textproduct: Omaha/Valley

KEY MESSAGES

- Slight chance for additional showers and areas of light drizzle tonight, before warmer, drier, and breezier weather returns on Wednesday.

- Active weather returns late this week. A few strong storms possible late Wednesday, but the best chance for widespread showers and a few storms will be Friday through Saturday.

- Strong storm system moves into the region early next week, bringing another round of showers Monday into Tuesday.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 1228 PM CDT Tue Oct 27 2026

Today...

Light rain and drizzle festered to the southeast of I-80 this morning and early afternoon. Temperatures will remain in the low 50s to mid 60s across the forecast area today. Overall rain coverage will continue to gradually diminish, however areas of dreary drizzly conditions could linger into the evening and overnight hours, as forecast soundings continue to indicate low level saturation.

Wednesday...

Drier conditions are expected to return Wednesday, ahead of an approaching shortwave and surface cold front. Winds will become gusty out of the south Wednesday afternoon, reaching speeds of 20- 35 mph. Highs tomorrow will rise back into the mid and upper 70s, as the strong southerly flow draws in warmer air ahead of the front.

Moderate instability, up to 500-1500 J/kg is expected to pool across far southeast Nebraska into western Iowa, ahead of the front Wednesday. While overall deep layer shear will be lacking, up to 30- 40 kts could sneak into locations along and east of the Missouri River, potentially supporting the development of a couple stronger thunderstorms, capable of producing hail and damaging winds. Machine learning probabilities support this hypothesis, highlighting areas from south central Kansas through southern Minnesota Wednesday evening.

Thursday through Halloween...

Showers and storms associated with the front should pass fairly quickly Wednesday night, with the majority of precip and strongest remaining well to our north and east. Cooler temperatures can be expected on Thursday, with highs topping out in the mid 60s and lower 70s.

The previously mentioned front will be pushed back northward into the forecast area Friday and Saturday, as a shortwave trough begins to organize near the Texas panhandle. Expect increasing rain chances as showers overspread the region Friday and exit to the east with the departing low, Saturday night. Highs on Friday will stay in the mid 60s to low 70s, and fall into the mid 60s across the region Saturday. Trick'R'Treaters and tailgaters will likely want to pack a poncho Halloween evening. While showers will be on their way out, models continue to trend slightly slower with this system's departure.

Sunday and Beyond...

An impressive negatively tilted low pressure system looks to take aim on the central CONUS early next week. Luckily, temperatures are progged to be at least a few degrees above normal, in the upper 50s to mid 60s, likely preventing any snow from reaching the surface. This would likely be a vastly different outcome, if a system like this were to impact the region a few weeks from now. Overall, NBM probs give the forecast area a 50-65% chance of seeing at least an inch or more of additional rainfall Monday through Tuesday. However, this system is still several days out, at the tail end of our current forecast period. So stay tuned for additional updates and changes as the details become more clear.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/

Issued at 1228 PM CDT Tue Oct 27 2026

MVFR and IFR ceilings will linger over the region this afternoon, before beginning to slowly scatter out. While spotty showers and areas of light drizzle may be possible through tonight, chances of precipitation impacting the TAF sites remains low (<15%). Expect VFR conditions to return from northwest to southeast, starting at KOFK by 20Z and reaching KOMA and KLNK closer to 00Z. Patchy fog and cloud cover is expected to return to parts of northeast Nebraska overnight, with KOFK falling to MVFR and IFR after 06Z. Winds will remain out of the south, under 12 kts today and tonight, but increase out of the south with gusts up to 20-30 kts possible Wednesday afternoon.

OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

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