textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Cooler today with highs in the 50s/60s and breezy northerly winds gusting 20-25mph this morning.

- A few storms possible across far south/southeastern portions of the area this evening. A light rain/snow mix possible across north/northeastern portions of the area overnight.

- Near-critical to critical fire weather conditions during the afternoon hours Wednesday through the weekend. The day of highest fire weather concern looks to be Thursday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 259 AM CDT Tue Mar 10 2026

Temperatures this morning are currently in the 40s and 50s. A cold front currently located along a line from North Platte to Grand Island to York. This cold front will continue to push across the area this morning, stalling out south/southeast of the forecast area this afternoon. Winds will be breezy this morning behind the cold frontal passage, gusting 20- 25mph. Cooler weather is expected today behind the cold frontal passage, as highs top out in the mid 50s (north) to upper 60s (south). Winds become lighter this afternoon, as gusts fall below 20mph. Fire weather concerns are lower today due to lighter afternoon winds and cooler temperatures keeping relative humidity values generally above 30%.

Scattered thunderstorm development is possible this evening along and north of the cold front. Recent model trends have shifted the front further south, bringing uncertainty on whether or not southeastern portions of the area will see storms. Areas most likely to see a shower/storm would be along/south of a line from Plainville, KS to Hebron, NE. This area remains outlined in the SPC Day 1 outlook for severe thunderstorms, but given the south trend of the front/CAPE, the best chances to see a strong/severe storm look to be south of the forecast area.

Further north, a band of rain/snow pushes into northern/northeastern portions of the area overnight. Any precipitation looks to be light with accumulations of a few hundredths and no accumulating snow expected.

Seasonable weather is expected on Wednesday with highs in the upper 40s to low 50s. Gusty northerly winds are expected throughout the day, gusting 25-35 mph. Despite the cooler weather, afternoon relative humidity values fall below 30 percent across the area, bringing near-critical fire weather concerns to the area. A push of much drier air moves into western portions of the area during the mid-late afternoon, which may result in an area of critical fire weather conditions.

The highest fire weather concerns this forecast period look to be on Thursday as highs climb back into the 70s. Westerly winds gusting 30- 40mph combined with low afternoon relative humidity values bring widespread critical fire weather conditions to the area (see fire weather section for more details).

Roller coaster temperatures continue through the weekend as a series of shortwave troughs and associated surface lows move through the area. The most notable system looks to impact the area Saturday night-Sunday morning, with light precipitation chances returning to the area. Breezy winds during the afternoon hours each day result in continued fire weather concerns (see Fire weather section for more details).

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1230 PM CDT Tue Mar 10 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

Mainly VFR conditions expected through the late night hours with some MVFR stratus and MVFR VSBYS possible for a few hours late in the night as a light band of rain/snow potentially impacts the terminals. This MVFR stratus should then linger into the morning hours Wednesday, with clearing skies returning before midday. Winds will be steady out of the north this afternoon near 15 KTS...increasing late tonight with gusts of 25 KTS+ possible after 12/07Z as a secondary cold front pushes across the terminals and keeps the winds gusty through the afternoon hours Wednesday.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 259 AM CDT Tue Mar 10 2026

Breezy northerly winds gusting 20-25mph are expected this morning. Winds decrease this afternoon, as gusts fall below 20mph for most areas. Cooler temperatures also keep afternoon relative humidity values higher today, with most areas generally at or above 30%.

While temperatures remain cooler on Wednesday with highs in the upper 40s/low 50s afternoon relative humidity values fall below 25 percent across the area. During the mid-late afternoon a push of much drier air could move into the area, resulting in an area where relative humidity values fall below 20 percent. Northerly winds gusting 25-35mph expected throughout the day. Combined, widespread near-critical fire weather conditions are expected across the area with an area of critical fire weather conditions possible in the west when drier air moves in.

Warm weather on Thursday with highs in the 70s results in afternoon relative humidity values falling at or below 20% across the area, and below 15 percent west of Highway 183. Southwesterly winds gusting 30- 40mph are expected across the area on Thursday, with higher gusts possible if greater mixing occurs. This results in widespread critical fire weather conditions across the area. A Fire Weather Watch or Red Flag Warning will likely be needed on upcoming shifts.

Winds will be lighter on Friday with overall higher relative humidity values. Still an area of near-critical fire weather conditions may develop west of Highway 183 where there is the greatest overlap of low humidity and strongest winds.

West-northwest winds gusting 20-30mph are expected on Saturday across northwestern portions of the area. Afternoon relative humidity values of 25% or less are likely across the area which will result in near-critical to critical conditions across west/northwest portions of the area.

Gusty northerly winds are expected behind a cold frontal passage on Sunday. Gusts of 35-45+mph. ECMWF ensembles show support for winds gusting 50-60mph. While cooler temperatures may keep Sunday's relative humidity values (25-35%) from reaching official fire weather criteria, the gusty/strong winds will bring near-critical to critical fire weather concerns.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...Fire Weather Watch from Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening for NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087. KS...Fire Weather Watch from Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening for KSZ005>007-017>019.