textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- High temperatures will mostly be in the 50s today and Wednesday with rain showers across portions of the area. Temperatures will be warmer beginning Thursday.

- There are frost/freeze concerns Wednesday night into Thursday morning across much of the area but higher winds may be a hindering factor.

- Elevated to near critical fire weather may develop Thursday, Friday, and Saturday across portions of the area.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 216 PM CDT Tue May 5 2026

An upper low is centered north of the Great Lakes over Canada with an associated upper trough extending southwest. There is another upper low centered over Southern California which is attached to the previously mentioned upper trough. Nebraska and Kansas are under the upper trough with rain showers moving across portions of the region. A surface high along with mostly cloudy to cloudy skies are across the area. These conditions will keep temperatures cooler today with highs mostly in the 50s. Showers may continue across portions of the area tonight with the highest chances in north central Kansas (portions of the area up to around 90% chance). Low temperatures tonight are expected to range from the low 30s to low 40s. Frost potential is low (20% or less) tonight despite areas reaching the low to mid 30s due to drier air expected to be in place as well as cloud cover.

The cooler airmass will still be in place on Wednesday with high temperatures fairly similar to today. Rain showers will still be possible (15% to 70% chance) on Wednesday due to increased lift from the upper trough still being over the region. Rain showers are expected to be out of the area by Wednesday night with clearing skies and temperatures dropping into the 30s (mostly low to mid 30s). There will be increased (around 40% to 50%) frost and freeze concerns for Wednesday night/Thursday morning. The hindering factor will be increased wind speeds which may result in slightly higher temperatures and/or prevent frost from developing.

The cooler airmass will depart the area by Thursday with winds increasing out of the southwest to west Thursday afternoon. Temperatures are expected to warm up into the 70s on Thursday. Heightened fire weather concerns are expected on Thursday with wind gusts getting up to near/around 20 MPH and minimum humidity values generally between 15% and 25% across the whole area. Overnight lows will be warmer beginning Thursday night/Friday morning with temperatures mostly in the 40s. Winds across the area will be in the process of transitioning to the northwest Thursday night/Friday morning. Winds will be gusty out of the northwest to north Friday morning and will decrease later in the day. High temperatures are again expected to be in the 70s. There are some concerns for fire weather on Friday due to lingering wind gusts in the afternoon and minimum humidity values possibly getting down to around 20% across west/northwest portions of the area.

A cold front will move southward towards south central and central Nebraska and north central Kansas on Saturday. In advance of the front, temperatures are expected to warm up to the 70s and 80s. There is some fire weather concern on Saturday with wind gusts up to 20 to 30 MPH and humidity down to around 25% across western and southern portions of the area. If the front speeds up, then temperatures will not be as warm. Showers and thunderstorms may develop and move across the area Saturday afternoon and evening in association with the cold front (15% to 50% chance). Cooler temperatures are expected on Sunday with highs in the 60s and 70s. Temperatures are then expected to rebound into the upper 70s to mid 80s on Monday.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 632 PM CDT Tue May 5 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

Another upper level disturbance moving into and through the area tonight into Wednesday will keep rain chances around during this TAF period...with better chances affecting KEAR moreso than KGRI. At KGRI, kept a VCSH mention going for a few hours early in the period, then dried things out...most models keep activity out of that area...but will be watching radar trends closely to see if anything sneaks back in. At KEAR, have a prevailing -SHRA mention early on...then going to a PROB30 group as more uncertainty arises with models focusing things to the SSW. This evening-tonight, expecting light/variable winds...turning more northerly early Wed. morning, then more westerly through the afternoon hours. Speeds remain light around 10-15 MPH. Model guidance/time heights kept ceilings VFR...but do have bases close around 4k ft.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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