textproduct: Hastings

KEY MESSAGES

- A dusting of snow is possible in parts of northern Kansas, possibly extending into parts of southeast Nebraska (Thayer county area).

- There will be another opportunity for light snow on Saturday, with areas north of I-80 most favored to see a light dusting of snow.

- Temperatures bounce back into the 50s and possibly low 60s by Monday/Tuesday. Temperatures trend cooler for the middle to end of next week, but any significant cold is unlikely through the next 10-15 days.

UPDATE

Issued at 410 AM CST Fri Jan 9 2026

A shortwave embedded within a large trough over the central CONUS will bring a chance for light snow to southern parts of the area this afternoon into this evening. The primary impact area will remain to our southwest, and many models keep our forecast area completely dry. Nevertheless, there is a low chance (20-40%) for minor snow accumulation (0.5" or less), mainly along and southeast of a line from Stockton, KS to Hebron, NE. The primary timeframe is 1pm to 8pm.

After this departs, a deepening trough over the northern Plains will push a cold front through the area on Saturday. This will result in breezier northwest winds, and possibly some light snow. For now, our official forecast shows no accumulating snow, but these cold-air advection setups sometimes "overproduce." As such, a dusting of snow accumulation is not out of the question, mainly north of I-80. Regardless, the majority of the snowfall would occur during the daytime, reducing the potential for any travel impacts.

Upper-level ridging starts to nudge back into the central CONUS Sunday into Monday, allowing extremely mild temperatures to return. It is unlikely that we will exceed record high temperatures this time around, but there is a reasonable chance (50%) to set warm minimum temperatures on Tuesday the 13th.

A series of northwesterly-flow systems for the middle to end of next week will bring low chances for rain/snow to the area, along with "cooler" temperatures (but probably still near-normal or even slightly above-normal).

DISCUSSION

Issued at 222 PM CST Thu Jan 8 2026

An area of low pressure can be seen circulating on radar across Northeastern Kansas this afternoon. A large shield of stratiform precipitation on the backside of this low has provided steady light rain event across much of the area today, with a few snowflakes mixing in at spots the past hour or so. Expect precipitation to gradually change over to light snow from northwest to southeast as we continue through the remainder of the afternoon/early evening hours as cooler air continues to advect southeast across the area behind this system. While the cooler air advecting in aloft will support snow, surface temperatures will likely remain near to above freezing through around midnight, and given the thawed out soils, have a hard time imagining much accumulation will be possible outside a few brief, heavier bands of precipitation, if they materialize at all. The NAM and NAMnest have not surprisingly backed off on snowfall potential with this system as they come into better agreement with other mesoscale models such as the HRRR, which indicate around an inch or so of snowfall accumulation will be possible across mainly the Tri-cities area. While this still seems likely too high of a snowfall total given the precipitation rate and antecedent conditions, will continue to advertise up to an inch of slushy snowfall accumulation through around midnight in the HWO.

As this system pushes further east overnight, expect temperatures to fall by daybreak Friday as some partial clearing is realized, with morning temps expected to be mostly in the lower to mid-20s to start the day. Aloft, expect the subsequent upper level disturbance lifting out of the southwest to mainly pass south of the local area Friday, brining only a small chance of light precip to mainly north central Kansas, slightly out of phase with a reinforcing shot of cooler air reaching the area from the northwest Friday afternoon/night. A weak disturbance in northwest flow could then bring some very light snow across our far north (mainly north of HWY 92) Saturday, which should be just a glancing blow with little to no snowfall accumulation. Temperatures, however, will likely be impacted, with more seasonable temperatures remaining in the forecast through Sunday morning, when temperatures will start to rebound thanks to southwesterly surface flow returning and rising heights aloft, eventually resulting in above/well above normal temperatures returning through at least next Thursday.

While upper level ridging is forecast to start next week, a pair of upper level disturbance could clip the local area in north/northwest flow Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing a brief dip in temperatures (although still above normal) to the area on Wednesday along with some very small chances for precip Tue/Wed. While most ensemble members are dry over this period, the official blended forecast does have some small POPS for areas north and east of the Nebraska Tri-Cities Tuesday into Wednesday, but this should be another glancing blow with little to no precipitation accumulation anticipated at this time.

Beyond Wednesday, north to northwesterly flow is expected to continue across the local area aloft, with additional passing disturbances late next week/weekend. While these do not appear like major precipitation makers given their trajectory and model data, it could mark the beginning of a more prolonged period of near or below normal temperatures returning to the local area starting around the 16th of the month.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 541 AM CST Fri Jan 9 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

High confidence (95%) VFR conditions through the period. Mid to high-level cloud cover will increase through the day before clearing from west to east this evening.

Winds today will be out of the NNW, shifting to the NW and eventually to the W overnight.

GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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