textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Scattered to isolated storms are possible (15-25%) Saturday and Sunday night across portions of south central Nebraska. A few storms on Sunday could be strong to severe capable of producing damaging wind gusts and large hail.

- Near to above normal temperatures are expected Sunday Onwards with highs in the upper 70s and 80s.

- Highs in the 80s on Memorial day with breezy winds and a low (15-20%) chance for storms Monday afternoon/evening.

- Scattered, off and on chances for precipitation Tuesday night onwards though the details are uncertain at this time.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 258 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026

This afternoon and Tonight

A cold front currently located near Highway 81 continues to make its way across the forecast area this afternoon. A few lingering showers continue near-just behind the front. The axis of greatest instability shifting east of the area with the cold front makes it doubtful that these showers/storms will do much before exiting the area over the next couple of hours. Clearing skies this evening and light winds will allow temperatures to drop into the 40s overnight.

Saturday...

Highs on Saturday climb into the 70s as a passing shortwave trough moves into the Plains. Partly cloudy skies and light winds make for an overall pleasant day on Saturday. The aforementioned shortwave trough will aid the development of a few scattered thunderstorms over western Nebraska Saturday afternoon-evening. While inhibition increases around sunset and results in these storms weakening, it remains plausible that a couple of these storms linger just long enough to make it into far northwestern portions of the area before dissipating Saturday night.

Sunday and Memorial Day...

Southwesterly flow aloft transitions to a more west-northwesterly flow pattern on Sunday. At the surface, highs climb into the 80s aided by breezy southerly winds gusting 20-25mph. Scattered shower/thunderstorm development is possible Sunday afternoon-evening along the surface trough/dryline in west-central Nebraska. CAPE and shear would be sufficient for storms to become strong to marginally severe. These storms look to mainly impact northwestern portions of the area. Any storm would gradually dissipate after sunset as convective inhibition increases.

Warmth continues on Memorial Day as temperatures climb into the 80s during the afternoon. Another breezy day is expected with southerly winds gusting 20-30mph. Similar to this weekend, a few scattered thunderstorms may develop across portions of Nebraska. Details on timing of any storm will become clearer as we get closer (likely afternoon/evening).

Tuesday Onwards...

Troughing moves into the western U.S. on Tuesday and subsequently stalls out, placing the area under southwesterly flow-weak ridging. Near to above normal temperatures are expected, with highs generally in the upper 70s to mid 80s. This pattern also results in scattered, off and on chances for precipitation Tuesday night onwards.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 648 PM CDT Fri May 22 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports: Very high confidence in VFR ceiling, and "fairly high" confidence in VFR visibility throughout the period. There is also fairly high confidence in precipitation-free weather...as any shower/weak thunderstorm potential late Saturday afternoon currently appears to remain roughly 40+ miles north and/or west of KGRI/KEAR through the valid period.

The only caveat to VFR(visibility-wise) is a small chance (perhaps 20% chance) of light fog forming very late tonight/early Sat AM...but this probability appears too low to acknowledge in TAFs at this time. As for ceiling, much of late tonight into Saturday daytime will likely feature scattered-to- broken mid-level clouds, with any ceiling mainly at-or-above 10K ft. AGL.

Winds will be a minimal issue, with sustained speeds commonly at-or-below 10KT, and overall a light/variable direction prevailing most of tonight into the first part of Saturday daytime. Right away these first few hours this evening direction will prevail westerly, with direction then more southerly late Saturday morning-afternoon.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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