textproduct: Omaha/Valley

KEY MESSAGES

- A cluster of thunderstorms will continue moving southeast this evening into the overnight hours. The main hazards will be pockets of strong wind gusts and locally heavy rainfall.

- Near-normal temperatures continue into Friday, with highs generally in the 80s.

- A stretch of hot weather is expected this weekend into next week, with highs in the 90s and heat indices approaching 100 degrees.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1047 PM CDT Wed Jul 8 2026

Tonight through Friday...

A cluster of thunderstorms have developed along a front draped across northeast Nebraska earlier this evening, supported by a shortwave trough pushing across the northern Plains. Rather limited deep-layer shear (around 20 kts) has kept the initial storm development rather stationary along this boundary. Ample instability (MLCAPE > 2500 J/kg) along with the sufficient shear has brought pockets of strong to severe storms along this cluster. Cold-pool development behind the line will lead to an eventual southward push of this system into the overnight period.

As the cold-pool helps force the storms into more of an upscale cluster, isolated pockets of damaging wind gusts (pockets of 60 mph) will be one of the primary hazards over the next few hours, aided by DCAPE of 1000-1200 J/kg. The severe weather potential will gradually decay into the overnight period. Locally heavy rainfall and flash flooding will remain another concern. PWAT values near 1.80-2" (above the 90th percentile of sounding climatology) and warm cloud depths of 4 km have brought efficient rainfall processes, especially when coupled with the longer residence time. Pockets of 3- 4.50 inches of rainfall have been reported, with the highest totals in western Iowa. CAM guidance continues to hint at a few scattered storms redeveloping behind the main cluster overnight, though the severe weather potential will be limited with these storms given the increasing inhibition and decreasing shear.

Storms will push southward across the area overnight, clearing much of the forecast area by 7 AM. Can't rule out a few afternoon storms redeveloping along the front in far southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa, though the better shear and instability should stay just to our south. The lingering cloud cover and slightly cooler air mass will bring afternoon highs in the low to upper 80s. Similar temperatures are expected on Friday with partly cloudy skies.

Saturday and Beyond...

This weekend into early next week, an amplifying mid- to upper-level ridge is expected to build over the Front Range and gradually expand eastward into the mid-Missouri Valley, leading to a warming trend and relatively dry conditions. Highs on Saturday and Sunday will take a step upward into the upper 80s to mid 90s. By Monday, most locations are expected to reach the 90s a few spots in northeast Nebraska expected to reach the triple digits. Overnight lows will remain in the low 70s. Heat index values are expected to reach the mid 90s to around 105 degrees daily. This hot pattern with minimal precipitation chances will continue into the work week.

AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1210 AM CDT Thu Jul 9 2026

Showers and thunderstorms are now south of all three TAF sites. Could see a isolated shower or two pop up overnight at KOMA or KLNK, but at odds of under 20%, have left out of TAF for now.

Expect dry conditions to be most likely. KOFK is likely to see LIFR conditions develop with fog and low cigs developing just before sunrise. Otherwise expect VFR conditions to return by 10 AM.

OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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