textproduct: Goodland

KEY MESSAGES

- Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms today and Friday.

- Drying out with a warming trend over the weekend.

SHORT TERM /THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/

Issued at 1200 AM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026

A narrow band of light rain will persist along the I-70 corridor overnight, gradually moving south and expanding through Thursday morning in areas south of Interstate 70, then weakening by mid day. Favorable jet positioning, occasional shortwave energy, and a surface front sagging south out of Nebraska are all contributing to lift. This afternoon, may see scattered thunderstorms develop along the front near or just north of Interstate 70. Instability remains quite limited at only 100-200 j/kg, though deep layer shear is forecast to be around 50 kts. Did see some marginally severe hail in a similar environment over the past few days, so cannot completely rule that out, but overall severe threat is low. Any thunderstorms will dissipate by early evening with loss of surface heating. Front appears to wash out tonight with light winds across the entire area. Any lingering precipitation across the southern areas should also be dissipating. On Friday, there is a push of drier air with northwest winds advecting dew points in the teens and 20s into the area. In fact, may see a few hours of near critical fire weather in the afternoon as relative humidity drops into the middle teens and those winds gust up to 20 kts at times. May see widely scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon on the leading edge of those winds and lower dew points, south of Interstate 70 and mainly south of Highway 96. Once again will see very limited instability with somewhat reduced deep layer shear of 20-30 kts, so not expecting any severe threat. Any convection should dissipate fairly early in the evening with loss of surface heating.

Temperatures remain below normal today, especially in the rain cooled areas along/south of Interstate 70 where a few locations may see highs in the 40s. Temperatures will be closer to normal on Friday with highs in the low to mid 60s. Lows will be in the 30s, and may see some patchy frost and a light freeze both Friday and Saturday mornings.

LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 253 PM MDT Wed Apr 29 2026

Going into the weekend, we transition to more of a ridge pattern. Expect mostly sunny skies and high temperatures forecast in the 70s for Saturday and 70s to 80s for Sunday. Elevated fire weather conditions are possible for a few hours Sunday. Relative humidity (RH) values are forecast in the the mid teens with gusts up to 25 mph possible for the western CWA. RH values will likely change in response to showers and thunderstorms earlier in the week, but still something to monitor for as the week progresses. Sunday, a Rex blocking pattern is forecast to develop on the west coast with a ridge near the Canadian border and a low pressure system near California. Until this blocking pattern starts to move east, we will see fairly consistent weather for the remainder of the forecast period. Expect mild temperatures in the 70s and potential for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon as several shortwaves traverse through the region. GEFS Ensemble members differ on when this pattern will move on, but it will likely move on after Tuesday.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1042 AM MDT Thu Apr 30 2026

Rain continues to affect the GLD terminal. More of a northern push is seen on radar and satellite so will maintain a vicinity shower mention for now; will monitor for tempos where visibility could fall to near 3SM at times. Rain chances are forecast to wane through the afternoon before ending this evening. Overnight periods of some mid to upper level clouds is forecast to occur with variable winds .

GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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