textproduct: Omaha/Valley

KEY MESSAGES

- Lingering snow showers this evening. Strong northwesterly wind gusts of 30-40 mph continue into tonight.

- Much colder air and lingering winds will result in wind chills from 5 to 20 degrees below zero Saturday and Sunday morning.

- Repeated weather systems through next week result in fluctuating temperatures with bursts of colder air.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 226 PM CST Fri Jan 16 2026

Tonight

As a broad trough continues to deepen over the Great Plains and Upper Midwest, a reinforcing cold front initiated a dominant snow band this afternoon. A brief burst of heavy snow with localized near- zero visibility occurred within this band. This band has now moved south of the area. Behind this, narrow snow bands formed between convective rolls in the steep low-level lapse rates. These additional bands are weaker and more limited in coverage, but quick bursts of snow and brief visibility reductions may continue into early tonight. Any lingering snow showers should weaken and dissipate after midnight. Little to no accumulation is expected with these snow showers. Temperatures have already reached their maximum for much of the area, meaning its downhill from here.

This Weekend

Blustery winds continue through Saturday morning as strong cold air advection tumbles temperatures. Single digits will greet most, with temperatures near 10 for more southern locations. Wind chills are anticipated to be brutally cold. Values as low as 5 to 20 degrees below zero are likely. Cold advection continues well into the afternoon alongside gusty winds. Temperatures struggle to increase and low teens are all that daytime heating allows on Saturday. Wind chills remain below zero through the afternoon with the continued winds. Surface high pressure filters in Saturday evening, finally lessening winds. Temperatures tumble by Sunday morning back into the single digits. Light winds should limit wind chills a bit, but values from 5 to 15 degrees below zero are expected. Temperatures rapidly recover through Sunday afternoon ahead of our next weather system with 30s returning. This won't last long as a cold front with perhaps a low chance (10-20%) of a snow shower to the north swings through by Sunday evening.

Next Week

The aforementioned cold front sets the stage for the roller coaster of temperatures next week. Fluctuating temperatures nearly day to day is anticipated. Persistent troughing over the eastern half of the United States keeps sending clipper systems through our region behind this feature. Temperatures tumble on Monday back into the single digits during the morning before struggling through the teens into the lower 20s by afternoon. Temperatures rebound on Tuesday before tumbling again with the next system mid-week. Temperatures may recover slightly after that, but another system will drop temperatures again by the end of the week. At the moment, limited moisture keeps things mostly dry with these systems.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/

Issued at 519 PM CST Fri Jan 16 2026

Northwest winds gusting 20-30 kts will persist through much of the period, before weakening late Saturday afternoon. Also expect mainly VFR ceilings around 3500 ft, though could see some brief periods of MVFR ceilings as spotty snow showers continue to push through this evening. Guidance is in agreement that most showers should start to dwindle after 06Z, but a few could linger into Saturday morning.

OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...Wind Advisory until 6 PM CST this evening for NEZ011-012- 015>018-030>034-042>044-050-051-065-066-078. IA...Wind Advisory until 6 PM CST this evening for IAZ043.