textproduct: Omaha/Valley

KEY MESSAGES

- Well-above normal temperatures continue through Saturday. Highs today reach the low 70s and 80s.

- Temperatures warm to the 80s for much of the area Friday and Saturday, and a few records could be broken.

- Areas of very high to potentially extreme fire danger are forecast for portions of the area Friday and Saturday, driven mainly by dry conditions.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1101 PM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026

Thursday through Saturday

A weak disturbance rippled through the region Wednesday evening, bringing a few sprinkles to parts of eastern Nebraska. Otherwise, cloud cover kept temperatures from cooling off too quickly last night, with most of the forecast area still in the 60s at 10 PM.

High pressure will continue to push into the Four Corners region Thursday, ushering warm dry air across the Central Plains. Highs will rise back into the 70s Thursday afternoon, with light winds.

Temperatures will approach daily records set in the early 1900s, as afternoon highs reach into the upper 70s and low 80s Friday, and the upper 80s and low 90s Saturday. For reference, Norfolk and Lincoln have only reached 90 degrees five times during the month March since the their period of records began in 1813 and 1887, respectively. Omaha has only reached 90 twice in March since 1871. In addition to the extremely warm temperatures, the dry conditions will pull relative humidities down to 20-30 percent. While northwesterly winds will be fairly light Friday, only gusting to 12-20 mph, speeds will increase out of the south Saturday, gusting to 20-30 mph. Although these speeds are not nearly as strong as we've had recently, when combined with the dry conditions and warm temperatures, Fire Danger concerns will increase to Very High, if not Extreme, over most of the forecast area Friday and Saturday.

Sunday and Beyond...

A shortwave and associated cold front will ripple through the region Saturday night and Sunday, pulling relatively cooler temperatures into the Missouri River valley, as well as some gusty north winds. Highs are forecast to top out in the 50s and low 60s Sunday with minimum relative humidities around 30 to 40 percent. While this combination may help improve fire weather concerns to some extent, northerly winds are expected to reach speeds of 25 to 35 mph, keeping parts of eastern Nebraska in the Very High category.

Precipitation chances continue to remain off to our north through early next week. While temperatures may take a brief dip behind Sunday's cold front, we should remain at or above normal through the remainder of the forecast period.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1206 AM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026

VFR conditions will prevail through the forecast period with passing clouds at or above FL120. Light northwest winds overnight into Thursday morning switch to southwest during the afternoon.

OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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