Forecast Discussion
NWS Omaha/Valley, NE

076
FXUS63 KOAX 282331
AFDOAX

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Omaha/Valley NE
531 PM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Light snow chances (40-60%) move in early Thursday through
  early Friday, with accumulations expected to peak around 1
  inch in northeast Nebraska.

- Colder air arrives Thursday through Saturday, with Friday
  highs in the teens and Saturday morning wind chills from 10 to
  20 degrees below zero.

- Additional light snow chances (30-50%) return late Saturday
  into Sunday, followed by a rebound toward near-normal
  temperatures by Monday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 137 PM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

Today through Friday...

Water vapor imagery and objective analysis this afternoon depict mid-
to upper-level troughing over the east-central CONUS, with ridging
building into the western CONUS. Ahead of an approaching shortwave
disturbance, a brief return to zonal flow aloft has allowed for
modest downslope warming this afternoon, with highs reaching the low
30s across much of the area. These near-seasonal temperatures will
be short-lived, however, as the approaching shortwave drives a
backdoor cold front into the region tonight. This will introduce a
slightly cooler airmass and bring a chance for light snow.

Snow chances increase from the north after midnight tonight, with
PoPs peaking around 40-60% Thursday morning. The greatest potential
for snow remains across northeast and east-central Nebraska, where a
weak band of frontogenesis is expected to move through. With high
temperatures only reaching the 20s on Thursday, all precipitation
will fall as snow. Snow is expected to taper off for most location
by midday, though an additional stream of vorticity rotating into
east-central Nebraska may allow light snow to linger into early
Friday across eastern Nebraska (PoPs 15-30%). Snow accumulations are
expected to peak near 1 inch in northeast Nebraska, with lesser
amounts south and eastward.

By Friday, another shortwave rotating around the parent east-central
CONUS trough will drop through the Upper Midwest, briefly elongating
the trough and giving it a positive tilt before it pivots into the
eastern CONUS. As this shortwave slides to our east, a renewed surge
of cold air will settle into the region. Friday morning lows are
expected to fall into the single digits, with wind chills ranging
from the negative single digits to around 13 degrees below zero,
with the lowest values forecasted across northeast Nebraska.
Afternoon highs on Friday will struggle to reach the teens.

Saturday and Sunday...

Saturday morning is shaping up to be the coldest of the period, with
low temperatures falling into the single digits below zero and wind
chills ranging from 10 to 20 degrees below zero. The coldest
conditions are once again expected across northeast Nebraska.
Temperatures will subtly recover through the day, with highs on
Saturday reaching the teens to low 20s.

Late Saturday into Sunday, an additional lobe of vorticity pivoting
around the parent trough will introduce another chance for light
snow. Long-range guidance continues to show modest spread in the
track of this disturbance. The majority of GEFS members keep the
system just north and east of the area, while the EPS/EPS-AIFS favor
a more southerly solution, bringing the system through western Iowa
and far eastern Nebraska. Under the EPS/EPS-AIFS solution,
probability for at least one of snow range from 20-40%, while GEFS
probabilities remain below 10%. For now, PoPs favor the southerly
track, with 30-50% values painted across much of the area, though
trends will continue to be monitored as the system approaches.
Behind the departing system, temperatures will rebound on Sunday,
with highs reaching the 30s across much of the area.

Monday and Beyond...

Mid-level ridging builds back into the region to start the work
week, with highs on Monday and Tuesday expected to range from the
30s to low 40s across much of the area. A clipper-type system moving
through on Tuesday may bring another chance for light precipitation,
with PoPs in the 15-30% range. Long-range guidance continues to show
considerable spread in the track and overall impact of this system,
limiting forecast confidence at this time.

Behind this disturbance, ridging is expected to reestablish itself,
bringing relief from the recent cold. The CPC`s 6-10 day and 8-14
day outlooks continue to favor above-normal temperatures, with
probabilities ranging from 40-70%.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 531 PM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

VFR conditions with winds light out of the northeast this
evening. We`ll see -SN move in early Thursday with cigs and vis
expected to lower to MVFR by 14Z at KOFK, and closer to 15Z at
KOMA and KLNK. Brief periods of IFR vis will be likely under
heavier snow showers. Snow should be clearing around 18-20Z with
improving visibility, but MVFR cigs remain through 00Z
Wednesday evening.

