textproduct: Omaha/Valley

KEY MESSAGES

- Hot temperatures in the mid to upper 90s with heat index values near 100 are expected this weekend. Breezy southwest winds up to 20-30+ mph will develop also.

- There is a low chance of a few showers and thunderstorms across the area Sunday morning through the afternoon.

- Above-normal temperatures and periodic thunderstorm chances continue next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1118 PM CDT Fri Aug 28 2026

Water vapor imagery shows our next trough digging towards the Rockies tonight. This will support increasing lee troughing east of the Rockies and a low-level jet over the Plains. Off the higher elevations to the west and on the nose of the low-level jet, showers and thunderstorms have begun to develop across portions of the Plains. With the better forcing displaced north and west of the area, the majority of this activity should miss us. That said, a stray shower or thunderstorm may clip northeast Nebraska and west-central Iowa tonight. With increasing winds and cloud cover, temperatures hold in the lower 70s through Saturday morning.

Saturday morning into the afternoon sees increasing southwest winds as the pressure gradient increases between the building ridge and approaching trough. Wind speeds may reach as high as 20-30+ mph making for a breezy afternoon. These winds should also help fuel our hot temperatures. Widespread mid to upper 90s overspread the region with heat index values near 100. Wind speeds decrease slightly Saturday night, but these winds and any clouds should be enough to keep temperatures in the mid 70s through Sunday morning.

While the main trough remains northwest of the area, a leading shortwave is forecast to eject across the Plains on Sunday. This shortwave has a low chance of developing a few showers and thunderstorms across the region late Sunday morning into the afternoon. Any showers or thunderstorms may pack a punch with strong synoptic winds and a relatively dry sub-cloud layer helping to produce strong downdrafts. A few strong to severe wind gusts may be possible if a stronger thunderstorm can form. While rain chances and clouds provides some uncertainty for the temperatures forecast, it will remain hot. Temperatures will be similar to or even higher than on Saturday with heat index values now approaching 105 across southeast Nebraska. A heat advisory may be needed due to this heat. The breezy conditions and lingering clouds will result in a warm start to the week with mid to upper 70s to start the day on Monday.

Next week will see the heat ease somewhat. The main trough that brought us our weekend winds and weather will move off towards the northeast on Monday. This will push a "cold front" into the area. The front shaves several degrees off of high and low temperatures, but by no means brings actual cooler weather. In reality, temperatures remain above normal despite this front. These above normal temperatures hold steady through much of next week. Periodic thunderstorm chances also return to the forecast, though day to day rain chances remain low. This weather pattern is supported by a relatively zonal upper-level pattern across the central and northern Plains after the weekend trough. Hopefully, more relief from the heat arrives as we move into the month of September.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 610 PM CDT Fri Aug 28 2026

VFR conditions prevail through the TAF period. Southeast winds will gradually become southerly and increase in speed tonight as a weather system approaches. Wind gusts may reach up to 25 kts. A southwesterly low-level jet overspreads the region from approximately 06Z to 16Z Saturday. This low-level jet may result in LLWS across area terminals due to relatively weaker and more southerly surface winds. Showers and thunderstorms should develop northwest of the area this evening and tonight. Latest forecast model guidance keeps any showers or thunderstorms north of the area. No aviation impacts are anticipated as a result. As LLWS subsides late Saturday morning, winds become more southwesterly.

OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...None. IA...None.