textproduct: Omaha/Valley

KEY MESSAGES

- Hot temperatures continue through the week. Heat advisories are posted for the Omaha metro and far southwest Iowa.

- Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected tonight, particularly for northeastern Nebraska. Gusty winds, hail and locally heavy rainfall are the main concerns with any storms that develop.

- Daily chances for showers and storms continue. Best chance of rain and storms waits for the evening of Saturday - Independence Day.

THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

Another afternoon of 90s is forecast for Thursday and - surprise! - another chance of thunderstorms as a shortwave works through the northern portions of the area after dark. The overall pattern begins to transition to more zonal flow as the cutoff low in Manitoba begins to meander east Friday is shaping up to be the warmest day of the work week's second half with forecast heat indices flirting with advisory criteria once again.

Independence Day arrives on a Saturday which is conducive to outdoor activities. The weather forecast has other plans. A cold front is progged to push through the area in the afternoon and bring a good chance of rain/thunder (40-70%).

There won't be much of a cool down behind that front as temps on Sunday will peak in the upper 80s and the 90s return already by Monday or Tuesday.

The CPC's 8-14 day outlook offers little relief as it suggests the entirety of the lower 48 + Hawaii are leaning warmer than normal for July's first half.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY/

Issued at 1213 AM CDT Wed Jul 1 2026

Currently we have a few storms near KOMA. These have cigs around 6000 ft so conditions should stay mostly VFR unless heavier rain leads to reduced visibility. Will likely clear by 06Z, but could back-build hanging in the area as late as 07Z. Otherwise, expecting any additional storms to stay well away from the terminals overnight. VFR conditions with primary concern being low-level wind shear at KOMA and KLNK. Winds at around 1800ft increase to around 40 to 45kt. This should resolve as surface winds increase and winds aloft decrease around 15Z Wednesday. Expect breezy conditions mid- morning into the afternoon with winds out of the south gusting to around 20-25kt. Winds will weaken again Wednesday evening with more chances for storms starting after 00Z Thursday.

OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...Heat Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 9 PM CDT this evening for NEZ052-053. IA...Heat Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 9 PM CDT this evening for IAZ069-079-080-090-091.