning will likely result in widespread sub-freezing temperatures. A Freeze Warning is in effect for the entire area 1am-9am Saturday. Coldest temperatures in the lower 20s from Lexington to Ord. - Critical fire weather conditions likely Saturday afternoon. Red Flag Warning in effect from Noon through 8 PM. RH values of 14-20% and northwest wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph.

- Near critical fire danger Monday through Friday. The wind will be a bit lighter Monday and Tuesday when RH is the lowest. RH values will increase some on Wednesday through Friday, but so will the wind. Expect better chances for critical fire danger by mid to late week.

- Dry and above normal high temperatures expected Sunday into most of next week. 70s for highs on Sunday and then 80s Monday through Thursday. Next chance for rain will be Wednesday through Friday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 241 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

This Afternoon into Tonight...

The wind will remain gusty at 40 to 45 mph at times until we lose diurnal heating/mixing around sunset. The wind will die down overnight and with clearing skies after midnight we expect pretty cold frosty temperatures. Lows are expected to drop into the lower 20s northwest to around 32 in Beloit with a pretty solid freeze for most areas. Get out there and cover your vulnerable plants if you already have them in the ground. You will also need to remember to cover them again Saturday night for round two of the sub-freezing temperatures.

Saturday...

We have a really impressive sounding with steep dry adiabatic lapse rates to over 650 mb indicating strong mixing down of stronger winds aloft. Therefore, increased winds a bit above NBM guidance using a mix down tool for both winds and dew points. Consequently, also lowered dew points and RH values a bit below NBM. The wind will be more marginal across north central Kansas, but still enough to warrant a Red Flag.

Sunday...

The wind will be lighter and we expect one more cold sub- freezing morning in the string of cold. It's highly likely that most if not all areas will need another frost or freeze headline for Saturday night into Sunday morning. Plan on covering your sensitive plants the next two nights.

With the dry airmass in place we do expect a nice warmup into the 70s by Sunday afternoon.

Monday and Tuesday...

An upper level ridge will swing into the region and we expect dry and very warm conditions for this time of year with highs in the 80s.

Wednesday through Friday...

The next upper trough will enter the high plains as early as Wednesday, although the better chances for thunderstorms will be west of us on Wednesday. This trough will slowly move across the plains through the end of the week and it's too early to tell how much rain if any we will get from this system. A lot will depend on the strength and timing of this wave and it's too far away to get a good handle on that. But at least our next chance for showers and thunderstorms will be associated with this system mid to late week.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 629 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

VFR conditions are expected for the next 24 hours. Winds will weaken this evening by 06z to around 5 to 10 knots out of the northwest. Winds will become more westerly by 18z and will strengthen during the afternoon with gusts up to around 20 to 25 knots.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 241 PM CDT Fri Apr 17 2026

Critical fire weather conditions likely Saturday afternoon. Red Flag Warning in effect from Noon through 8 PM. RH values of 14-20% and northwest wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph.

There are steep dry adiabatic lapse rates to over 650 mb Saturday afternoon indicating strong mixing down of stronger winds aloft. Therefore, increased winds a bit above NBM guidance using a mix down tool for both winds and dew points. Consequently, also lowered dew points and RH values a bit below NBM. The wind will be more marginal across north central Kansas, but still enough to warrant a Red Flag.

Near critical fire danger Monday through Friday. The wind will be a bit lighter Monday and Tuesday when RH is the lowest. RH values will increase some on Wednesday through Friday, but so will the wind. Expect better chances for critical fire danger by mid to late week and would not be surprised if we need additional Red Flag Warnings by mid to late week for at least portions of the forecast area.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...Freeze Warning from 1 AM to 9 AM CDT Saturday for NEZ039>041- 046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087. Red Flag Warning from noon to 8 PM CDT Saturday for NEZ039>041- 046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087. KS...Freeze Warning from 1 AM to 9 AM CDT Saturday for KSZ005>007- 017>019. Red Flag Warning from noon to 8 PM CDT Saturday for KSZ005>007- 017>019.