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Wood
AVIATION...McCoy

NWS OAX Office Area Forecast Discussion

Forecast Discussion
NWS Hastings, NE

257
FXUS63 KGID 282342
AFDGID

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Hastings NE
542 PM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Multiple rounds of light snow possible Thursday-Saturday. Most areas
  will see less than 1", with northeastern portions of the area
  having the highest chance to see over 1".

- Another frigid morning on Saturday, with temperatures below
  zero and wind chills in the -10s.

- Above normal temperatures Sunday Onwards, with highs in the
  upper 30s to low 50s.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 221 PM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

This Afternoon/Tonight...

Temperatures this afternoon have a large spread from west to east
and where heavier snowpack still lingers, ranging from the low 30s
(east/snowpack) to the mid 50s (west). Cloud coverage will increase
overnight ahead of an approaching shortwave trough. Lows in the
teens are expected tonight. Patchy fog is possible across portions
of north central Kansas overnight, though dense fog appears unlikely
at this time.

Thursday Through Saturday...

As the shortwave trough moves into the Plains early Thursday
morning, it will bring a chance for light snow to the area. Snow is
likely to start during the early morning hours for areas north-
northeast of the Tri-Cities (Loup City-York). The most widespread
snow during the daytime hours on Thursday will be the mid-late
morning hours, with snow possible (15-50%) for areas roughly along
and northeast of the Tri-Cities. The afternoon-early evening looks
to have a relative lull in snow outside of far northern portions of
the area. Snow accumulations on Thursday remain light, with most
areas seeing less than an inch of snow, though far northeastern
portions of the area could see a little over an inch. Highs on
Thursday will range from the mid 20s (east) to the low 40s (west).

As troughing over the central/eastern deepens, it will bring another
round of snow to the area Thursday night-Friday along with a shot of
arctic air. A band of snow (20-60% PoPs) will shift from the
northeast to the southwest late Thursday night-Friday afternoon,
as an arctic high moves into the area. Similar to Thursday,
snow accumulations will be light, with most areas seeing less
than an inch of snow. Highs on Friday will be in the teens to
20s, warmest across southwestern portions of the area.

Skies clear and winds become light Friday night-Saturday morning
under the influence of the arctic airmass/high. This will allow
temperatures to drop below zero (forecast lows -4 to -8),
resulting in a frigid start to the day on Saturday. Wind chill
values will sink into the negative teens, though light winds
should limit how low wind chills are able to get. After sunrise,
southerly flow strengthens over the area on Saturday ahead of
the next shortwave trough, with highs in the 20s. The next
chance (15-45%) for light snow arrives Saturday evening/night
as a clipper system moves into the plains. Similar to
Thursday/Friday any snow accumulations will be under an inch.

Sunday Onwards...

Temperatures climb near to above normal Sunday onwards as upper
level ridging builds over the Rockies/Plains. Highs will be in the
upper 30s to low 50s with lows in the 10s/20s. A passing disturbance
within the broader ridging pattern looks to bring another chance for
light precipitation around the end of the forecast period, though
there remains a fair amount of model spread on the finer details.
Looking past the forecast period, the CPC 6-10 and 8-14 day
forecasts favor above normal temperatures and below normal
precipitation.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 534 PM CST Wed Jan 28 2026

For KGRI/KEAR Airports:

VFR conditions are generally expected although MVFR ceilings are
possible beginning around 12z. Light snow showers may impact
primarily KGRI from around 12z to 00z. Winds will be light out
of mostly the east from now until 06z then will start to become
northeast. By 18z winds will become more southerly but will be
light (generally under 10 knots) and somewhat variable.

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Davis
AVIATION...Schuldt

NWS GID Office Area Forecast Discussion