textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- Frost Advisory in effect until 9am. Another round of frost/freezing temperatures is possible tonight-Saturday morning.

- Highs today in the upper 50s to mid 60s. A few showers/weak storms are possible (15-25%) across north central Kansas during the afternoon-early evening.

- Pleasant weather this weekend with highs in the 70s/80s.

UPDATE

Issued at 251 AM CDT Fri May 1 2026

Mostly clear skies and light winds have resulted in a chilly morning, with temperatures currently in the upper 20s to low 30s. While northwestern portions of the area may drop below freezing at times, this overall does not look to be a true hard/killing freeze. After a frosty start to the day, highs today climb into the upper 50s (north) to mid 60s (south). Northerly winds will be breezy at times, gusting 20-25mph behind a weak frontal passage. Scattered showers/weak thunderstorms are possible (15-25%) this afternoon- early evening along the front in north central Kansas. Weak instability should keep these storms from becoming strong/severe. Any accumulations with this look to be light (a few hundredths).

Skies clear and winds become light after sunset allowing for another cold night under the influence of upper level troughing. Lows tonight will once again drop towards the freezing mark with widespread frost possible across the area. Temperatures could be slightly colder than this morning, which may result in a hard freeze rather than "just frost". Regardless, headlines will likely be needed tonight for this frost/freeze.

Northwesterly flow builds over the area this weekend, with temperatures climbing back above normal. Highs will be in the 70s to low 80s aided by light westerly winds and resulting in a pleasant weekend overall.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 238 PM CDT Thu Apr 30 2026

A weak front crossed the local area today with northerly breezes and modestly cooler temperatures in its wake. With the colder air advecting in aloft, steep lapse rates have led to some diurnally driven clouds/showers/sprinkles popping up this afternoon...all of which should rapidly diminish by early evening. As skies clear and winds become light overnight, a recipe for widespread frost appears to be in store, with most locations forecast to drop into the lower to mid-30s. As a result, a frost advisory goes into effect at midnight tonight and lingers through 9 AM Friday morning.

A weak disturbance in northerly flow is then expected to clip the local area Friday afternoon, sparking another round of light showers (and possibly a very weak thunderstorm) focused across our Kansas counties Friday afternoon. As skies behind this disturbance clear Friday night, frost is again expected to be an issue, albeit even colder temps may eventually justify a freeze warning in spots.

After a cold start to the weekend Saturday morning, heights aloft will begin to climb as high pressure moves in from the west, making for a pretty spectacular weekend across the local area with generally light westerly breezes and above normal temperatures in the 70s (Saturday) to near 80 (Sunday). While these warmer temperatures will persist into the new week, the upper level ridge will eventually give way to a disturbance from the west, which will bring at least a chance for some showers and thunderstorms across the local area as early as Monday evening and continuing through Wednesday. While there are decent signals for some unsettled weather over this period in ensembles, activity looks fairly scattered in nature and qpf estimates are fairly modest.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 1217 AM CDT Fri May 1 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

VFR conditions are expected through TAF period. Winds will remain light and variable through sunrise. During the mid-late morning hours winds shift to the north and increase with gusts around 20kts throughout the afternoon hours. Winds become light and variable after sunset. FEW-SCT at times BKN mid-high level clouds are possible throughout the TAF period but will be most widespread during the daytime hours.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...Frost Advisory until 9 AM CDT this morning for NEZ039>041- 046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087. KS...Frost Advisory until 9 AM CDT this morning for KSZ005>007- 017>019.