textproduct: Omaha/Valley

KEY MESSAGES

- Hot and humid weather continues with heat index values in the low 100s across southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa. A Heat Advisory remains in effect through at least Saturday.

- Oppressive heat will continue into next week along with some small chances (10-30%) for nightly showers and storms. Warm lows in the 70s will provide little relief.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1227 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

Spotty morning showers and storms drifted across eastern Nebraska and western Iowa early this morning, before dissipating and drifting east of the area. Cloud cover lingering through the morning kept temperatures in the mid to upper 80s, but as clouds clear, temps are expected to quickly rise through the mid to upper 90s this afternoon. Dewpoints reaching the low to mid 70s will allow heat indices to rise up to 100-105.

Mostly clear skies and well above normal temperatures will continue through tomorrow. Overnight lows will only dip into the mid and upper 70s tonight, before rising back into the mid 90s on Friday afternoon.

The upper level pattern will continue to be dominated by a large ridge over the nation's mid section this weekend and into next week. Temperatures will continue to remain well above seasonal normals, with highs forecast to remain in the 90s through midweek. The cumulative effects of back to back hot days, and little relief with overnight lows in the low to mid 70s, will continue to push Heat Risk into the Major to Extreme categories.

A few shortwaves rounding the ridge could bring us off and on chances for storms to drift in from the west, dotting the forecast with 20-30% pops primarily in the morning and evening hours. Unfortunately, outside of these hit or miss storms, substantial widespread precipitation looks unlikely over the next several days. On the positive side, any cloud cover from these showers and storms would likely moderate temperatures a few degrees. However, the cumulative effects of heat indices near 100-105 for multiple days in a row, combined with temperatures only falling into the mid 70s overnight necessitate an extension to the Heat Advisory through at least Saturday. Sunday and Monday look a few degrees cooler for the moment, however Tuesday heat indices pop right back into the low 100s. Given the holiday weekend with several outdoor activities, further extension may be needed where the hottest temperatures persist.

Longer range models continue to hint at some potential relief from the heat by the middle of next week, as a cold front drifts through the region Tuesday. Unfortunately, that means highs only in the mid to upper 80s, as opposed to the mid to upper 90s. But, at this point, we'll take whatever relief we can get.

AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/

Issued at 622 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

VFR conditions continue across the terminals for the next 24 hours, with winds being a bit stronger than anticipated this afternoon/early evening, gusting to 20-25 kts at KLNK/KOMA. Winds at the surface overnight will slow down to around 10 kts, with much stronger speeds at FL015 of 38-42 kts, causing low- level wind shear to be a concern as early as 04z to 12z. After sunrise, we'll see a few gusts near 20 kts during the mid- morning hours before speeds cool off for good through the rest of what is anticipated to be a dry day.

OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT Saturday for NEZ044-045-050>053- 065>068-078-088>093. IA...Heat Advisory until 7 PM CDT Saturday for IAZ055-056-069-079- 080-090-091.