textproduct: Omaha/Valley

KEY MESSAGES

- Highs in the upper 50s to low 60s expected for most today. Areas of very high fire danger continue across northeast Nebraska.

- Warmth continues Friday with highs in the mid to upper 60s with a few 70s near the Nebraska/Kansas border. Gusty winds will lead to very high fire danger across northeast and southeast Nebraska. A Fire Weather Watch is in effect for northeast Nebraska.

- Cooler temperatures expected this weekend with 50 to 70% chances for snow. There is a 10 to 20% chance for travel impacts.

- Additional precipitation chances (30 to 60%) expected for early next week.

LONG TERM

/SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/

As we head toward Saturday, a weaker H5 shortwave is forecast to eject into the Northern Plains. At this time, the best forcing from the feature remains just north of the area, and the NBM keeps a vast portion of OAX dry. 12z global ensemble members keep the brunt of any snowfall accumulations north of the forecast area. Temperatures also cool to the 40s for most of the area while warmer temperatures in the 50s are expected in our far southern area.

For Sunday, guidance is in pretty good agreement that a shortwave will eject from eastern Colorado toward the central Plains. Broad isentropic lift is noted from the 295-300K sfcs over much of eastern Nebraska into western Iowa, while condensation pressure deficits reach 10 mb or lower, implying saturation is likely to be achieved. PoPs increase from west to east across the forecast area Sunday with 50 to 70% chances for precip mainly southeast of a line from Boone to Wayne County. While still several days out, forecast soundings would suggest snow as the main ptype, but a few subtleties are noted. At times over our southern areas, ice introduction is lost while a near sfc 1-2km saturated layer is observed in subfreezing temps, implying at least some low end potential for freezing rain/drizzle. Will continue to monitor and assess trends in the coming days. Those with travel plans will want to monitor trends as there is a 10 to 20% chance for at least minor travel impacts over the area.

12z global ensemble members still have various differences in location of snow and amounts with this disturbance: probabilities for 1 inch or more of snow are highest with the GEFS and Canadian with a 40 to 70% chance over our southeast, while the Euro is much lower with a 20 to 40% chance over our far eastern service area.

The active pattern continues late Monday into Tuesday as a shortwave ahead of a more potent wave ejects toward the Plains area. This leads to a 30 to 50% chance of a rain/snow mix. The more potent shortwave reaches the forecast area late Tuesday into Wednesday, resulting in continued 30 to 60% chances for precipitation. Temperatures for Monday through Wednesday warm to the 40s for most locations.

AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/

Issued at 1108 AM CST Thu Feb 26 2026

VFR conditions prevail for the duration of the TAF cycle at all terminals with little to no cloudiness. Could see a few areas of patchy river valley fog impact KOMA after 06z or 07z, but probabilities remain less than 10% for occurrence. Breezy winds at KOFK subside by late afternoon. Winds then turn southwesterly overnight and remain under 12 kts before switching northwest and becoming gusty late in the TAF period. LLWS will affect KOMA after 11z tomorrow morning, diminishing by 14z.

OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

NE...Fire Weather Watch from Friday morning through Friday afternoon for NEZ011-012-016>018. IA...None.