textproduct: Omaha/Valley

KEY MESSAGES

- Warm temperatures continue today with breezy winds, followed by a brief cool down in the 30s for Thursday and Friday.

- Temperatures quickly rebound this weekend with continued dry weather through the first half of the upcoming work week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 257 AM CST Wed Dec 31 2025

Today:

Water vapor imagery this morning features northwesterly flow over the central CONUS, sandwiched between ridging over the western third and broad troughing over the eastern third. Weak mid/upper waves continue to waft through the flow with their precipitation missing the area to the north and east as a northerly jet streak steers things away. Another warm day (upper 40s and 50s) is forecast with winds starting out west-southwesterly before shifting northwesterly as a dry cold front passes through the area. This change in airmass will come as a clipper system/associated jet max move through the northwesterly flow to the northeast of the area. Gradually clearing skies today will be replaced by a deck of low clouds overnight that a few ensemble members squeeze a sprinkle/flurry out of, but will generally be to no effect on any surfaces in the area as we fall into the teens and twenties overnight.

Thursday and Beyond:

The remainder of the forecast period picks up the dry start to the forecast and has temperatures that have taken as step down from the warm mid-week. Highs Thursday and Friday will largely top out in the 30s, with temps increasing as you go south and west. The split jet pattern in the upper levels will continue to ward off deeply cold air to the north while a subtropical jet south of the area keeps any meaningful moisture return from occurring. Temperatures this weekend will climb to the 40s Saturday before topping out in the 50s and potentially 60s as a low-amplitude ridge shifts through the central CONUS that slowly flattens out into zonal flow through mid-week. Though there is considerable disagreement between ensemble solutions in the timing and placement, some form of compact shortwave/cutoff low will eject from the California coast and will provide our next meaningful precipitation chances Thursday/Friday next week.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1114 AM CST Wed Dec 31 2025

VFR conditions continue this afternoon and evening. Winds have gradually become more westerly early this afternoon. Winds become northwesterly later this afternoon before a cold front brings northerly winds later this evening. Low clouds with potential MVFR ceilings arrives tonight. At this time, guidance has low clouds moving in and out of terminals within a couple hours of frontal passage, but clouds may linger at OMA and LNK. Otherwise, winds become light and begin to swing around towards the east by tomorrow morning.

OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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