textproduct: Omaha/Valley

KEY MESSAGES

- A cold front slips in from the north on Tuesday, ushering in strong gusts of 35-50 mph and cooler temperatures. A Wind Advisory is in effect for parts of eastern Nebraska this morning.

- Rain chances increase Wednesday into Thursday, with a cooler and wetter pattern continuing through the end of the week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1128 PM CDT Mon Mar 30 2026

Tuesday...

Temperatures soared into the upper 80s and low 90s Monday, breaking records at Omaha and Lincoln. A few thunderstorms managed to bubble up ahead of an approaching cold front during the evening hours. Luckily, hail and gusty winds remained just east of the forecast area, over Iowa, prior to midnight.

The cold front will continue to plow southeast through the forecast area this morning, bringing northerly gusts of 35-45 mph. A few gusts up to 50 mph can't be ruled out over northeast Nebraska prior to noon Tuesday. A Wind Advisory has been issued for parts of eastern Nebraska this morning. A few of the CAMs indicate the potential for spotty showers behind the front late Tuesday morning and into the afternoon, however soundings indicate a mass of dry air below the showers, making it difficult for precip to reach the surface. Temperatures will dip substantially behind the front, dropping us 20-30 degrees in comparison to yesterday's heat. Highs will top out in the mid 50s to upper 60s Tuesday, which is fairly typical, if not a little warm, for this time of year.

Wednesday and Beyond...

The next system will move out of the Rockies on Wednesday and into Thursday. A tight temperature gradient across the forecast area will allow high temperatures to vary from the low 40s over northeast Nebraska to the low 50s in southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa Wednesday, and low 40s to low 60s on Thursday. Scattered showers will become more widespread across the forecast area by Wednesday afternoon. A few of those showers may contain a wintry mix of sleet and snow within the colder air across northeast Nebraska. Thankfully, warm surface temperatures will likely prevent any substantial accumulations and impacts.

A few strong to severe storms may sneak into far southeast Nebraska Wednesday night into Thursday, in the warm sector of the approaching surface low. However, timing and the position of the boundaries associated with this system are still very much in flux, leading to low confidence at this time.

We could see a quick break in precipitation Thursday night, before the next low pressure system moves in on Friday. While rain looks likely Friday, it could switch to snow, especially across the northern 2/3 of the forecast area, Friday night into Saturday as colder air moves in. Overall, precipitation amounts are expected to range from 0.5" to 1.5" Wednesday through Saturday. Although it won't be a total drought buster, it will certainly help the area vegetation green up.

A few showers may linger through Saturday, before dry weather and warming temperatures return to the forecast for the remainder of the weekend and into early next week.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1146 AM CDT Tue Mar 31 2026

VFR conditions are expected to prevail throughout the majority of the forecast period. Northerly winds gusting up to 35 kts late this morning will gradually calm through the afternoon, taking on more of a northeasterly component. Mid-level cloud cover with increase through the afternoon, with a few scattered sprinkles possible (15% chance). As winds calm into the evening, sustained speeds will generally remain in the 10-13 kt range through the overnight period. Later Wednesday morning, a deck of MVFR ceilings will push northward into the terminals. Widespread precipitation chances will move in just beyond the end of the forecast period.

OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...Wind Advisory until noon CDT today for NEZ015>018-030>034- 042>045-050-051-065-066. IA...None.