textproduct: Omaha/Valley

KEY MESSAGES

- Highs reach the 50s today. There is a slight 15 to 20% chance for some light rain/sprinkles across the area late this morning into the afternoon.

- Mid 60s to low 70s return for Tuesday with dry conditions.

- Very high fire danger returns to the area on Wednesday and Thursday as do warmer temperatures. Thursday will see gusty northerly winds of 30 to 35 mph. Next best chance (15-30%) for precipitation returns late Thursday into Friday morning.

LONG TERM

/WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/

Temperatures warm further Wednesday as the H8 baroclinic zone is progged to swing northeast over the area. Highs are forecast to reach the 80s areawide, while areas over our far south along the Kansas border may hit 90F. Despite the 15 to 20 mph winds, warm and extremely dry conditions combined with the cured fuels will lead to areas of very high fire danger for much of eastern Nebraska into the Missouri River Valley.

While temperatures cool slightly for Thursday as a frontal boundary swings through, winds will be gusty at 30 to 35 mph near and behind the front. Ensemble guidance, particularly the EPS members, suggest the potential of seeing gusts up to 40 mph Thursday. There is a slight 15 to 20% chance for some light rain across the area too behind the front, but these chances remain rather low with model soundings showing at least some dry air in the low levels. However, given the gusty northerly winds and extremely cured fuels, will still see areawide very high fire danger in the afternoon. Chances for a rain/snow mix do increase by early Friday morning mainly along and south of I-80 (15 to 30% chance). Temperatures behind the front on Friday only warm to the 50s. This cool down will be short lived as 1000-500 mb thicknesses begin expanding and pushing toward the Central Plains again. Highs rebound Saturday to the 60s, while 70s are expected for Sunday with dry conditions.

AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z TUESDAY/

Issued at 519 AM CDT Mon Mar 23 2026

VFR conditions are expected to prevail throughout the forecast period. Calm northerly winds are quickly veering to southerly this morning. A few clouds are expected to pass by around FL015 later this morning, remaining patchy enough to avoid MVFR conditions. Winds will increase into the afternoon, with a few gusts in the 15-20 kt range possible, primarily at KOFK. Mid- and upper- level cloud cover will increase through the afternoon. Light rain will be possible (15% chance) after 16Z as this cloud deck moves in, though a dry sub-cloud layer leaves virga the the most probable outcomes. Therefore, rain chances have not been included in the TAFs at this time.

OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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