textproduct: Omaha/Valley

KEY MESSAGES

- The combination of warm temperatures, dry conditions and gusty winds will result in some concerns for fire weather Sunday afternoon.

- Cooler temperatures arrive Tuesday as a cold front pushes through the region.

- A shift in the pattern will bring a few possibilities for precipitation from Tuesday through the end of the forecast. The cooler temperatures will stick around as well with highs mainly in the 40s and 50s.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1143 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2026

Satellite imagery shows clouds continuing to stream into eastern Nebraska/western Iowa from the west. Winds have decreased and relative humidity values will continue to slowly rise overnight. The area will be under west-southwest flow Sunday morning with a weak ridge over the Rockies. A mid-level shortwave trough progresses east across northern and central Kansas through the day Sunday. A few models (HRRR/RAP/NAMNST/SREF) are trying to bring in some low end PoPs into the forecast primarily for Sunday morning into early afternoon while others are keeping things dry. PoPs were bumped up a little but capped to less than 14% for the time being. There isn't any notable moisture being transported into the region and conditions remain fairly dry, so for now no mention of precipitation has been added to the forecast.

The heat returns Sunday afternoon with highs primarily in the 70s with a few areas approaching the low 80s. Winds will pick up in the afternoon, out of the southwest around 15-20mph with up to 30 mph at times. The strongest winds will be located along the Kansas/Nebraska/Missouri/Iowa borders. Minimum RH values in this area will be higher than today, ranging from the mid-20s to mid-30s. The lowest RH values (15-25%) will be located along and north of Highway 92. Winds in this area are expected to be lighter in this area, decreasing heading into the afternoon. Although Red Flag Warning criteria is not expected to be met Sunday, dry conditions and breezy conditions will still result in some concerns for fire weather issues.

The heat ramps up Monday as temperatures climb into the mid to upper 80s across the region. As the current forecast stands for highs Monday afternoon, several records may be in jeopardy of being tied or broken. For more information on individual records, please refer to the Climate Section. Although dry, the lowest RH values and strongest winds/wind gusts will not overlap on Monday. Monday will still need to be monitored for potential fire issues.

Heading into Monday evening/night, a broad area of low pressure slides east/southeast from southern Manitoba to southern Ontario and Lake Superior. A trailing cold front will drop in from the north overnight and into the day Tuesday, bringing some cooler air with it. Models are still in some disagreement over timing of the fropa coming through our CWA. Expect a noticeably cooler day Tuesday with highs in the 50s for areas north of I-80 with 60s along and south of the I-80 corridor. There is a chance of a few showers Monday evening through Tuesday for the area with maybe a few isolated hundredths to maybe a tenth of an inch of rain for a few lucky locations.

This shift in the pattern will persist through the end of the forecast period. The cooler weather will stick around through Thursday with highs in the 40s and 50s. After a brief warm up on Friday into the 50s and 60s, another shot of cooler air brings temps back into the 50s for most of the CWA. Wednesday and Thursday mornings will be chilly with lows in the upper 20s to mid-30s. A series of shortwave troughs will eject into the region, bringing a few chances for precipitation Tuesday through the start of the weekend. Tuesday night into Wednesday, portions of northern Nebraska may receive some snow or a rain/snow mix where temperatures are in the low-mid 30s. Outside of this timeframe, the main p-type expected will be rain.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY/

Issued at 547 AM CDT Sun Mar 29 2026

VFR conditions will persist for the duration of the TAF cycle at all terminals with a scattered to broken cloud deck above 16,000 feet passing through the area this morning into the afternoon hours. Low level wind shear will subside by 14z. Winds will become south-southwesterly after 13z at 11 to 15kts, with gusts up to 22 kts expected at KLNK. The gustiness subsides by the early afternoon with winds under 12 kts expected by 00z and thereafter at all terminals.

CLIMATE

Issued at 142 PM CDT Sat Mar 28 2026

.......Monday, March 30th..........

...... FORECAST..... OLD RECORD

Lincoln, NE.. 87F .... 88 in 1917 Omaha, NE.... 87F .... 89 in 1968 Tekamah, NE . 86F .... 81 in 2015 Falls City .. 88F .... 90 in 1986 Norfolk, NE . 85F .... 87 in 1968 Valley, NE... 85F .... 78 in 2012

OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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