textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Dry conditions remain in the forecast through the weekend into most of next week.

- Record breaking temperatures are still in the forecast to end the week, especially on Saturday when even monthly records are at risk.

- Critical fire weather conditions are still a concern for Saturday, a Fire Weather Watch remains in effect area-wide.

UPDATE

Issued at 1250 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026

Currently...

Quiet conditions continue to reign across the region tonight. Looking aloft, upper air and satellite data showing little change in the overall pattern, as we continue to sit under northwesterly flow...set up between high pressure anchored over the Desert SW/northward extending ridging along the West Coast and a trough axis draped along the East Coast. Satellite imagery also showing that outside of a few patches of mid-upper level clouds passing through, skies are mostly clear. At the surface, The pattern across the area remains fairly weak, with winds either generally WSWrly or variable.

Today... Overall not looking at any significant changes to conditions across the region today...with the dry forecast continuing. Models are in good agreement showing little change in the NWrly flow aloft, though a subtle shortwave disturbance passing well to our northeast will help to push a sfc frontal boundary through the region through the morning hours. This boundary will usher in a switch to more north-northwesterly winds for the daytime hours...and while most models are in pretty good agreement topping speeds out around 15 MPH, can't rule out at least a few gusts closer to 20 MPH during the earl-mid afternoon hours, then tapering off late afternoon. Expecting mostly clear to partly cloudy skies...with models showing high temps topping out similar to Thursday, mainly in the mid-upper 80s. See climate section below for more on temperature record potential. Forecast relative humidity values are expected to fall into the teens this afternoon...and while expected winds look to keep critical fire wx conditions from developing, anywhere those winds can gust closer to 20 MPH, even just occasionally, potential for near-critical conditions will be there.

This weekend... Dry forecast remains in place for the weekend...with Saturday still looking to be the biggest concern of the forecast period due to fire weather issues...with record breaking heat and gusty winds expected. Models are in good agreement showing upper level flow turning a bit more west-northwesterly to start the weekend, with the main ridging flattened a touch by disturbances crossing near the US/Can border. The thermal ridging axis looks to slide a bit further east into the region...with mixing potential aided by winds turning more west- southwesterly ahead of an approaching frontal boundary. It's not just daily high temperature records being threatened for Mar. 21st, the all-time March high temperature is at risk as well as highs climb into the 90s area-wide...see the climate section below for more record details.

The expected highs in the 90s, combined with a continued dry airmass, is forecast to bring relative humidity values plummeting into at least the low teens...some values in the single digits is not out of the question. Southwesterly winds gusting around 30 MPH is expected during the afternoon hours on Saturday...then a complicating factor for any fires that develop is the surface frontal boundary that will be passing through Saturday night-early Sun AM...which will bring a switch to northerly winds, which will continue to be gusty.

This frontal boundary brings a notably cooler end to the weekend...with forecast highs for Sunday roughly 30 degrees cooler than Saturday, topping out in the 60s. The gusty northerly winds look to continue through most of the day Sunday...the cooler temps should keep relative humidity values from dropping much below the mid-upper 20 to mid 30 percent range.

Monday and on...

Overall no notable changes were made to the forecast...which remains largely dry. Current forecast highs are a bit of a roller coaster ride...climbing into the 70s-80s by Wednesday, then potentially back in the 50s by Friday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 246 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

Mostly sunny skies and well above normal temperatures prevailed across the region this afternoon. Temperatures so far have been running 3-5 degrees above yesterdays hourly readings, with record high temperatures for both Hastings and Grand Island this afternoon well within reach.

With high pressure persisting aloft, expect warm and dry conditions to continue through Saturday, with similar temperatures across the region tomorrow (maybe 1-2 degrees cooler based on 850MB temps), followed by temperatures surging on Saturday ahead an approaching cold front. In fact, high temperatures Saturday will likely set new all time record high temperatures - by several degrees - for the entire month of March!

As the front approaches on Saturday, expect an uptick in winds as well, which combined with the hot and dry airmass will result in critical fire weather conditions. Currently there is a fire weather watch for Saturday - but fully expect this to eventually be upgraded to a Red Flag warning sometime either later tonight or on Friday.

As the front crosses the area on Sunday, expect a fairly notable drop in temperatures for Sunday and Monday, with high temperatures forecast to only top out in the 60s and 70s, or still about 10 degrees above seasonal norms. In fact, expect the upper level ridge to restrengthen across the local area again behind this front, with a potential return to additional record high temperatures by next Wednesday.

In short, unseasonable warm and dry conditions are favored to finish out the month of March across the local area, with little signal in model ensembles for any significant precipitation chance or chance of a significant cool-down across the local area for at least the next 10-14 days.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1225 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

VFR conditions are expected for the next 24 hours. Winds will transition from the southwest to the northwest by 12z then to the north by 15z. Winds will then transition back to the southwest by 03z Saturday.

CLIMATE

Issued at 1250 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026

Potential Record Warm Maximum Temperatures:

Thursday March 19 New Record High Previous Record Hastings 86 84 (1921) Grand Island 87 86 (1921)

Friday March 20 Forecast High Record Max/Year Hastings 85 82 (1939) Grand Island 85 84 (1921)

Saturday March 21 Forecast High Record Max/Year Hastings 94 87 (1910) Grand Island 94 83 (1988)

***Note: The all-time March max temperature is 90 degrees at both Grand Island and Hastings***

Potential Record Warm Minimum Temperatures:

Friday March 20 Forecast Low Record Warm Min/Year Hastings 47 46 (2011) Grand Island 46 50 (1921)

Saturday March 21 Forecast Low Record Warm Min/Year Hastings 49 47 (2012) Grand Island 48 54 (1911)

Temperature records for Hastings date back to 1907 and records for Grand Island date back to 1895.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...Fire Weather Watch from Saturday morning through late Saturday night for NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087. KS...Fire Weather Watch from Saturday morning through late Saturday night for KSZ005>007-017>019.