Skip to main content.

Forecast Discussion
NWS Omaha/Valley, NE


905
FXUS63 KOAX 200833
AFDOAX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
233 AM CST Sat Dec 20 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A weak cold front moves through the area today. Temperatures
  will remain in the 40s.

- Temperatures will warm up into the 50s next week, with 60s
  possible by Christmas day.

- Dry conditions are expected through the forecast period.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 231 AM CST Sat Dec 20 2025

A surface low pressure is moving east across southern Saskatchewan
and Manitoba this morning. The cold front associated with this
system is beginning to swing through our area, ushering in northwest
winds and a slightly cooler airmass. This front remains weak with
temperatures holding in the 40s for the majority of locations. No
precipitation is expected at this time, primarily due to a very dry
sub-cloud layer. By Sunday, surface high pressure settles into the
region, keeping temperatures in the 40s.

Heading into the holiday week, temperatures are expected to climb. A
very anomalous ridge of high pressure develops across much of the
Front Range and Great Plains during the week. This slow moving
feature dominates the forecast, keeping temperatures well-above
normal with dry weather and mostly sunny skies. Afternoon
temperatures in the 50s arrive on Monday and remain through the end
of the week. By Christmas, there is a medium (30-50%) chance that
60s are reached for many. This is potentially record setting heat as
these temperatures are 20 to 25 degrees above normal. Even overnight
temperatures should largely remain above freezing. A White Christmas
is not on the cards, more like a Brown Christmas.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1117 PM CST Fri Dec 19 2025

VFR conditions will prevail through the period. Expect LLWS of
40-50 kts to continue through the early morning hours,
eventually diminishing around 09Z at KOFK, and closer to 11-12Z
at KOMA and KLNK, as a cold front moves in from northwest to
southeast. A few flurries may be possible with the frontal
passage, but wide spread lower visibilities are not likely.

&&

.OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...None.
IA...None.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Chehak
AVIATION...KG

NWS OAX Office Area Forecast Discussion



Forecast Discussion
NWS Hastings, NE


941
FXUS63 KGID 200913
AFDGID

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
313 AM CST Sat Dec 20 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Dry conditions remain across the full 7-day forecast with a pattern
  that favors above average temperatures much of next week.

- Temperatures today and Sunday will peak in the mid 40s to low
  50s, later warming into mainly the 50s/60s through most of
  the week.

- The confidence for near-to-record high temperatures continue
  to increase (50-65% chance) for Christmas Day (likely the
  warmest day of the week).

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 311 AM CST Sat Dec 20 2025

A cold front, in the process of dropping south and through central
NE/KS this morning, will likely keep temperatures from escaping the
40s this afternoon. Winds turning north early this morning behind
the front could gust up to 20-30MPH across the first half of the
day, before winds become light and variable later this evening and
tonight. A few clouds will shuffle in and out of the area through
the day/night with surface pressure back on the rise behind the
front. The broadening of a midwest centric high surface pressure
center, will rearrange steady southerly warm air advecting winds for
Sunday. Though temperatures may be able to climb a degree or two
more for Sunday, excessive cloud coverage should likely play a
greater role in keeping highs in the mid 40s to lower 50s.

The most notable change of conditions for the upcoming week will
likely occur between Sunday and Monday as clearing skies work in
tandem with the broad southerly flow to warm things up. In addition,
the pattern aloft will begin to transition from zonal flow towards
an expansive ridge, generally a more precipitation suppressive
feature.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 336 PM CST Fri Dec 19 2025

As expected, southerly winds were breezy this afternoon, but
nothing like experienced yesterday. Winds have gusted to near
30 mph this afternoon and high temperatures have underachieved
and I dropped highs a few degrees across the area for today.
Near critical fire weather conditions were present at times with
RH values falling into the mid to upper 20s across portions of
the area.

Tonight another cold front will move southward into the area
causing the winds to become northerly. There is a small
potential for some precipitation with this front further north
of Nebraska, but there is not much lift and moisture to allow
this to materialize for our area, remaining dry. The front will
also bring a shot of cooler air that will keep temps in the 40s
throughout the weekend.

As we move into the work-week, upper level ridging will begin to
build in, with well above 2 standard deviations (near 3) above
normal 500mb heights by Christmas Day. This ridging will aid
temperatures in heating up, with temps throughout the week in
the 50s and into the 60s. For our sites that we have long-term
records for, at Grand Island, forecasted highs for Christmas
Day are reaching/exceeding record high temperatures, this is
still 6 days away, but this trend has persisted for a number of
days already. At Grand Island on Christmas Day the most recent
full suite of 100 models provides a 36% chance for the high
temperature to exceed 65 degrees with a 74% chance that the high
will exceed 60 degrees. At Hastings on Christmas Day, a 80%
chance of exceeding 60 degrees and a 45% chance of exceeding 65
degrees. Bottom line, it will be very warm by the end of
December standards (nearly 25 degrees above normal). For more
information on current records, see the Climate section below.

Winds will be relatively mild, with light winds expected for
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Upper level ridging will keep
it dry, with no major weather systems impacting the area through
the holiday week and weekend after.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 1145 PM CST Fri Dec 19 2025

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

VFR conditions are likely to hold trough the period with
scattered to broken cloud bases >10,000ft maintaining. 40-45kts
of LLWS starting from around 240 degrees will pivot towards the
north between 6-13z. Wind directions will follow suit as a cold
front powers through tonight, flipping wind directions from the
southwest to the north. Winds should remain fairly stable
tonight between 8-15kts with gusts occasionally as high as
20kts. Gusts immediately following the front (10-15z) may
increase up to 25-30kts and will gradually taper off through
the rest of the day. By 0z, winds should calm and become more
variable. No precipitation is expected.

&&

.CLIMATE...
Issued at 311 AM CST Sat Dec 20 2025

Record High (Maximum) Temperatures     |Current Forecast

Grand Island, NE

December 24th: 64 in 2021              | Forecast: 60
December 25th: 62 in 1999,1963,1922    | Forecast: 64
December 26th: 64 in 2005              | Forecast: 57
---------------

Hastings, NE

December 24th: 66 in 1933              | Forecast: 60
December 25th: 62 in 1999,1950         | Forecast: 66
December 26th: 65 in 2005              | Forecast: 58

_________________________________________________________

Record High (Minimum) Temperatures     |Current Forecast

Grand Island, NE

December 24th: 34 in 1936              | Forecast: 33
December 25th: 34 in 1959              | Forecast: 40
December 26th: 38 in 1931              | Forecast: 36
---------------

Hastings, NE

December 24th: 33 in 2005,1955         | Forecast: 34
December 25th: 34 in 1922              | Forecast: 41
December 26th: 38 in 1959              | Forecast: 37

&&

.GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NE...None.
KS...None.

&&

$$

UPDATE...Stump
DISCUSSION...Billings Wright
AVIATION...Stump
CLIMATE...Stump

NWS GID Office Area Forecast Discussion